Remediate Your First PDF
In this tutorial, we’ll upload a PDF, let our tool propose accessibility tags for it, make one edit in the block-by-block editor, and publish an accessible PDF you can download. By the end, you’ll have a working accessible PDF in hand.
You’ll need a Content Studio account. If you don’t have one yet, start with Create your account. PDF projects are a Beta feature and require a paid plan — see the pricing page if you’re on Free.
What “remediation” means here
Section titled “What “remediation” means here”Content Studio only edits the invisible accessibility layer, never how your PDF looks — see What PDF accessibility remediation means for details.
1. Start a new PDF project
Section titled “1. Start a new PDF project”- In the sidebar, select New PDF Project. (The same button sits at the top of your My Projects page.) It carries a Beta badge, and a lock icon if your plan doesn’t include PDF work.
- Drag a PDF into the upload area, or click to choose one. Up to 100 MB.
- Give the project a name and set the Document language.
- Leave Quality and Output style at their defaults for now — the form shows the estimated credit cost as soon as it has read your page count.
- Select Create project.
2. Wait for our tool to analyze your PDF
Section titled “2. Wait for our tool to analyze your PDF”Our tool reads through your PDF and proposes tags: headings, reading order, alt text for images, table structure, and more. You’ll see your project’s status update when it’s ready.
3. Open the block-by-block editor
Section titled “3. Open the block-by-block editor”Click into your project to open the editor. Your PDF is broken into blocks — headings, paragraphs, images, tables, lists — each shown alongside the tag our tool proposed for it.
- Scroll through a page and notice the blocks lining up with what you see in the PDF preview.
- Find an image block. Notice it already has AI-written alt text describing what’s in the image.
4. Edit one block
Section titled “4. Edit one block”Let’s make one edit so you can see how it works.
- Click the alt text on that image block.
- Rewrite it in your own words — a screen reader will read exactly what you type.
- Save your change.
Notice your edit is reflected immediately in that block. You can do the same with headings, tables, lists, and reading order wherever our tool’s proposal needs adjusting — the how-to guide on fixing PDF accessibility issues covers each block type.
5. Publish
Section titled “5. Publish”When you’re ready, click Publish.
Content Studio applies your edits and finalizes the accessible version of your PDF.
6. Download your accessible PDF
Section titled “6. Download your accessible PDF”Once publishing finishes, you’ll see download options: the tagged accessible PDF, an HTML version, or your original file. Click to download the tagged PDF.
Notice there’s also an audit report on the project, explaining in plain language whether your document meets the PDF/UA-1 accessibility standard — for example, “this document meets PDF/UA-1 — screen readers should read it correctly.”
What you’ve done
Section titled “What you’ve done”You’ve uploaded a PDF, reviewed and edited an AI-proposed accessibility tag, published it, and downloaded an accessible PDF — one that looks identical to the original but now works with screen readers.
What’s next
Section titled “What’s next”- Fix PDF accessibility issues in the editor
- Republish a PDF after making further edits
- What PDF accessibility remediation means
- Try another project type: Generate alt text for a batch of images