How to Draw on PDF Documents? (Quick Hacks)

When you read a PDF file, making some annotations to mark up important info is a common scenario. But for PDF files, it's hard to edit and annotate without any professional tool.

There are many drawing tools available on the market, which makes it difficult to choose one that meets your needs. To save you time, we test many tools and show you the best drawing tool, UPDF here.

UPDF offers a pencil tool to help you draw on PDF easily. Moreover, it has other different tools to help you draw on PDF files, including highlight, underline, strikethrough, text box, sticky note, shapes, stickers, and signature. You can download UPDF via the below link to check all these features.

And compared with other PDF drawing tools like Adobe Acrobat, UPDF is much cheaper, you can purchase it at USD29.99 for a yearly license and USD49.99 for a perpetual license. Here is the UPDF pricing page for you to check.

Like UPDF and want to know how to draw on PDF on Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Android? Continue reading.

Part 1. How Do I Draw on a PDF in Windows

Follow the following steps to learn more about the drawing on PDF on Windows:

Step 1: Tap on the Comment Button

Download the UPDF via the below link and launch it on your device. Then click on "Open File" to import the desired file on which you would like to draw.

To proceed with the drawing, click on the "Comment" button on the left toolbar to access the drawing tool.

Step 2. Draw on PDF with the Pencil Tool

You can click on the Pencil tool and use it to draw on your PDF documents. It gives you more freedom to show your creativity. You can draw lines, shapes, or any other graphics you like.

Step 3. Add Notes for the Drawings (Optional)

UPDF also allows you to add notes for the drawings to give some comments or explanations for them. In order to add notes for the drawings, you can right-click the shape and select the "Note" option. Then, you can enter your comments in the sticky note box. Once all are done, you can go to "File" > "Save" to save all changes.

Video Tutorial on How to Draw on PDF

Part 2. How to Draw on PDF on Mac

A Mac user can also enjoy the exceptional drawing tool - UPDF. Its features are the same as the Windows version. Here are the steps you can follow to draw on PDF on Mac.

Step 1: Tap the Comment Icon

Download the app of UPDF on your MacBook and open it. Click on "Open File" to open up the desired file on which you would like to draw.

To proceed with the editing, click on the "Comment" button in the left toolbar. Then you can see all the annotation tools, including the drawing tools as well.

Step 2: Draw on PDF on Mac

Click on the "Pencil Tool" to draw whatever shape you want or anything that is the requirement of the PDF file. You can also use the pre-created shapes in your PDF to draw. All steps are the same as the Windows guide.

Part 3. How to Draw on PDF on iPad/iPhone?

If you are using iPad or iPhone, you can follow the below steps to use UPDF to draw in PDF.

Step 1. Just click the below button to download UPDF on your iPad or iPhone. When the installation process is finished, you can click on the "Open" button to launch the UPDF app.

Step 2. You can tap on the "+" button at the right bottom corner to upload the PDF files to UPDF.

Step 3. Once the PDF file is opened on your iPhone, you can tap on the "Pencil" icon at the right top corner, and select the "Pen" in the left bottom corner again. All the pencil tools will be shown. You can choose any pencil you like to draw in PDF. Once everything is ok, tap on "Done" to save it.

Part 4. How to Draw on PDF on Android?

Drawing on PDF on Android using UPDF is as easy as on iPhone. Android version UPDF also provides the Pencil features to help you draw on PDF without hassle. Here is the guide.

Step 1. First of all, you need to download UPDF on your Android device via the below button and follow the steps to install it on your Android device.

Step 2. Tap on the UPDF icon to open it. Then, choose the PDF file to open with UPDF.

Step 3. Tap on the "Pen" icon at the top menu and select the "Pen" icon again on the pop-up menu. Then, select the pencil you like to draw on UPDF on Android.

Now, you know how to draw PDFs on computers and phones. But what if you have one protected PDF and how can you draw on it?

Part 5. How Can I Draw on a Protected PDF?

You can draw on a protected PDF easily if you have a password or if you are the owner of the PDF document. But what if you do not have the password? You can also find the solutions. Here are usually two cases when it comes to drawing on a protected PDF. Let's take a look at each of them.

Enter passwords when knowing the passwords

If you know the password of your PDF document simply enter the PDF to access it and start drawing on it. You will be able to save the changes you made after entering the password.

