How to Unredact a PDF
Overview
After processing a redacted PDF with an AI tool, you can use Conseal to merge the AI output back with the original sensitive content. Conseal maps redaction placeholders back to their original values, producing a final document that contains both the AI-generated results and your original data — all processed locally.
Step-by-step instructions
Follow these steps to unredact a PDF and restore original content using Conseal.
- 1
Open the AI-processed PDF in Conseal
Launch Conseal and open the PDF file returned from your AI tool. Conseal will recognize the redaction placeholders embedded in the document.
- 2
Load the original redaction map
Conseal automatically looks for the redaction map associated with this file. If prompted, locate the .csmap file saved during the original redaction step. This file contains the encrypted mapping of placeholders to original values.
- 3
Preview the restored document
Conseal will preview the document with original values substituted back in place of the redaction blocks. Review the document to confirm the mapping is correct before exporting.
- 4
Export the restored PDF
Click 'Export Restored PDF'. The final file contains your AI output with all sensitive data reinserted at the correct positions. Store or share this file according to your organization's data handling policy.