How to edit a PDF in Python: Add text, images, and annotations

from io import BytesIO
from pypdf import PdfReader, PdfWriter
from reportlab.pdfgen import canvas

# Read the source PDF first so the overlay matches its page size.
reader = PdfReader("input.pdf")
first_page = reader.pages[0]
page_width = float(first_page.mediabox.width)
page_height = float(first_page.mediabox.height)

# Create a text overlay sized to the source page.
buffer = BytesIO()
c = canvas.Canvas(buffer, pagesize=(page_width, page_height))
c.setFont("Helvetica", 36)
c.setFillColorRGB(0.8, 0, 0)  # Red text
c.drawString(100, page_height - 100, "DRAFT — DO NOT DISTRIBUTE")
c.save()
buffer.seek(0)

# Merge overlay onto the first page.
overlay_reader = PdfReader(buffer)
writer = PdfWriter()

first_page.merge_page(overlay_reader.pages[0])
writer.add_page(first_page)

# Copy remaining pages unchanged.
for page in reader.pages[1:]:
    writer.add_page(page)

with open("output_stamped.pdf", "wb") as f:
    writer.write(f)

print("Overlay applied to first page.")

import pymupdf

doc = pymupdf.open("input.pdf")
page = doc[0]

# Insert text at a specific position.
page.insert_text(
    (72, 72),  # x, y in points (1 inch from top-left)
    "Reviewed: 2026-02-27",
    fontsize=14,
    color=(0, 0, 0.8),  # Blue
)

doc.save("output_text.pdf")
doc.close()

print("Text inserted on first page.")

import pymupdf

doc = pymupdf.open("input.pdf")
page = doc[0]

# Define a rectangle where the image should appear.
rect = pymupdf.Rect(400, 20, 550, 80)  # x0, y0, x1, y1
page.insert_image(rect, filename="logo.png")

doc.save("output_logo.pdf")
doc.close()

print("Image inserted on first page.")

import pymupdf

doc = pymupdf.open("input.pdf")
page = doc[0]

# Search for text and highlight it.
text_instances = page.search_for("important")
for inst in text_instances:
    page.add_highlight_annot(inst)

doc.save("output_highlighted.pdf")
doc.close()

print(f"Highlighted {len(text_instances)} instances.")

from nutrient_sdk import Document, PdfEditor, Color

with Document.open("input.pdf") as document:
    editor = PdfEditor.edit(document)
    page = editor.get_page_collection().get_first()
    annotations = page.get_annotation_collection()

    annotations.add_free_text(
        100.0, 700.0, 250.0, 40.0,  # x, y, width, height
        "Reviewer",
        "Reviewed and approved",
        "Arial",
        14.0,
        Color.from_argb(255, 0, 0, 0),
    )

    editor.save_as("output_annotated.pdf")
    editor.close()

print("Text annotation added.")

from nutrient_sdk import Document, PdfEditor

with Document.open("form.pdf") as document:
    editor = PdfEditor.edit(document)
    form_fields = editor.get_form_field_collection()

    name = form_fields.find_by_full_name("name")
    if name is not None:
        name.set_value("Jane Doe")

    email = form_fields.find_by_full_name("email")
    if email is not None:
        email.set_value("jane@example.com")

    date = form_fields.find_by_full_name("date")
    if date is not None:
        date.set_value("2026-02-27")

    editor.save_as("output_filled.pdf")
    editor.close()

print("Form fields filled.")

from nutrient_sdk import Document, PdfEditor, Color

with Document.open("report.pdf") as document:
    editor = PdfEditor.edit(document)
    page = editor.get_page_collection().get_first()
    annotations = page.get_annotation_collection()

    redaction = annotations.add_redact(
        72.0, 200.0, 468.0, 30.0,  # x, y, width, height
    )
    redaction.interior_color = Color.from_argb(255, 0, 0, 0)

    editor.save_as("output_redacted.pdf")
    editor.close()

print("Redaction applied — content permanently removed on save.")

from nutrient_sdk import Document, Signature, DigitalSignatureOptions

with Signature() as signer, Document.open("contract.pdf") as document:
    options = DigitalSignatureOptions()
    options.certificate_path = "certificate.pfx"
    options.certificate_password = "cert-password"
    options.signer_name = "Jane Doe"
    options.reason = "Contract Approval"

    signer.sign(document, "signed_contract.pdf", options)

print("Digital signature applied.")

import os
import requests

# Store the API key in an environment variable — don't hardcode or commit it.
api_key = os.environ.get("NUTRIENT_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise ValueError(
        "Set the NUTRIENT_API_KEY environment variable before running this example."
    )

url = "https://api.nutrient.io/build"

with open("input.pdf", "rb") as input_file:
    response = requests.post(
        url,
        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"},
        files={"file": input_file},
        data={
            "instructions": '{"parts":[{"file":"file"}],'
            '"actions":[{"type":"watermark",'
            '"text":"CONFIDENTIAL","fontSize":48}]}'
        },
        timeout=30,
    )

response.raise_for_status()

with open("output_watermarked.pdf", "wb") as f:
    f.write(response.content)

print("Watermark applied via API.")