PDF annotation and attachment markups

Markups can be applied to PDF annotations and attachments. The different types of annotations and attachments are described below as well as how to apply markups to them.

PDF annotation redactions

Annotations are commonly used in PDFs and with Redact you can apply markups to any annotations you desire. There are two different kinds of annotations used in PDF files including annotations that are used to mark up the PDF file and annotations that consist of interactive forms or multimedia. To learn more about the different annotations, see PDF annotation types below.

PDF annotation types

There are two types of PDF annotations: markups and non-markup annotations.

Markup annotations

There are three types of markup annotations:

  • Free text annotations which placed on text in a PDF file.
  • Pop-up associated annotations include Text, Line, Square, Circle, Highlight, Underline, Strikeout, RubberStamp, Caret, Ink, and File Attachments.
    • Text Markup annotations are a subtype of pop-up associated annotations and contain one or more words in a document upon which the pop-up is associated with. They also include markup annotations such as Underline, Strikeout, Caret, Squiggly, etc.
  • Sounds annotations do not have a pop-up window but may have associated text specified by the Contents entry.

Non-markup annotations

Pop-up annotations typically do not appear by themselves and have a parent property which is associated to a markup annotation.

If no parent association is defined for a pop-up annotation, the Viewer may use the pop-up annotation's content as the text for the annotation.

Applying redactions to PDF annotations

To apply a redaction to a PDF file with annotations do the following:

  1. Select the desired markup set in the bottom-left drop-drown menu. If None is selected, you will not be able to apply markups.
  2. Click the Redaction Mode icon. The black redaction tool is the default. Click the drop-down menu to select a different tool. You can select from the following:
    • Black - creates a solid black box, like using a black marker. While you draw the box, a gray translucent fill appears.
    • Text - creates a white redaction box with black text. The text will fill the box by default. To change the font size, keep the redaction box selected and click the Font Size drop-down menu, and then select a new font size from the drop-down menu. You can right-click a text box redaction and select Edit to change the text redaction as desired. Alternatively, you can right-click a text box redaction and select either most recent word or phrase you entered while editing a redaction or if you have never edited or created a text redaction before, you can select Redacted instead. The system admin determines which text options are available.
    • White - creates a solid white box with a gray border. The gray border won't be printed or produced.
  3. Draw the redaction boxes across the annotation you want to redact. You can draw in any direction.
    Note: You cannot redact part of an annotation. If a redaction is applied to an annotation, the entire annotation will be redacted.
    The redaction is applied to the PDF file.

Redacting PDF attachments

PDF files that contain embedded files can also be redacted with Redact. Embedded files often contain multimedia content but they can also be a means of retaining an external file reference when the PDF file is archived or transmitted. PDF attachments can be manually redacted in the Redact Navigation card. Alternatively, if you would like PDF files to be redacted through automation, see Automated PDF markup project.

Applying markups to PDF attachments

To apply a markup to a PDF file with attachments do the following:

  1. Select the desired markup set in the bottom-left drop-drown menu. If None is selected, you will not be able to apply markups.
  2. Click the Redaction Mode icon. The black redaction tool is the default. Click the drop-down menu to select a different tool. You can select from the following:
    • Black - creates a solid black box, like using a black marker. While you draw the box, a gray translucent fill appears.
    • Text - creates a white redaction box with black text. The text will fill the box by default. To change the font size, keep the redaction box selected and click the Font Size drop-down menu, and then select a new font size from the drop-down menu. You can right-click a text box redaction and select Edit to change the text redaction as desired. Alternatively, you can right-click a text box redaction and select either most recent word or phrase you entered while editing a redaction or if you have never edited or created a text redaction before, you can select Redacted instead. The system admin determines which text options are available.
    • White - creates a solid white box with a gray border. The gray border won't be printed or produced.
  3. Draw the redaction boxes across the annotation you want to redact. You can draw in any direction.
    Note: Attachments that are redacted will be removed completely from the document. If you would like to view the file with the attachment removed, either click on the Download Marked Up File button or run a production preparation project that includes the PDF document.
    The redaction is applied to the PDF file.