Marking up PDFs

When viewing a PDF in CoLab, you can use CoLab's markup tools located at the top left of your screen to add markups directly to the PDF. You can then save your markups as Feedback items and assign them to other CoLab users.

Pro Tip: Double click on any markup tool to make it the dominant markup tool in use.

Placing markup on a PDF will automatically generate a feedback item, which can then be assigned to another user and further discussed via a discussion thread. 

Here’s an overview of each 2D markup tool:

  General feedback

You can create feedback that applies to the file in general which is not specific to a certain aspect of the file.

Box select

You can select single markup by clicking on an object or click and drag on the canvas to select multiple objects. Once an object or multiple objects are selected you can click and drag those objects around the canvas. If a single object is selected, you can click on the anchors located on the corner of the object.

  Pen

Allows you to make pen-like markups on the PDF. Click on the ‘Pen’ button to expand the toolbar with stroke colour and stroke width options to change the colour of the stroke or its width.

  Highlight

<icon> Allows you to make highlights on the PDF. Click on the ‘Highlight’ button to expand the toolbar with the stroke colour button to change the colour of the stroke. 

  Markup Shapes

Allow you to select a desired shape that is used to highlight an area and leave feedback on it. Click on the Markup Shapes button to expand the toolbar with options to change the fill colour, shape colour and stroke width. 

  Line

Allows you to draw lines on the PDF. Click on the Line button and use the Stroke Color and Stroke Width buttons to modify the line. 

  Arrow

Allows you to draw arrows on the PDF. Click on the Arrow button and use the Stroke Color and Stroke Width buttons to modify the shape. 

  Callout

Creates an arrow, associated text box and feedback window. Click on the Callout button to expand the toolbar with options to change the shape fill, line colour, text colour, shape line width and font size. Text entered in the text box will be auto-populated in the feedback title. 

  Text

Allows you to place text boxes on the PDF. Click on the Text button and use the toolbar options to change the text colour or size. Text entered in the text box will be auto-populated in the feedback title.

  Undo/Redo

Allow you to undo or redo any of the activities from this toolbar. 

  Delete

Allows you to delete any activities from this toolbar. WARNING: deleted activities cannot be recovered.