How to draw on a PDF on Mac
Pen, marker and pencil, each in fine, regular or bold — and all of them work on a scan, where highlighting cannot.
Freehand is the tool that works when nothing else does. It does not care whether the page holds text or a photograph of text, which makes it the right answer for marking up a scan.
Drawing is part of Premium, so it carries a small lock in the document actions panel and in the menu bar. The lock is a label rather than a barrier — you can open the feature and see what it does before deciding to unlock it. Reading and every page operation stay free.
The three brushes
| Brush | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Pen | Precise marks. Circling a figure, ticking a box, writing a short correction in the margin. |
| Marker | Sweeping emphasis. A broad translucent stroke over a paragraph, which is the scan-friendly version of a highlight. |
| Pencil | Something softer. Sketching a change on a drawing, or a mark you want to read as provisional. |
Each comes in fine, regular and bold, and each takes any colour and opacity you set. A translucent marker over text leaves the words readable; an opaque one does not.
Drawing, step by step
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Choose a brush and a weight
From the tool pill along the bottom of the window.
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Set colour and opacity
Opacity is the one people forget. A marker at full opacity covers what is underneath; at half it emphasises it.
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Draw
Drag on the page. With a trackpad, short strokes are steadier than long ones. If your Mac supports it, a connected drawing tablet or an iPad used as a second display gives you much finer control.
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Adjust afterwards
A stroke is an object, so it can be selected, moved, recoloured or deleted. The eraser removes strokes, and undo works throughout.
Highlighting, underlining and striking through all need selectable text, which a scanned page does not have. A marker stroke does the same job on any page at all. If you would rather have real highlights, run Make Searchable over the document first.
Drawing a signature
You can sign with the pen, and for a quick initial that is often the fastest thing. For a signature you will use repeatedly, the signing feature is better: it places a saved signature at the size and position you want, every time, rather than asking you to draw it freehand again.
Keeping a drawn-on document tidy
Freehand marks accumulate quickly and are harder to review than text marks, because they carry no words. Two habits help: use the annotations list to check what you have actually left on the document, and pair any drawn mark that needs explaining with a note that explains it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I draw on a PDF on a Mac?
Choose the pen, marker or pencil from the tool pill along the bottom, set a colour and weight, and drag on the page.
Can I draw on a scanned PDF?
Yes. Drawing works on any page, which is why it is the right tool for scans — highlighting and underlining need selectable text, and a scan has none until it is recognised.
What is the difference between the pen and the marker?
The pen is for precise marks; the marker is a broad translucent stroke for sweeping emphasis. The pencil is softer, for something provisional.
Can I erase part of a drawing?
The eraser removes strokes, and any stroke can be selected and deleted. Undo works throughout.
Can I use a drawing tablet?
Yes. Anything your Mac treats as a pointing device works, and a tablet gives noticeably finer control than a trackpad.
Should I draw my signature or use the signing tool?
Draw it for a one-off initial. Use signing for a signature you will place repeatedly, because it puts the same signature at the size and position you want every time.