If you don't know the password, or if you want to draw on a PDF that is not yours, then you need to get permission from the owner. The owner can do this by setting up user permissions for the document. In this case, you must have a password to enter into the PDF document and start drawing on it.

Remove passwords and then start drawing on the PDF

The other case can be you don't have the password and you can't ask the owner of the PDF to share the password with you. In such a case, you will have to remove the password from the PDF by aJoysoft PDF Password Remover to draw on it. There are many ways to do this, but the easiest way is to use a PDF password remover.

Once you remove the password from the PDF, you will be able to open it without any problem and start drawing on it by following the above guides.

Part 6. What are the Common Usage Scenarios of Drawing on PDF?

Some of you may feel confused about why you need to draw on PDF. So before showing all effective methods on how to draw on PDF, we list common reasons here.

Note-taking

The common reason to draw on a PDF is to take notes during an online class, reading, or work. You can draw directly on your PDF document. This is especially useful when you want to make a note of something important.

Markup and annotation

Another common reason to draw on a PDF is for markup and annotation purposes. You may need to add comments or notes to a PDF document for work, school, or any other scenarios. Drawing on the PDF allows you to quickly and easily add your thoughts or comments.

Proofreading/revisions

When you're proofreading a document, it can be helpful to draw on the PDF so you or others can quickly make changes or corrections later. This is especially true when you're working on a collaborative project and need to track changes.

Marking assignments

If you're a teacher, you may need to mark student assignments. Drawing on the PDF gives you a quick and easy way to add marks, comments, and feedback directly to the document.

Add your signature

Adding your signature to a PDF document is easy when you draw on the PDF. This is a great way to electronically sign PDF documents without having to print them out and sign them by hand.

Part 7. FAQs for Drawing on PDF

1. Why can't I draw on my PDF?

If you cannot draw on your PDF, then probably it is password-protected, so editing is not allowed. However, if you're using a Chromebook and the PDF isn't protected, but you still can't edit it, there could be an issue with the stylus.

2. What Can I Use to Draw on PDFs?

There is numerous software that you can use to draw on PDFs. Many of them are compatible with Windows, and Mac. Few of them work exceptionally. UPDF is the best software that allows you to draw on PDFeasily. Moreover, you can use it on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone.

3. Can You Write on a PDF in Google Drive?

No, you can't. Google Drive only allows you to open, view, and add a comment to your PDF document. If you want to write on a PDF, you need to use professional PDF software like UPDF. It allows you to add text, edit text, and add markups to PDF easily.

4. How to Draw Lines on PDF?

Download UPDF on your computer and click on any shape icon after selecting the comment feature. You can find the Line icon here, click on it. Move your mouse to the place where you want to add the shape and draw lines on it. You can double-click on the drawn Line to adjust its border color, opacity, and thickness per your needs.

5. How to Draw a Circle on a PDF?

Go to download UPDF. Launch it and click the comment icon after opening one PDF. You can click on the Shape icon, select the Circle icon, then, change the border color, fill color, opacity, and border thickness if you need. Once all is done, left hold on to your mouse and draw on PDF.

6. How to Draw Arrow on PDF?

You can also use UPDF. Open this tool after installation. Navigate to "Comment" > "Shape" and you can find the "Arrow" icon there. Click on it, choose the preferred border color, opacity, and thickness, then, left hold on your mouse to draw an arrow on your PDF.

7. How to Draw Box on PDF?

To draw a box on PDF only needs several steps with UPDF. You only need to click on the "Comment" > "Shape" icon, select the "Rectangle" icon, move your cursor to the place where you want to draw a box, hold on your mouse, and draw. Once you draw the box on PDF, you can double-click on the box to change its border color, fill color, opacity, and border thickness.

8. How to Draw a Signature on the PDF?

With UPDF, you can easily draw signatures on PDF. What you should do is click on the Signature icon after choosing the "Comment" feature. Click on the "Create" button. In the pop-up windows, you can use "Keyboard" or "Mouse "mode and change the signature color and size. When you finish all the settings, you can draw or type to draw a signature on PDF. Click on "Create" to finish and move your mouse to the place where you want to add the signature to.

Conclusion

We have discussed the easiest ways to draw on a PDF on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android in this article. The guides mentioned are very simple. You can download UPDF via the below button and choose the method you need, then, follow the guide step by step to draw on PDF.

And the reasons that we choose UPDF are very simple. It works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android, and it has fast speed, simple operations, a delightful interface, and an affordable price. Download and try UPDF today!