How to add text to a PDF
Place a new note, label or text annotation on a PDF page, then check the downloaded result.
Adding new text is useful when you want to leave a note, label an illustration or fill a blank space. In PDF Canvas, start with the text tool rather than assuming the original PDF text can be rewritten.
Step-by-step workflow
- Open PDF Canvas and use the editor's file-opening control to choose a PDF from your device.
- Navigate to the page you want to annotate.
- Choose the text tool and enter the text you want to add, following the controls shown in the editor.
- Place the added text on the page. Use the available selection and formatting controls to adjust its position and appearance.
- Use the editor's PDF export or download control to save the edited document. Give it a different filename so you keep your original.
- Open the downloaded PDF in a separate PDF reader and inspect the page.
Adding text versus editing existing text
A new text annotation adds content to a page. It is not the same as opening the document's original paragraphs and changing their words. Do not assume that adding a white shape over old text deletes that text from the PDF.
Make annotations easy to read
- Choose a text size that remains readable at normal viewing size.
- Leave enough space around the note so it does not obscure the document.
- Check long lines near page edges and make sure nothing is clipped.
- Check accented characters, symbols and line breaks in the exported version if you use them.
Before you finish
Compare the original and edited versions. Check that the annotation is on the right page, that its position matches your intention and that the rest of the document remains usable. Keep the original until you are satisfied.