⚠️ The Problem: Interactive PDFs (Invoices, Applications) can be edited by anyone who opens them. "Flattening" is the process of welding these fields onto the page.
⚙️ How Flattening Works
1. The AcroForm Dictionary
Fillable PDFs store data in a separate layer called the AcroForm dictionary. This layer floats above the visual content.
2. Rasterization vs Vector Merge
Bad tools convert the whole page to an image (Rasterization), which makes text blurry. Our Sigma-Engine uses Vector Merge. We take the text from the form field and draw it directly onto the Content Stream.
3. Result: Read-Only
Once flattened, the computer no longer sees "Fields". It just sees text. This guarantees the document prints exactly as it looks and cannot be altered.