BASALT · JOURNAL
How to test whether a redacted PDF is really searchable
The fastest redaction test is to search for the removed value, but a reliable check uses several independent signals. PDFs can contain visible text, image pixels, OCR, form values, annotations, and attachments.
Test known values and variants
Search the exact phrase, a partial phrase, an unspaced number, and a likely OCR variant. Try selecting and copying text around the mark. Search the document properties, comments, and attachment names as well as page content.
Test the image layer
Zoom into each redaction and inspect the page image. If the original document was scanned, OCR may be absent or inaccurate, so visual review is essential. Check page thumbnails and clipped or off-page objects that could retain the original.
Test an independent export
Save a new copy and open it in a different viewer or on another Mac. Confirm that extraction, printing, and search do not reveal the removed value. Keep the original separate and record the checks for high-risk documents.
Frequently asked questions
What if search finds nothing but the text is still visible?
Use visual review. Search cannot find text that is part of an image or OCR was never created for.
What if the redacted text can still be selected?
The redaction is not complete. Remove the underlying content and verify a new export.
Should I test copy and paste?
Yes. Copying can expose hidden text even when the page looks covered.
Doing it in Basalt
Basalt combines local redaction with verification of searchable text, pixels, OCR, forms, 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.