In today’s digital age, sharing digital brochures like trifolds via email is fast, convenient, and cost-effective. However, many content creators and businesses face a critical challenge: how to protect their PDF documents from unauthorized copying, editing, and screenshots once they’ve been sent out.
At VeryPDF, we recently received an excellent question from a customer who regularly sells and distributes Trifold PDFs worldwide. This article answers that question and goes deeper into how to apply strong DRM (Digital Rights Management) settings using VeryPDF DRM Protector.
Customer Inquiry: How to Protect Trifold PDFs from Being Misused
Hi There,
I am selling Trifolds all over the world and I need certain settings on my Trifold when they are being sent out by email.
Can you tell me the settings in the DRM sections that consists of:
- No screenshots?
- No copying or editing?
I have tried to do this on my end and it doesn’t seem to work for me. People will be downloading this mostly on their phones.
Thanks,
Customer
Our Response: How to Apply DRM Settings with VeryPDF
Hi,
Thank you for reaching out.
Yes, VeryPDF DRM Protector allows you to prevent screenshots, copying, and editing of your PDF Trifolds when they are viewed through DRM protection.
Please note:
- Stopping screenshots is only effective when the protected PDF is viewed on Windows or Mac web browsers.
- On mobile devices (iPhone or Android), due to OS-level limitations, screenshots cannot be fully blocked. However, you can add dynamic tile watermarks (e.g., user name, timestamp, IP address) to discourage and trace unauthorized screenshots.
We recommend enabling both:
- “Disable Copy/Edit”
- “Tile Watermark”
in the DRM settings before sending out your Trifolds.
You can test its functions from our website directly, the online trial is always free:
https://drm.verypdf.com/online/
Regards,
VeryPDF Team
Understanding the DRM Features in Detail
Let’s take a closer look at the two key settings that address the customer’s concerns:
1. Blocking Copying and Editing
If you want to stop users from copying the text or editing the content of your Trifold PDFs, you need to enable “Disable Copy/Edit” in the DRM Protector settings.
Once this is activated:
- Users cannot select or copy any part of the text in the PDF.
- PDF editors will not be able to open or modify the document.
- Content is locked from OCR and text extraction tools.
This setting works across all platforms, including:
- Desktop browsers (Windows, macOS)
- Mobile devices (iOS, Android)
- Embedded web viewers
2. Preventing Screenshots (or Mitigating Screenshot Risk)
Due to the way operating systems work, completely blocking screenshots is only possible under specific conditions:
- Users must be viewing the document via a DRM-protected browser interface (not through native PDF apps).
- The device must be a Windows PC or macOS using supported web browsers (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Safari).
Unfortunately, on mobile devices, operating systems like Android and iOS do not allow web applications to block screenshots due to security restrictions.
Our Solution: Dynamic Watermarking
To reduce the risk and discourage users from taking screenshots:
- Enable the “Tile Watermark” option.
- You can embed user-specific data like:
- Name
- Email address
- IP address
- Access time
- Serial number
These watermarks appear repeatedly across the page, making screenshots traceable and less likely to be shared publicly.
How to Configure These Settings in VeryPDF DRM Protector
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Visit https://drm.verypdf.com/online/
- Upload your Trifold PDF document.
- In the DRM Settings Panel, enable the following:
- ✅ Disable Copy/Edit
- ✅ Add Tile Watermark
- Customize the watermark text using dynamic fields like
{user_name},{access_time}, or{ip_address}. - Click “Protect & Generate Link”.
- Send the secure viewing link to your customers by email.
You can even track views and revoke access at any time from your dashboard.
Bonus Tips for Securing Trifold PDFs
- Set Expiry Dates: Configure the document to expire after a certain number of days or views.
- Bind to Device or IP: Limit access to a specific device ID or IP address.
- Disable Print: You can also disable printing if needed.
- Enable Online Viewing Only: Prevent downloads entirely and force online-only access through the secure viewer.
Why This Matters for Your Business
If you’re distributing professionally designed Trifold brochures or marketing materials, protecting your intellectual property is essential. Without DRM, your PDFs can easily be:
- Shared freely without attribution
- Copied, edited, and reused by competitors
- Leaked via screenshots and unauthorized reproductions
By applying DRM controls using VeryPDF DRM Protector, you:
- Safeguard your content
- Maintain licensing and control
- Build trust with professional buyers who expect secure access
Final Thoughts
While no DRM solution is 100% bulletproof—especially on mobile platforms—VeryPDF DRM Protector provides one of the strongest combinations of copy/edit protection and dynamic watermarking available for secure PDF sharing. It is especially well-suited for use cases like yours, where Trifold PDFs are sent globally and need controlled access.
You can start for free and test all these features right now at:
https://drm.verypdf.com/online/
If you need further help configuring your DRM settings or want a custom demonstration, feel free to reach out. Our team is always here to help you protect your digital content.