BASALT · JOURNAL
How to add headers and footers to a PDF on Mac
Headers and footers make a PDF easier to identify, but they can also cover content, alter page geometry, or accidentally disclose internal filenames. Add them as a deliberate document-production step.
Choose the information readers need
Useful labels include a document title, confidentiality status, version, date, and page number. Avoid placing full local paths, usernames, or internal case identifiers on a file that will leave the organization. Check whether the footer must use original or release page numbers.
Keep the page readable
Reserve space rather than placing text over body content. Review forms, tables, signatures, and scanned pages at normal zoom. Use consistent typography and contrast without making the label look like part of the original evidence.
Verify every page
Check first and last pages, rotated pages, different page sizes, and pages with existing headers. Search for sensitive metadata and inspect links, comments, and attachments after export. Save a new version instead of overwriting the source.
Frequently asked questions
Can a footer cover existing content?
Yes. Add margins or position the footer carefully, then inspect dense pages at high zoom.
Should confidentiality labels be removable?
Follow policy. If the label is part of the release record, make it visually clear and preserve it in the exported copy.
Does adding a footer flatten a PDF?
Not necessarily. It may add another object or layer, so verify the resulting structure.
Doing it in Basalt
Basalt adds document labels and page numbers locally, then lets you review page geometry and hidden content before saving the final PDF. Download Basalt.
Redaction that proves itself
Basalt destroys the content you mark, then re-opens the file it wrote and proves the content is gone before it saves anything. Your documents never leave your Mac.