Does aval check my PDF automatically?

Yes. When you upload a file, the inspector looks for blank pages, upside-down or sideways scans, pages without text, empty signature fields and files too heavy to send, and offers the fix for each one.

Is a black rectangle enough to hide data in a PDF?

Often it isn't. In many editors the text stays under the rectangle and can be copied. Use a redaction tool that removes the text, and check by searching for the hidden word.

Yes. Every change in aval is a new version, and you can go back to any earlier one.

What to check in a PDF before you send it

The checklist

Check	Why it matters	In aval
Blank pages	Double-sided scans leave empty backs that look careless.	Found on upload. Remove.
Orientation	A sideways or upside-down page is hard to read and to print.	Found on upload. Rotate.
Searchable text	Without text, nobody can search, copy or read it aloud.	Found on upload. Recognize text.
File size	Many forms and inboxes reject heavy files.	Warned on upload with an estimate. Compress.
Signature fields	An empty signature line means the document comes back.	Found on upload. Sign.
Page order	Scans and merged files often end up out of order.	Organize pages by dragging them.
Hidden data	A black box drawn on top often leaves the text underneath.	Redact removes the text, not just covers it.
File name	“scan0012.pdf” gets lost in someone else's inbox.	Rename it before sending.

Try it with your own file

aval Workspace is free and works without an account.

Try it free, no account

Blank pages and orientation

Scanners and phones don't know which side of a sheet matters. A double-sided scan of a one-sided document leaves a blank page after each real one, and a page fed upside down stays upside down. aval looks at every page when you upload the file, lists the blank and rotated ones, and removes or turns them in one click.

Text that can be searched

A PDF made from a scan is a set of pictures. It looks fine, but the person who receives it can't search for a name, copy an amount or use a screen reader. Text recognition fixes that without changing how the page looks. Some online forms also read the text of what you upload.

Size

If the file is heavy, compress it before sending. The Recommended level is enough to read and print. Our guide on compressing a PDF for an upload limit explains the levels in detail.

Signatures

Forms and contracts often have a signature field or a line to sign. aval finds empty signature fields, and lets you sign by drawing, typing or with an image of your signature. If you have a .p12 certificate, you can add a digital signature, which shows if anything changed after signing.

Data that has to be hidden

Before sending a bank statement, a payslip or an ID, you may want to hide an account number or an address. In many editors, drawing a black rectangle covers the text but leaves it in the file: anyone can select it and copy it. Redacting in aval removes the text under the mark. To check, search for the hidden word in the downloaded file.

The file name

Use a name that says what it is and whose it is, like “surname-lease-2026.pdf”. It's the first thing the other person sees, and the easiest way to find the file later.