How to Change Colored PDF Background Color to White for Printing

Changing PDF backgrounds to white color helps achieve a cleaner & formal look and reduces printing costs.

Here you’ll find some 3 rather effective methods to change the colored PDF background to white.

Change PDF Background Color to White for Printing Online Free

The most convenient method is using PDFgear’s online PDF editor, which allows you to convert any colored PDF to white backgrounds on Windows computers.

PDFgear is free to use, there’s no watermark, and there’s sign-up.

Step 1. Use a web browser to go to PDFgear online PDF editor.

Step 2. Click Upload the PDF file to upload the PDF which you need to change the background color.

Step 3. Once the PDF file is loaded, click the upper-right Printer 🖨️ button.

Step 4. In the Printer Settings window, set the destination as Microsoft Print to PDF.

Step 5. Move down to color, and set it to black and white. This will change your document to a pure white background.

Step 6. Lastly, Click the lower-right Print button.

Step 7. Now let’s see the output compared with the original file.

Change PDF Background to White Online on Mobile

The first introduced PDFgear method only works with Windows computers. If you’re on an Android phone or iPhone, this method is for you.

There’s a free third-party tool called i2PDF that allows you to change text and background color of PDFs on mobile phones.

Step 1. Go to i2PDF color PDF tool.

Step 2. Tap on Choose Files button to open the PDF on your mobile phone.

Step 3. Choose a text color in the Content color section.

Step 4. Then tap on the white color from the Background Color section.

Step 5. Tap on Start button below.

Step 6. Tap Download to get the colored PDF.

Replace PDF Background Color to White in Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat offers powerful controls over PDF backgrounds, allowing you to change PDF backgrounds in two ways:

• Replace page background in Preferences
• Add PDF backgrounds in Edit Tool (Adobe Acrobat Pro subscription is required)

We’ve previously elaborated on the first method, which works only with searchable PDFs. In the following guide, we’ll demonstrate the second method.

The benefit of using Adobe Acrobat is that you only change the color of the background instead of the entire document, which includes text, images, fillable fields, etc.

Step 1. Open PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro. Go to Tools and then Edit PDF.

Step 2. From the upper menubar, click on More > Background from dropdown > Add.

Step 3. Click Replace Background for confirmation.

Step 4. Go to Source > From color, and pick white. Then click OK below.

Step 5. Click OK to confirm background replacements.

Step 6. Now you’ll see the PDF on a white background.

Step 7. Go to File, Print, and here we can see that this change has indeed affected the printed output.

Change Background Color in Acrobat Reader for Printing Not Working?

If you change the background color for PDF reading in Adobe Acrobat Reader in Preferences > Accessibility > Replace Document Colors as with our earlier guide, it only changes the display settings but does not alter the actual PDF file for printing.

To change the background color in a way that affects the printing color, you need to add a new PDF background.

FAQs

Why should I change the PDF background color to white?

Changing the background color of a PDF to white is often necessary for printing purposes. A white background enhances readability and ensures that text and images appear clearly on standard white paper, avoiding issues with ink absorption or color distortion.

What tools can I use to change the background color of a PDF?

Several tools can be used to change the background color of a PDF, including:

• Online PDF editors: PDFgear provides a web-based solution for changing PDF backgrounds without needing software installation.
• Adobe Acrobat Pro DC: Offers comprehensive editing options, including background color changes.
• Microsoft Word: Allows you to open and edit PDFs, changing the background before saving it back as a PDF.

What if my PDF has images or colored backgrounds?

If your PDF contains images or colored backgrounds, simply changing settings in Adobe Reader or similar programs may not work effectively. You may need to use Adobe Acrobat Pro DC’s editing features to add a white rectangle behind text or images or use image editing software like Photoshop if the background is complex.