Pencil Annotations

The Pencil tool allows you to draw free hand shapes and text on the document. Pencil annotations can consist of multiple marks or gestures. The Delay property on the pencil tool specifies the amount of time to wait before completing the pencil annotation. Once created pencil shapes can be resized by dragging any of the resize handles on the shape.

Creating a Pencil Annotation

Select the Pencil tool by clicking the on the toolbar
Click and drag to create your free hand shape.
Release the mouse to complete the line
- Note: There is a delay between when the mouse is released and when the annotation is placed. This is to allow you to create multiple lines (such as drawing a signature) that can be a part of the same single annotation. This delay can be adjusted in Comments Preferences or by changing the default using the properties dialog.

Annotation Properties

To access the Pencil properties right click (Mac: Ctrl + Click) on the annotation and choose Properties in the mouse menu or click on the edit button on the Mini Toolbar. The Pencil annotation contains the following property settings.

Appearance

Line Width - Sets the width of the border line

Color - Sets the color of the border

Transparency - Sets the transparency of the shape

Note / Comment - A note can be added to shapes that will be displayed when hovered over by the mouse

Save as default - When checked this will make the selected appearance settings the default for any new Pencil annotations going forward

Locked - When checked prevents the following on the annotation: being moved or resized, editing appearance properties, & deleting the annotation.

General

Author - Allows you to edit the author

Subject - Allows you to edit the subject

Layer - Only available when the document contains layers. Sets the layer that the annotation belongs to. For more information see Assigning Comments to Layers

Status History

This tab will display and changes to the review status of the annotation including Author, Status, and Timestamp. For more details see Setting Status or Check Marks on Annotations

Delay Setting

The Delay property on the pencil tool specifies the amount of time to wait before completing the pencil annotation. This is to allow you to create multiple lines (such as drawing a signature) that can be a part of the same single annotation.