How to annotate pdf on linux (cross out, comment, correct assignments, etc.) using Xournal++ is very easy, especially with the support of a pen tablet, the results are definitely like scribbles on paper. Linux applications are extraordinary because apart from being free, there are many choices, complete facilities. This time we provide tips and how to annotate pdf files directly. Previously we have also presented how to cross out and comment on pdf files with Okular .
PDF Files
A PDF file is a file that contains documents in the Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format. PDF is an acronym for “Portable Document Format”. It is a file format that allows documents to be viewed on almost every platform, including mobile devices. It is often used in publishing, journalism, and web publishing. It is a file format based on the ISO 32000-1 standard and the OpenDocument format. PDF is one of the most widely used document file formats in the world.
Understanding PDF Annotations
Annotating PDF documents with a digital pen is the process of adding notes, images or text into a PDF document. Annotations are created by drawing on top of a PDF document with a digital pen from the mouse or using a pen tablet directly. Annotation is the process of adding notes, images or text to a PDF document.
PDF annotations are important because they allow you to add notes to pages you’ve read, making them useful for proofreading assignments. These notes can help you or others remember certain parts of what’s on the page and can also be used to provide additional information. This is important because it allows you to make physical copies of the notes you have on the document for easy retrieval. It also allows you to share documents with others without having to worry about lost or deleted notes.
Understanding Xournal++
Xournal++ is a simple journaling program, which allows you to keep a personal journal and share it with your friends. It is completely free and open source and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It makes use of the interface simple and easy to use. You can also use it to save your notes from other applications like Microsoft Word, Open Office, or even from the terminal.
Xournal++ Application – is an open source note-taking program written in C++ with the target of flexibility, functionality and speed. Handwriting recognition and other parts are based on Xournal’s codebase, which you can find on sourceforge. Xournal++ supports Linux with various distributions (e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, SUSE), as well as across platforms such as macOS and Windows 10 and mobile devices.
Xournal++ advantages
With pen input support from devices like the Wacom Tablet, Xournal++ features even more:
- Supports pressure sensitive stylus and digital pen tablets (e.g. Wacom, Huion, XP Pen, etc. tablets)
- There is a lined paper theme background for taking notes, scratch paper, or whiteboard
- Annotate PDF files
- Export to various formats including SVG, PNG and PDF, from both GUI and command line
- Use of different drawing tools (e.g. pen, highlighter) and stroke style (e.g. solid, dotted)
- Draw shapes (lines, arrows, circles, rectangles, spiral lines)
- fill and shape functionality
- Resize and rotate shapes
- Rotation and snap facility for precise object alignment
- Input stabilization for smoother writing/drawing
- Text tool to add text in various fonts, colors and sizes
- Improved support for image insertion
- Eraser with multiple configurations
- LaTeX support (requires LaTeX installation) with customizable templates
- Available Sidebar with Page Previews for advanced page sorting, Bookmarks and Layers on PDF files can be hidden/edited individually
- Allows mapping of different tools/colors, etc. to stylus/mouse button
- Customizable toolbar with multiple configurations, e.g. to optimize the toolbar for portrait/landscape
- Definition of Page Template
- Bug reporting tools, auto save and auto backup
- Audio recording and playback along with handwritten notes
- Multi-language support (support more than 20 languages)
- Plugin using Lua scripts
How to Install Xournal++ on Linux
The distro we are using is Linux Mint, and the method presented here will be compatible with either Ubuntu or Linux Mint. Open Terminal and write:
sudo apt install xournalppAnother way to install the latest version is to download the DEB file from the official website via:
https://xournalpp.github.io/installation/linux/- How to annotate pdfs on linux (doodle, comment, correct assignments, etc.) using Xournal++ is very easy, especially with the support of a pen tablet, the results are definitely like scribbles on paper. Linux applications are extraordinary because apart from being free, there are many choices, complete facilities. This time we provide tips and how to annotate pdf files directly. Previously we have also presented how to cross out and comment on pdf files with Okular .
File PDF
A PDF file is a file that contains documents in the Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format. PDF is an acronym for “Portable Document Format”. It is a file format that allows documents to be viewed on almost every platform, including mobile devices. It is often used in publishing, journalism, and web publishing. It is a file format based on the ISO 32000-1 standard and the OpenDocument format. PDF is one of the most widely used document file formats in the world.
