Tricked & befuddled by "Take Photo" option for PDFs in Mac Preview app

Post date: 2025-03-22 06:25:08

While trying to extract two pages from a password-protected PDF on a Mac, using the Preview app, I tried the "Take Photo" option by control-clicking on a thumbnail and following the directions, only to have it insert a goofy and useless photo into the password-protected PDF. How do I rectify this and what purpose does this command serve?

I had this giant password-protected PDF that I only needed two pages from. So I went to the thumbnail of one of the pages I wanted and CTRL-clicked on it. The drop-down window that popped up had an option for "Take Photo" so I clicked on it.

A window appeared on the main pane of the page I desired, saying

Take a photo with "(your iPhone)"
Use your iPhone's camera to take a photo.

I picked up my iPhone and took a photo of the page I wanted. That photo of the page with the window on top of it, now shows up in my document. I don't want it there. I want to delete that photo, but I can't.

Can anyone help me with this? What is the purpose of that "Take Photo" option on Preview anyway? Thanks!

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