PDF drawing markup tools are powerful features that let you interact with your documents creatively and practically. Whether you're highlighting important information, adding notes, or sketching out ideas, these tools give you the flexibility to convey your thoughts in PDFs.
They go beyond just text annotations, which allow you to draw freehand, create shapes, and add lines or arrows to emphasize key points. These tools are especially useful for professionals, students, and anyone needing to visually communicate ideas directly on a document for quick collaboration.
But how to do it? In this guide, we’ll discuss the step-by-step process of the top 5 tools for this purpose to make your documents more dynamic, interactive, and tailored to your needs.
Part 1. PDF Drawing Markup Tools - 5 Top Annotators
To simplify your decision to choose the right tool with easy-to-use PDF drawing markup tools, we’ve rounded up our top 5 choices. These top annotators offer powerful solutions to improve your workflows and make sure your drawing annotations are always meant to be what you suppose them to be.
Let’s start!
1. Afirstsoft PDF
Although Afirstsoft PDF does not have a dedicated pen or drawing tool to annotate your PDFs, you can use the different categories under the Stickers section that mimic what you do while drawing on the document.
The free version of the software works great on Windows and Mac computers, but to get more cloud storage, file upload size, and no watermarks when downloading the file, opt for the paid version that costs $7.99 per month, $44.99 per year, and $55.99 for three years.
To use the Stickers on Afirsoft PDF to markup your PDF, do these steps:
2. Adobe Acrobat DC
Adobe Acrobat DC is a comprehensive PDF editor widely used in professional environments that includes different markup tools, including freehand drawing, shapes, and lines.
Its premium plans are Acrobat Pro and Acrobat Standard (cost $19.99/month and $12.99/month, respectively), which allow you to edit and sign your PDFs, along with access to loads of admin tools.
Do these steps to use the drawing markup tools in the software:
- Launch Adobe Acrobat DC on your computer.
- Open the PDF file you want to annotate by going to File > Open and selecting your document.
- Click on the Tools tab at the top.
- Select Comment from the list of tools. This will open the Comment toolbar.
- In the Comment toolbar, look for the “Drawing Tools” icon (it may look like a pencil or pen).
- Click on the “Drawing Tools” icon to see a drop-down menu with options to draw free form, polygon, or line, and select one.
- Select the tool you want to use.
- Click and drag your mouse or stylus on the PDF where you want to draw.
- Release the mouse button to finish the drawing.
- After drawing, you can adjust the thickness, color, and opacity properties of your drawing.
- You can also move or resize your drawing by clicking on it and dragging the corners.
- After you’re done, save the changes.
3. PDFgear
Along with different annotations, PDFgear has various PDF drawing markup tools free of any cost, which you can use on Windows, Mac, and iOS devices. Here’s how to use it:
- First, download the PDFgear Desktop on your PC and install it.
- Launch the software and open the PDF you want to draw on.
- Click ‘Annotate’ in the top menu to see the drawing tools, including freehand ink, shapes, etc.
- Click on the PDF and drag your mouse to create freehand drawings. You can also change the color, thickness, line, and other properties before you start drawing on the file.
- Click the Save as button on the menubar and select where you want to save the markedup document.
4. Filestage
Filestage is another great online PDF reviewer that supports multiple browsers and offers many features, including free drawing annotations. It also has paid subscriptions, which give you access to more active projects, automations, and secure storage.
Here are the steps you need to follow to use the drawing markup tools in Filestage:
- Book a demo version or start a free trial on the Filestage website.
- Click the link received from Filestage in the emailto open the tool on your browser.
- Then, set up a new project by opening your PDF file on the online platform and clicking anywhere on the document.
- Here, you’ll see a sub-menu where you can select the drawing or line tools to annotate your PDFs.
- After you are done, add the team member to your Filestage account and let them review your drawing markups for easy collaboration.
5. Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit PDF Editor provides drawing tools like freehand, shapes, lines, and highlights. It’s a solid alternative to Adobe Acrobat with a focus on speed and ease of use while annotating on desktop or mobile devices.
The downside is that you have to buy a volume license to download and use the software with your team. However, if you have more than 35 team members, the price may be worth it.
