Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional

Annotating a PDF File: Using the Comment & Markup Tools

The Comment & Markup tools allow you to add notes, stamps, and document or sound files to a PDF. This document explains how to use these Comment & Markup tools.

The Comment & Markup Tools
Using the Commenting Tools
Using the Markup Tools

NOTE: For more information on the Comment & Markup tools, please refer to Using the Text Edits Tools, Working with Markups, and Adding an Attachment.

The Comment and Markup Tools

To view the tools that will allow you to annotate your PDF document with notes, stamps, or attached files, follow these instructions.

From the View menu, select Toolbars » Comment & Markup
The Comment & Markup toolbar appears.

Comment & Markup Tools

Button	Name	Action
	Sticky Note Tool	Attaches a note or comment, which can be minimized, to your document.
	Text Edits Tools	Allows you to indicate that text should be inserted, deleted, and replaced.
	Stamp Tool	Adds a stamp, much like a rubber stamp. It also allows you to customize your own stamps.
	Highlight Text Tool	Allows you to highlight selected text or objects.
	Callout Tool	Allows you to indicate a place in the document and comment on it.
	Text Box Tool	Inserts a text box where specified.
	Cloud Tool	Allows you to draw a cloud around selected text or objects.
	Arrow Tool	Allows you to draw an arrow on the desired page.
	Line Tool	Allows you to draw a line on the desired page.
	Rectangle Tool	Allows you to draw a rectangle on the desired page.
	Oval Tool	Allows you to draw an oval on the desired page.
	Pencil Tool	Allows you to draw freeform on the desired page.
	Show Tool	Allows you to choose which comments are shown and how they are shown on the page.

NOTE: Not all of the Comment & Markup tools are visible on the toolbar. To view more tools, from the Tools menu, select Comment & Markup.

Using the Comment Tools

The Comment tools (the Sticky Note Tool and the Stamp Tool) allow you to insert comments on various parts of the document without disrupting readability.

The Sticky Note Tool

The Sticky Note Tool allows you to select specific text and comment on it.

On the Comment & Markup toolbar, click STICKY NOTE TOOL
Click on the text where you would like to add a note
The Pop-up Note appears.
In the Pop-up Note, type a comment
Close the Pop-up Note
To view comments, click the note balloon
To move the note balloon, click on the balloon and drag it to the desired position

The Stamp Tool

The Stamp Tool allows you to add stamps to your PDF document much like a rubber stamp. For example, you can add stamps that say "Approved" or "Initial Here."

On the Comment & Markup toolbar, click the arrow next to the STAMP TOOL
A menu appears with different stamp options.
Select the desired stamp
If this is the first time you have used the Stamp Tool, the Identity Setup dialog box appears.
Complete the desired fields
Click COMPLETE
To place the stamp as it appears, position your mouse in the desired location and click
To move the stamp
1. From the Select & Zoom toolbar, select the HAND TOOL
2. Move the hand over the stamp until it turns into a pointer
3. Click and drag the stamp to the desired location
To resize the stamp
1. From the Select & Zoom toolbar, select the HAND TOOL
2. Select the stamp you would like to resize
3. Move your cursor over one of the corner handles
  The cursor will change into a diagonal double-headed arrow.
4. Click and drag the corner handles to the desired size
OPTIONAL: To add a note to your stamp
1. Double click the stamp
  The Stamp Pop-up Note appears.
2. In the Pop-up Note, type your comments
3. Close the Pop-up Note
4. To view the note, click the stamp

Using the Markup Tools

Some Markup tools allow you to indicate specific points in the text by drawing shapes (e.g., Arrow Tool, Line Tool, Oval Tool), while others allow you to add editing marks specifying whether text should be inserted, deleted, or replaced (e.g., Text Edits Tools). You also have the option of adding a comment to any of the Markup tools. These instructions use an example of adding an Arrow.

Open the PDF document that you would like to markup
From the Comment & Markup toolbar, select the desired Markup tool
EXAMPLE: Click the ARROW TOOL
Click or click and drag on the document to create the desired markup
EXAMPLE: Click and drag until the arrow is of desired size.
OPTIONAL: To add a note to your markup
1. Double click the markup
  A Pop-up Note appears.
2. In the Pop-up Note, type your comments
3. Close the Pop-up Note
  A small note balloon will appear near your markup.
4. To view the note, click the note balloon