Text Highlight vs Highlighting with the Marker

NOTE: This video shows a slightly older user interface but the instructions are still accurate.

Text Highlight (Recommended for Note Transfer)

The Text Highlight tool is the first icon on the Annotation Toolbar.

When selected, the Text Highlight tool automatically adds a Style Palette icon onto the toolbar, with options to edit the color and opacity of the highlight.

To highlight with this tool, just tap / click + drag along your text.

NOTE: The Text Highlight tool will only function in straight lines on top of the script text.

To edit an existing text highlight, touch or click the highlighted text for options:

Copy to copy the underlying text (touch / click and hold anywhere on the page to display the Paste command)
Type to change the annotation to underline, squiggle or strikethrough
Color to select from a variety of color presets
Opacity to set how transparent or opaque the highlight is
Layer to move or copy the highlight to another layer
Tag to tag the highlighted text to a category (i.e. Cast, Props, Set Dressing)
Note to add a note
Trash to delete the highlight

NOTE: **You will not be able to use the **Eraser tool on Text Highlight annotations. They need to be Deleted with the Trash Can icon.

Freeform Highlight Marker

The Freeform Highlight tool is also an icon on the Annotation Toolbar, but in some screen configurations is hidden with the Drawing tool.

TIP: Touch / Click + Hold any tool with an arrow in the bottom corner of the icon to display additional options.

When selected, the Freeform Highlight Marker automatically adds a Style Palette icon on the toolbar, with options to edit the Color, Opacity, and Height of your highlight.

To use the tool, just use your Apple Pencil or finger to draw anywhere on your script.

NOTE: Text marked up with the Freeform Highlight Marker will not follow the text perfectly like the Text Highlight tool. The Marker is a free-draw tool and behaves like a pen.

Using the Eraser tool on the Annotation Bar will allow you to delete parts of the annotation just like a pencil and eraser.

To edit an existing freeform highlight, touch or click the highlight for options:

Touch / click and hold the highlight to drag it to another location anywhere in the document
Resize the highlight by dragging the bounding points

Cut to remove the highlight from the page and make it available to paste elsewhere (touch / click and hold anywhere on the page to display the Paste command)
Copy to copy the highlight (touch / click and hold anywhere on the page to display the Paste command)
Select More... to add another annotation or annotations to the current selection
Inspector for style adjustments
Save for making the highlight a Saved Annotation
Layer to move or copy the highlight to another layer
Note to add a note
Trash to delete the highlight

IMPORTANT: If you're using the Freeform Highlighter to highlight because Text Highlight isn't recognizing your text, you will likely encounter issues when trying to transfer your highlights to a new draft. Learn more about Flattened PDFs.

What's Next

Can Scriptation automatically highlight certain Characters lines? Yes!
Why isn't the Highlighting Tool recognizing my text
Learn more about the Style Palette

Updated on: 21/03/2025

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