PDF Markup & Annotation

Need to review council documents, add notes to meeting minutes, or highlight important proposals? Your iPad makes it easy to mark up PDFs without printing them!

Opening and Marking Up PDFs

1 Open a PDF in the Files app or receive one via email. Tap to open it.

2 Tap the markup icon (it looks like a pen tip) in the top right corner of the screen.

3 Choose your tools from the markup toolbar that appears at the bottom of the screen.

4 Save your changes by tapping "Done" when you've finished.

Council Tip: Colour-code your annotations based on priority or topic to make them easier to find later. For example, use red for urgent matters and green for budget-related notes.

Markup Tools Explained

Pen Tool

Draw precise lines with adjustable thickness. Great for underlining or circling important text.

Highlighter

Highlight text with a semi-transparent colour that lets you still read what's underneath.

Pencil Tool

Make softer, more natural-looking marks for handwritten notes or sketches.

Eraser

Remove any marks you've made with the drawing tools.

Lasso Tool

Select, move, and adjust annotations you've already made.

Text Box

Add typed notes anywhere on the PDF with customisable text.

Signature

Add your signature to documents that need approval or confirmation.

Shapes

Add rectangles, circles, arrows, and speech bubbles to emphasise information.

Reviewing Council Documents

1 Add comments to specific sections by using the text tool. This is perfect for feedback on proposals.

2 Highlight key information like dates, budget figures, or action items with the highlighter tool.

3 Use arrows to connect related items or point to areas that need attention.

4 Add your signature to approve documents without needing to print, sign, and scan.

Time-Saving Tip: Create a signature once and save it for future use. Tap the signature tool, then "Add or Remove Signature" to create and store your signature.

Sharing Annotated PDFs

1 Tap the share icon (the square with an arrow pointing up) at the top of the screen.

2 Choose how to share - via email, AirDrop, or save back to Files.

3 Select "Mail" to send the annotated PDF directly to colleagues or councillors.

4 Add a message explaining your annotations and tap "Send".

Collaboration Tip: For documents that need input from multiple councillors, consider using a cloud service like iCloud Drive or OneDrive so everyone can access and annotate the same document.