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Markups & Annotations
Overview
Markup tools allow you to add visual annotations directly on drawings and documents. Markups provide clear, unambiguous feedback that's easier to understand than text descriptions alone.
Accessing Markup Tools
Toolbar Location
Markup tools are located in the review environment toolbar:
- Top of screen (most common)
- Left side panel
- Floating toolbar (some configurations)
Tool Visibility
Tools display when:
- Viewing a markup-supported artifact (DWG, PDF, etc.)
- In review mode
- User has permission to add markups
Available Markup Tools
Freehand Pen
Purpose: Draw freehand lines and shapes
Use for:
- Circling areas
- Drawing arrows
- Underlining text
- Custom shapes
How to use:
- Select pen tool
- Choose color (if supported)
- Click and drag to draw
- Release to complete
Shapes
Rectangle:
- Box around areas
- Highlighting sections
- Boundary indicators
Circle/Ellipse:
- Circling items
- Highlighting points
- Area indicators
Arrow:
- Pointing to specific items
- Direction indicators
- Attention markers
Line:
- Connecting points
- Dimension indicators
- Reference lines
How to use:
- Select shape tool
- Click start point
- Drag to end point
- Release to complete
Text Annotation
Purpose: Add text notes directly on artifacts
Use for:
- Explanatory notes
- Callouts
- Labels
- Detailed comments
How to use:
- Select text tool
- Click placement location
- Type your text
- Click outside to finish
Best practices:
- Keep text concise
- Use clear font size
- Position for readability
- Avoid covering important details
Highlight
Purpose: Highlight text or areas with semi-transparent color
Use for:
- Emphasizing text
- Marking sections
- Color-coding issues
How to use:
- Select highlight tool
- Choose color
- Drag over area to highlight
- Release to apply
Cloud/Revision Cloud
Purpose: Traditional revision cloud marking
Use for:
- Marking change areas
- Indicating revisions needed
- Standard engineering markup
How to use:
- Select cloud tool
- Click points to define cloud boundary
- Double-click or click start to close
- Cloud automatically forms around points
Measurement (If Available)
Purpose: Measure distances or areas on drawings
Use for:
- Verifying dimensions
- Checking spacing
- Area calculations
How to use:
- Select measurement tool
- Click start point
- Click end point
- Measurement displays
Stamp (If Available)
Purpose: Add predefined stamps
Common stamps:
- Approved
- Rejected
- Reviewed
- For Information
- Confidential
How to use:
- Select stamp tool
- Choose stamp type
- Click to place on artifact
Markup Properties
Color
Most tools support color selection:
- Red: Issues, problems, rejections
- Green: Approvals, good
- Yellow/Orange: Warnings, questions
- Blue: Information, notes
- Black: General markup
Color best practices:
- Use consistent color coding
- Red for required changes
- Yellow for suggestions
- Green for approval indicators
Line Weight/Thickness
Adjust line thickness:
- Thin: Detailed markup
- Medium: Standard use
- Thick: Emphasis, visibility
Transparency
Some tools support transparency:
- Full opacity: Maximum visibility
- Semi-transparent: Show underlying content
- Adjust based on need
Working with Markups
Selecting Markups
Click any markup to select it:
- Selection handles appear
- Properties editable
- Can move, resize, or delete
Moving Markups
- Select markup
- Drag to new location
- Release to place
Resizing Markups
- Select markup
- Drag corner/edge handles
- Release when sized correctly
Deleting Markups
Options:
- Select and press Delete key
- Right-click → Delete
- Use eraser tool
Editing Markups
- Select markup
- Modify properties (color, size, etc.)
- Edit text (for text annotations)
- Changes apply immediately
Undo and Redo
Undo Last Markup
Keyboard: Ctrl + Z (or Cmd + Z on Mac)
Button: Undo button in toolbar
Effect: Removes last markup action
Redo
Keyboard: Ctrl + Y (or Cmd + Y on Mac)
Button: Redo button in toolbar
Effect: Restores undone action
Multiple Undo
- Most systems support multiple undo levels
- Continue pressing Ctrl+Z to undo further back
- History depth varies by implementation
Markup Best Practices
Clarity
- ✅ Be specific about location
- ✅ Use clear, legible annotations
- ✅ Don't obscure important information
- ✅ Use appropriate tool for the task
Consistency
- ✅ Use consistent colors for similar issues
- ✅ Similar line weights
- ✅ Consistent annotation style
- ✅ Standard terminology
Completeness
- ✅ Mark all issues found
- ✅ Don't assume submitter will understand
- ✅ Be thorough but not excessive
- ✅ Supplement with text comments if needed
Professionalism
- ✅ Use professional language
- ✅ Avoid emoji or casual text
- ✅ Be constructive, not critical
- ✅ Focus on actionable feedback
Common Markup Scenarios
Indicating a Change Needed
Approach:
- Use revision cloud around area
- Add text annotation explaining change
- Use red color for visibility
- Add arrow pointing to specific item
Example: Cloud the dimension, add text "Change to 25.5mm"
Approving a Section
Approach:
- Add green checkmark or circle
- Add text "Approved" or "OK"
- Use stamp if available
Example: Green circle with "Approved - JT"
Asking a Question
Approach:
- Use yellow/orange color
- Add text annotation with question
- Circle or arrow to specific item
Example: Yellow text "Is this material correct?"
Marking Multiple Issues
Approach:
- Number each issue
- Add corresponding text annotations
- Use consistent colors
- Provide clear descriptions
Example:
- Red cloud "1"
- Text "1. Dimension incorrect, should be 15mm"
Markup Persistence
Saving Markups
Automatic save:
- Most systems auto-save markups
- Saved when capture completed
- Persist in capture record
Manual save (if supported):
- Save button to manually persist
- Ensure markups saved before closing
Viewing Historical Markups
- Previous markups visible in timeline
- Can view markup history
- See who added which markups
- Timestamp on markups
Markup Ownership
- Markups associated with user who created them
- Visible to all who can view capture
- May support editing own markups only
Advanced Markup Features
Layering
If supported:
- Multiple markup layers
- Show/hide layers
- Organize by reviewer or type
Comparison Markups
When comparing versions:
- Automatic difference highlighting
- Manual comparison markups
- Color-coded changes
Collaborative Markups
Multiple reviewers:
- Each reviewer's markups in different color
- View by reviewer filter
- Combine feedback from multiple sources
Troubleshooting
Markup Tools Not Available
Check:
- Are you viewing supported file type?
- Do you have permission to add markups?
- Is artifact loaded correctly?
- Try refreshing page
Markups Not Saving
Check:
- Network connection
- Browser compatibility
- Complete capture action (don't just close)
- Check browser console for errors
Can't Select/Edit Markups
Check:
- Are they your markups? (may only edit own)
- Is capture still editable?
- Try clicking directly on markup
- Use selection tool if available
Markups Not Visible
Check:
- Markup layer visibility toggled off?
- Zoom level appropriate?
- Color contrast with background?
- Refresh artifact view
Tips for Effective Markup
Combine with Comments
- Use markups for specific visual feedback
- Use comments for overall observations
- Reference markup locations in comments
- Provide complete feedback package
Think About the Recipient
- Will they understand your markup?
- Is it clear what action is needed?
- Have you provided enough context?
- Is feedback constructive?
Review Your Markups
Before completing capture:
- Review all markups added
- Ensure they're clear and accurate
- Check for completeness
- Verify all issues marked
Next Steps
After adding markups:
- Take Actions - Complete capture with approval or rejection
- Return to Capture Inbox - View other captures