How to annotate PDFs on iPhone and iPad

How to annotate PDFs with PDF Expert

Annotating is the most natural way to organize and remember the text you read. You can go back to it later and quickly recall the general concepts, plot, and themes of the text. "Right" annotations also help you develop a deeperunderstanding of the text, regardless if it's a professional article or best-selling fiction.

PDF Expert is the best tool for this task. It's a fast, reliable, and easy-to-use PDF app for all Apple devices: iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Let's take a closer look at all the tools you can work with. And if you'd like to annotate PDFs on your Mac, check this handy guide.

Download PDF Expert for free from the App Store and let's add some notes to your text!

How to highlight text in PDFs

By using color to keep topics and sources distinct from one another, you can create a visual shortcut to the information you need right when you need it. Doing this saves a lot of page flipping and can make sure you don't forget key information while writing and revising.

To highlight, underline or strike out the text:

1. Tap Annotate on the toolbar.
2. Select Highlight, Underline , or Strikeout .
3. Tap and drag on the text you'd like to annotate.

With PDF Expert, you can also create your own color palette and add any colors you wish with a color picker.

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How to draw in PDF files

With PDF Expert, you can draw on a PDF like on a regular text document, using only your finger or the Apple Pencil. Draw or sketch anything you wish: 3D plans for construction, UX maps, financial graphs, and many more.

To start drawing:

1. Tap Annotate on the toolbar.
2. Pick either Pen or Marker tool, select your color, opacity and line thickness.
3. Draw and write anything you wish!

You can also adjust the tip sensitivity for the Pen and opacity for the Marker. PDF Expert remembers your choice so the next time you can quickly pick the needed tool.

Don't worry if you added an extra element. You can easily wipe it out from your PDF with the Eraser tool.

How to add shapes to your PDF file

Create diagrams and schemes using shapes such as arrows, circles, rectangles, etc. The tools are interconnected and easy to combine. Adding different shapes can also draw attention to a particular part of your PDF.

To add a shape:

1. Select Annotate on the toolbar.
2. Tap and select the shape you want to add.
3. Pick the color, line thickness, and opacity.
4. Tap on your PDF to place the shape.

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How to add stamps to PDF files

PDF Expert has a collection of stamps you can insert into your PDF files. Moreover, you can create your own stamps with texts or images.

Follow these steps to add a stamp:

1. Tap and hold on a place in a document where you want to insert a stamp.
2. Tap Stamp in the pop-up menu. Note: On your iPhone, use the arrow button to find this option.

Here's how to create a custom stamp:

1. Tap and hold where you want to add a stamp.
2. Select Stamp in a pop-up menu.
3. Tap Custom.
4. Select New Text Stamp or New Image Stamp.

For the text stamp, you can type any text you like. To include the current date or time to your stamp, enable the Date or Time toggle. PDF Expert automatically updates the date and time on your stamps.

For the image stamp, you can select a picture from Photos.

Note: The stamp you create is available in the Custom tab of the Stamps menu.

How to create text notes in PDFs

We all know the workflow: A collaborator sends a draft proposal or paper; we read it carefully, chew it over, and send it back. PDF Expert gets the job done for writing summaries or sharing feedback with coworkers.

You can create two types of notes:

1. Pop-up note. Tap Annotate on the toolbar and select Note and then tap on any place in a PDF to add a pop-up note. You can move the pop-up note afterward by tapping, holding, and dragging the note icon. Alternatively, you can create a pop-up note by tapping and holding on the PDF and selecting Note from the pop-up.
2. Text note. Tap Annotate on the toolbar and select Text and then tap where you want to insert a note. The keyboard will show up, and you'll be able to type the text. At the top of the keyboard, you can select a font, its weight and size, text, and background color.

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How to create sound annotations in PDF files

When circles, arrows, boxes, and text edits aren't enough to decry a document's problems or cheer its virtues, it's time to pull out the Sound annotation tool. Let's see how to use it in PDF Expert.

1. Tap and hold on the PDF page wherever you want the annotation icon to appear.
2. Select Sound from the pop-up menu.

3. Speak, sing, or otherwise make noise to express your thoughts.
4. Tap the Stop button.

Now, when commenting on someone's PDF file, you can literally say, "This is wrong," or "Great idea!"

How to add stickers to a PDF file

PDF Expert comes with a collection of colorful stickers to add more fun to your PDFs. We've created eight sticker packs for educators, business people, cat lovers, and more.

To add a sticker:

1. Select Annotate on the toolbar.
2. Tap and pick the sticker that suits your mood the best!

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How to download annotations from PDFs

PDF Expert allows you to easily download only annotations from your PDF files. When you're working on research, annotations and notes help you highlight the most important parts of the text and create summaries. Export them as a separate file, so you can quickly find what you need later.

Here's how it works in PDF Expert:

1. Open a document.
2. Tap at the top right on iPad or at the bottom on iPhone.
3. Open the Annotations tab on the right.
4. On iPad, tap Export at the top right. On iPhone, tap Export Annotations.
5. Name the file and select where to save it.
6. Choose one of the export options.
   Annotation Summary saves the list of all annotations as an HTML file.
   Annotated Pages creates a new PDF file from the pages containing annotations.
7. Tap Export.

How to remove all annotations from your PDF

There's no need to delete or erase annotations one at a time if you use PDF Expert. Save time and delete all the marks in a few taps. Here's how it works:

1. Open a document.
2. Tap at the top right on your iPad or at the bottom on your iPhone.
3. Open the Annotations tab on the right.
4. Tap Clear.
5. In a pop-up message, tap Yes.

Note: To undo this change, return to your document and tap on the toolbar.

Using PDF Expert is the best way to annotate PDFs on iPhone and iPad.

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