InterPro - Technology - Commenting in Adobe Acrobat

How to comment and use other markup tools in Adobe Acrobat

This document highlights the use of Acrobat's commenting feature and markup tools for the purpose of taking notes on electronic course material. If you are unable to use these functions, the creator has disabled the commenting features.

Adding Comments

1. Open a PDF in Adobe Acrobat. The commenting options and views may vary slightly depending on the version of Acrobat you are using.

2. If you are using Acrobat DC, select the Sticky Note or Comment tool from the upper or right hand panels.

If you are using an older version, such as Acrobat 11 (below) or later, you will find these options at the top of the page.

3. Once the tool is selected, its color can be changed. Click the colored circle on the right of the upper ribbon. Choose the desired color. Older versions of Acrobat require the comment to be placed before changing its color (see step 6).

4. Click anywhere on the document where a comment is desired, and type the comment. All comments will appear on the right hand panel under the Comments List.

5. In older versions of Acrobat click on the placed comment, then click the "Options" dropdown or the dropdown arrow by the comment symbol. Select "Properties" in the popup window and click the color box to change the color.

See these resources for additional information about commenting:

6. Other markup tools are available on the Commenting tool panel. See this page for more information.

Highlighting: Click the highlighter tool, then click and drag cursor over text. A note can be added to a highlight by clicking on the highlight and choosing the comment symbol.
Markup notes: Notes can be added to markups by right clicking on the markup and choosing "Open Pop-Up Note"
Text: Text Commenting Tool allows for the addition of free-floating text annotations on the page. Click the "T" symbol and click where text is desired.
Text box: Use text box tool to add more obvious comments in boxes on the page. Click the symbol of a box with "T" inside. Click and drag to create a text box in the desired area.
The color of markup tools can be changed. Select a markup tool.

Acrobat DC: the grayed out paint bucket tool on the right side of the ribbon will become available, or turn into a circle filled with the current color. Click on the bucket or circle, and select the desired color.
Earlier versions: right click on the markup tool. Select "Tool Default Properties". In the popup window, click on the color preview and select the desired color.