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How to replace or add an image in a PDF

A rebrand leaves a trail of PDFs carrying the old logo. A certificate template needs a different photograph for each recipient. A proposal needs a screenshot dropped onto page four. All three are image edits, and none of them justifies rebuilding the document from scratch.

This guide covers adding a new image to a PDF page and swapping one that is already there.

Open the Edit PDF tool

Add an image to a page

  1. 1Open the Edit PDF tool and drop in your PDF.
  2. 2Choose Images in the mode bar.
  3. 3Insert an image and pick the file from your device.
  4. 4Drag it into position and resize it to fit.
  5. 5Download the PDF with the image written into the page.

Replace an image that is already there

Select the existing image on the page first, then use the same Images mode to swap it for one of your own. The replacement takes the place of the original rather than sitting on top of it, which is what you want when updating a logo across a template.

Match the aspect ratio of the image you are replacing before you import it. A square logo dropped into a wide space either stretches or leaves an awkward gap, and cropping the source file is far easier than fighting it on the page.

Getting a result that looks native

Use a transparent PNG for logos
A logo on a white rectangle looks pasted on the moment the page background is not white.
Match the resolution
Import an image around twice its final size on the page. Much smaller looks soft in print; much larger just inflates the file.
Align to the page grid
Zoom in and line the image up with the margins and the elements around it. Being a few pixels out is visible even when nobody can say why.
Compress afterwards if needed
High-resolution photographs can add megabytes. Run the finished PDF through the compressor to bring it back down without rasterizing the text.

When to rebuild instead

Editing images in a PDF is the right move when the document is otherwise finished and you have a handful of changes to make.

If you still have the source file and the whole layout is changing, updating the original and re-exporting is quicker and gives a cleaner result. PDF image editing is for the very common case where the source file is gone, is owned by someone else, or would take longer to track down than the edit takes to make.

Frequently asked questions

Can I replace a logo in a PDF?

Yes. Select the existing image, then swap it for your own file in Images mode. Use a transparent PNG so it sits cleanly on the page.

What image formats can I add?

The common web and photo formats your browser can decode, including PNG and JPG. Use PNG when you need a transparent background.

Can I move and resize an image after placing it?

Yes. Drag to reposition and pull the handles to resize, as many times as you like before downloading.

Will adding images make the PDF much larger?

It can, especially with high-resolution photographs. Compress the finished PDF afterwards — that shrinks the images while leaving the text intact.

Are my images uploaded anywhere?

No. Both the PDF and the images you add are handled entirely in your browser and never transmitted.

Ready to try it?

Edit text, highlight, draw, sign and annotate a PDF, then download it.

Use Edit PDF