If your uploaded PDF looks broken in PandaDoc – misplaced elements, missing content, distorted fonts, or wrong colors – it’s likely due to layering issues in the original file.
PandaDoc processes PDFs using a third-party tool that may not render multi-layered documents correctly. To prevent formatting problems, we recommend flattening your PDF before uploading it. Flattening merges all layers into a single, uneditable layer to ensure your file appears exactly as expected.
3 easy ways to flatten your PDF
1. Use your browser’s print function
Most modern browsers let you “print to PDF,” which effectively flattens your document.
Steps:
Open your PDF in your browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac), or click the Print icon.
Choose Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows) or Save as PDF (macOS) as your destination.
Save the new file to your computer.
2. Use a PDF reader like Adobe or Foxit
Any PDF viewer that includes print functionality will work.
Steps:
Open your file in a PDF reader (e.g., Adobe Reader, Foxit Reader).
Go to File > Print.
Select Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows) or Save as PDF (macOS).
Click Print, then save your new flattened PDF.
3. Use a free online PDF flattening tool
If you're comfortable uploading your document to a third-party site, you can use a free online tool to flatten your PDF.
Some of such tools let you flatten the entire document or only specific elements like form fields.
Tip: Flattening gives you more control
Many PDF tools let you adjust settings such as page size or orientation before flattening. If you're unsure, leave the defaults unchanged to preserve the original layout.