Using Gimp to edit PDF files

So you want to open a PDF and edit/erase some of the contents...

Find the PDF file you want to edit in windows explorer or nautilus (linux users). Right click on it and select open with Gimp. You may have to select program manually the first time in windows if you have not done this before.

Once Gimp opens it will give you the option to import the pdf to an image file. Take note of the toolbox window on the left of the gimp interface.

If you want to erase things, you can use the square select tool (top left). Click on it and then click on the upper left corner of the area you want to select on the image. Then drag it to the bottom right of the area and release the mouse button. Once selected you can delete the area.

If you want to erase small portions of the image, I suggest you use the paintbrush tool. First select the background colour (usually white). To do this lick on the 'eye-dropper' tool and then clock anywhere on the image that is the colour you want.

Then click on the paintbrush tool. Make sure the brush is a large enough size (use the button labelled 'brush' in the middle of the toolbox screen). Now brush over the parts you want to cover up.

To save your work back to a pdf. If using linux just print to a pdf file. If using Windows you will need to use a 3rd party PDF creator like Cute-PDF. Cute-PDF is easily downloaded and installed. Once installed it shows up like a printer so all you need to do is print to it.

Now I don't condone this practice to alter PDF files created by others, but I can see a need for it from time to time.