protect pdf from printing free software

[pablo007]

Hi all can anyone recommend any decent free/ low-cost software that will allow me to protect pdfs from being printed?

 

thanks as always in advance

[3s-gtech]

Isn't it impossible? They can always be screen-shotted and printed that way. Or are you just looking to discourage?

[elsiegee40]

Isn't it impossible? They can always be screen-shotted and printed that way. Or are you just looking to discourage?

I agree. There's no preventing the snipping tool and screen prints. With larger documents that is a very long slow process though

[Arthur]

With larger documents that is a very long slow process though

Ghostscript can remove the printing restrictions in a few seconds even on long documents.

 

@echo off
"%ProgramFiles%\gs\gs9.22\bin\gswin64c.exe" -dSAFER -dBATCH -dNOPAUSE -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sFONTPATH=%windir%/fonts;xfonts;. -sPDFPassword= -dPDFSETTINGS=/prepress -dPassThroughJPEGImages=true -sOutputFile=Unprotected.pdf Protected.pdf

 

Source: http://www.commandlinefu.com/commands/view/8513/remove-security-limitations-from-pdf-documents-using-ghostscript-for-windows

 

I also agree it is a bit pointless.

 

If you still want to do it however, UnityPDF is good and free.

 

Edited January 15, 2018 by Arthur

[pablo007]

Hi all thanks for the replies it really is to discourage ( of folk want to print screen etc they are welcome to, we are not guarding state secrets just trying to save a few quid on printing 😀)

Will take a look at unitypdf thank you for your help.

[elsiegee40]

What print management software do you have @pablo007?

 

Most of them will allow you block *.pdf from printing for specific users or groups of users

[pablo007]

sorry missed your post, part of the issue is that there is no printing policy thus no management software..

[elsiegee40]

I suggest you get papercut in then. Even if all you use it for is to block pdf printing!