Is there a way to flatten a .pdf image from the command line? In GIMP, I can import a PDF, and use the GUI to flatten it (if it was made with many layers) by selecting `Flatten Image` in the `Image` dropdown menu. I can then export the PDF with a new filename. I would like to automate this. Is there some way to do it via the terminal?

I found these 2 method via Google, in this thread titled: Re: Flattening PDF Files at the UNIX Command Line.

_Method #1 - using Imagemagick's convert:_


$ convert -density 300 orig.pdf flattened.pdf


**NOTE:** The quality is reported to be so so with this approach.

_Method #2 - Using pdf2ps -> ps2pdf:_


$ pdf2ps orig.pdf - | ps2pdf - flattened.pdf


**NOTE:** This method is reported to retain the image quality.