Prepare PDF copies with less hidden source content
Sanitizing a PDF involves more than removing a visible identifier. Text layers, annotations, attachments and descriptive fields may also reveal information.
What the batch export rebuilds
CloakDoc creates a new PDF using rendered page images with detected regions covered. Original text objects, attachments and annotation objects are not copied into the output. Any sensitive content that is rendered visibly on the page still needs to be detected or reviewed.
Metadata controls
With metadata stripping selected, the batch export does not copy the source title, author or subject. If you turn that option off, those fields can be copied. The export identifies CloakDoc as its creator and producer, so “strip metadata” does not mean a file contains no metadata at all.
The manual viewer uses a different save path: it clears a few common metadata fields but keeps source page content. It is not equivalent to the batch reconstruction process.
A practical inspection list
- Review all visible page content and repeated headers.
- Check document properties and the exported filename.
- Confirm that attachments and selectable sensitive text are absent from the batch output.
- Keep the original and the release copy in separate folders.
- Clear local batch storage when it is no longer needed.
Choose the tradeoff deliberately
Page-image export discards interactive elements and searchable source text. It can increase size or reduce visual detail. It is useful for preparing a distribution copy, not for preserving an editable or accessible archival master.