Articles on: Annotations

Text Highlight vs Highlighting with the Marker

Scriptation has two ways to highlight, and the difference matters: the Text Highlight tool locks to your script text (and is best for Note Transfer), while the Freeform Highlight marker draws freely like a pen.

📝 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, it adds a Style Palette icon to the toolbar for editing color and opacity. To highlight, just tap / click + drag along your text.

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

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

Copy — copy the underlying text (touch / click and hold anywhere to display Paste);
Type — change to underline, squiggle, or strikethrough;
Color — select from color presets;
Opacity — set transparency;
Layer — move or copy to another layer;
Tag — tag the text to a category (e.g. Cast, Props, Set Dressing);
Note — add a note;
Trash — delete the highlight.

📝 NOTE: You can't use the Eraser on Text Highlight annotations — they must be Deleted with the Trash icon.

Freeform Highlight Marker

The Freeform Highlight tool is also on the Annotation Toolbar, though in some screen configurations it's tucked behind the Drawing tool.

✅ TIP: Touch / click + hold any tool with a triangle in the corner of the icon to reveal additional options.

When selected, the Freeform Highlight marker adds a Style Palette icon for editing Color, Opacity, and Height. To use it, draw anywhere on your script with your Apple Pencil or finger.

📝 NOTE: Text marked with the Freeform Highlight marker won't follow the text perfectly like the Text Highlight tool — it's a free-draw tool and behaves like a pen.

The Eraser on the Annotation Toolbar lets you erase parts of this annotation, just like a pencil eraser.

To edit an existing freeform highlight, touch or click it:

Touch / click and hold to drag it anywhere in the document;
Resize by dragging the bounding points;
Cut — remove it to paste elsewhere;
Copy — copy it to paste elsewhere;
Select More… — add other annotations to the selection;
Inspector — style adjustments;
Save — make it a Saved Annotation;
Layer — move or copy to another layer;
Note — add a note;
Trash — delete the highlight.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: If you use the Freeform Highlighter because Text Highlight isn't recognizing your text, you'll likely hit issues transferring those highlights to a new draft. Learn more about Flattened PDFs.

What's Next

What is Auto-Highlighting?

Auto-Highlighting or Character Names not working correctly

Using the Style Palette (Inspector)

Updated on: 30/05/2026

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