Mark it well

The graphic markup tools (Pencil and Rectangle) found on the Advanced Commenting toolbar enable you to mark up elements that need changing in the PDF document you’re reviewing. When you use these graphic markup tools to call attention to particular passages of text and graphics, you can add hidden notes (like you can do when using the Stamp and Note tools) that explain the type of changes you’d like to see made to the elements you’ve marked. All the graphic tools work in a similar manner and share the same Appearance, General, and Review History properties as associated with Commenting toolbar markup tools. The Pencil tool comes with its own Pencil Eraser tool (just like a real pencil!), and the Rectangle tool is actually one of seven shape tools found on its pop-up menu. Which of these tools you select varies according to the kind of document elements you want to mark up:

• Pencil tool: Draws freehand shapes around text and graphics.
  
• Rectangle tool: Draws rectangular and square boxes around text and graphics. Hold down the Shift key to constrain the shape to a square as you draw with this tool.
• Oval tool: Draws a circle or oval around text and graphics. Hold down the Shift key to constrain the shape to a perfect circle as you draw with this tool.
• Arrow tool: Draws arrows that point to a specific document element.
  
• Line tool: Adds a line to text or graphics (often referred to as adding a rule). Hold down the Shift key to constrain the shape to a straight line and drag left and right for a horizontal rule, up and down for a vertical rule, and diagonally for a rule on the bias at 45 degrees.
  
• Cloud tool: Draws a nice puffy cloud around text or graphic elements you want to call attention to. Using this tool greatly enhances the cuteness quotient of your reviewing contribution.
• Polygon tool: Draws a closed multisegment polygon shape around a document element.
• Polygon Line tool: Draws an open multisegment polygon shape around a document element.

To use one of these tools to mark up a PDF document, follow these general steps:

1. To use the Pencil tool, click its button on the Advanced Commenting toolbar or press N. To use one of the other markup tools, press Shift+D until its icon (rectangle for the Rectangle tool, oval for the Oval tool, diagonal line for the Line tool, and so on) is selected.
2. Position the cross-hair mouse pointer near the text or graphic that you want to mark up, and then drag to draw the line or shape made by the tool to call attention to it. When using the Pencil tool, you can draw a freehand line or enclosing shape. When using the Square, Circle, or Line tool, remember that you can constrain the shape or line by holding down the Shift key. When using the Cloud or Polygon tools, click the point where you want to start drawing and drag to draw a line. When you want to change direction, click again to start a new line in the same manner. Continue clicking and dragging until you’ve either enclosed the desired document element with a final click at your starting point, or in the case of the Polygon Line tool, make a final click to end your drawing. Note that you can cancel or complete a drawing at any time during the process by right-clicking and selecting either Cancel or Complete on the context menu.
3. Release the mouse button when you finish drawing the desired line or shape with the selected tool.

When you release the mouse button, Acrobat lays the graphic down on the page. To select the markup graphic to resize it, move it, or change its graphic settings, select the Hand tool by pressing H, and then click the line or shape with the arrowhead pointer. If the graphic is a shape made with any tool other than the Line tool, Acrobat encloses it in a bounding box with sizing handles at the corners. If the graphic is a rule made with the Line tool, the program selects the line with sizing handles at either end.

To move a markup graphic, drag its outline with the arrowhead pointer and then drop it in its new position. To resize it, drag one of its sizing buttons. Remember that you can have Acrobat automatically open a comment box each time you add a markup graphic by selecting the Automatically Open Comment Pop-ups for Comments Other Than Notes check box in the Pop-up Behavior area of the Commenting Preferences dialog box. You can also have Acrobat automatically display a hidden comment when you position the mouse on the markup graphic by selecting the Automatically Open Pop-ups on Mouse Rollover check box as well.