Do these steps to use the PDF drawing markup tools while using Foxit PDF Editor.
- Buy and install the Foxit PDF editor from their official website.
- Open your PDF file on the Foxit PDF editor by clicking File > Open.
- Tap or click Drawing, which is located at the top of the toolbar.
- Select the Polyline, Polygon, or Cloud tool on the Drawing toolbar.
- Click on the document where you want to add these drawing segments.
- Alternatively, select the Pencil tool on the Drawing toolbar for freehand drawings. Another way to access the Pencil is to long-press the black section on the PDF and click Pencil from the pop-up menu.
- Tap the property to select the brushwork style for the Pencil tool, and then choose the line color, opacity, and thickness as per your requirements. The editor will then save the properties you’ve chosen for the Pencil tool automatically for later use.
- Draw on the PDF document to add shapes or whatever comes to mind while marking up.
- You can also utilize the line, rectangle, oval, or arrow shapes on the Drawing toolbar. Simply select, long press, and drag over these shapes on the PDF to add the markup.
- After you are done, click Save at the top right.
- To share your document, click the Share icon, then choose your preferred sharing method, like email, Cloud storage, or select from other options.
Part 2. Best Practices for Using Drawing Markup Tools to Annotate PDFs
When annotating PDFs with drawing markup tools, there are a few best practices to keep in mind to make sure your annotations are clear, useful, and professional.
First, choose the right tool for the job. Use freehand drawing for quick notes or sketches, but for precise shapes, opt for lines, arrows, or shape tools. This makes your annotations look clean and organized.
Next, be careful while choosing color and thickness. Use contrasting colors that stand out against the document’s background, but don’t overdo it with too many colors. Stick to one or two shaded to keep things simple and easy to follow. Also, adjust the thickness of your lines depending on the level of detail you need. Thicker lines are better for emphasis, while thinner lines work well for subtle notes.
Another important thing is to label your drawings if necessary. If you’ve drawn something that’s not so easy to understand, add a text label to explain what it means. This makes your annotations more understandable, especially if others are reviewing the document.
Keep it tidy. Avoid cluttering the page with too many annotations, as this can overwhelm the reader. Focus on the most important points and keep your drawings concise.
Finally, review your annotations one more time before saving them. Make sure everything is clear and that the drawings don’t obscure any important text or images in the original document.
Part 3. FAQs Related to PDF Drawing Markup Tools
How do I mark up a drawing in PDF?
Open the Afirstsoft PDF software, import your PDF, click Comment at the top, and then click the Stickers option. Now scroll to the page where you want to mark up a drawing and insert shapes and stickers for 12 different categories to visually communicate your thoughts.
What is the best PDF markup tool?
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is widely considered the top choice when it comes to annotating PDFs with comments, drawings, and more. However, other tools like Foxit PDF Editor and Afirstsoft PDF also offer ease of use and amazing markup features at a lower cost, making them great alternatives.
How do I get drawing tools in PDF?
To get and use the drawing tools in your PDF, you need to download and install a PDF editor or viewer like Adobe Pro DC or Afirstsoft PDF on your PC.
Where is markup tools in PDF?
Launch the Afirstsoft PDF software on your PC, import your PDF file, and then click the Comment option showing at the top of the toolbar. Here, you’ll see Highlight, Underline, Stirckethrougg, Tilde, and Stickers options to mark up your PDF file and then save it on your device or on Afirstdoft PDF Cloud.
How do I draw freehand on a PDF?
Import your PDF in Adobe Acrobat DC, click Tools, and then select Comment. Next, click the pencil icon on top, select a drawing tool, click and drag your mouse or stylus on the PDF where you want to draw, and release it where you want to stop.
Part 4. Conclusion
In conclusion, we’ve disclosed the best 5 annotators that offer the best PDF drawing markup tools to transform your static documents into interactive canvases. Although freehand drawing is a great way to tell what you want to be done in the PDF, the stickers collection in Afirstsoft PDF helps you convey the same thought without having to draw anything.
So give Afirstsoft PDF a try, and you’ll find a few stickers that would actually replace your need for drawing and thus save you time so that you can work on multiple files at a time.