Understanding PDF Annotations
Annotating PDF documents with a digital pen is the process of adding notes, images or text into a PDF document. Annotations are created by drawing on top of a PDF document with a digital pen from the mouse or using a pen tablet directly. Annotation is the process of adding notes, images or text to a PDF document.
PDF annotations are important because they allow you to add notes to pages you’ve read, making them useful for proofreading assignments. These notes can help you or others remember certain parts of what’s on the page and can also be used to provide additional information. This is important because it allows you to make physical copies of the notes you have on the document for easy retrieval. It also allows you to share documents with others without having to worry about lost or deleted notes.
Understanding Xournal++
Xournal++ is a simple journaling program, which allows you to keep a personal journal and share it with your friends. It is completely free and open source and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It makes use of the interface simple and easy to use. You can also use it to save your notes from other applications like Microsoft Word, Open Office, or even from the terminal.
Xournal++ Application – is an open source note-taking program written in C++ with the target of flexibility, functionality and speed. Handwriting recognition and other parts are based on Xournal’s codebase, which you can find on sourceforge. Xournal++ supports Linux with various distributions (e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, SUSE), as well as across platforms such as macOS and Windows 10 and mobile devices.
Xournal++ advantages
With pen input support from devices like the Wacom Tablet, Xournal++ features even more:
- Supports pressure sensitive stylus and digital pen tablets (e.g. Wacom, Huion, XP Pen, etc. tablets)
- There is a lined paper theme background for taking notes, scratch paper, or whiteboard
- Annotate PDF files
- Export to various formats including SVG, PNG and PDF, from both GUI and command line
- Use of different drawing tools (e.g. pen, highlighter) and stroke style (e.g. solid, dotted)
- Draw shapes (lines, arrows, circles, rectangles, spiral lines)
- fill and shape functionality
- Resize and rotate shapes
- Rotation and snap facility for precise object alignment
- Input stabilization for smoother writing/drawing
- Text tool to add text in various fonts, colors and sizes
- Improved support for image insertion
- Eraser with multiple configurations
- LaTeX support (requires LaTeX installation) with customizable templates
- Available Sidebar with Page Previews for advanced page sorting, Bookmarks and Layers on PDF files can be hidden/edited individually
- Allows mapping of different tools/colors, etc. to stylus/mouse button
- Customizable toolbar with multiple configurations, e.g. to optimize the toolbar for portrait/landscape
- Definition of Page Template
- Bug reporting tools, auto save and auto backup
- Audio recording and playback along with handwritten notes
- Multi-language support (support more than 20 languages)
- Plugin using Lua scripts
How to Install Xournal++ on Linux
The distro we are using is Linux Mint, and the method presented here will be compatible with either Ubuntu or Linux Mint. Open Terminal and write:
sudo apt install xournalppAnother way to install the latest version is to download the DEB file from the official website via:
https://xournalpp.github.io/installation/linux/Later when selecting DEB it will lead to Github, please select the latest version release. For MX Linux, just choose the one for Debian, while for Ubuntu and Linux Mint just use Ubuntu because the Linux Mint base is Ubuntu. Once downloaded, you can open the application to write notes on this PDF by clicking Start Menu >> Office >> Xournal++
The main view of Xournal++ is as follows:
How to Use Xournal
The way to use annotation apps is to use them as a way to increase the visibility of corrections from your writing. If you are writing on paper or a blog, you can use an annotation application to write notes in the margins of the document. This will help you remember to follow your writing plan and remember what you need to do next.
You can also use annotation apps as a way to keep track of important information. Annotation apps have different tools that can help you keep track of what you need to do. You can write a reminder for yourself and then mark it with a tick. This can be a great way to keep yourself motivated. You can also use annotation apps to create checklists. This is great for organizing your to-do list.
Correcting PDF Tasks
Run Xournal++, open the PDF file by clicking the “Open file” icon or via the File >> Open menu, find the PDF file to be corrected and let Xournal++ open the pdf. Then it’s up to you to give strokes, comments, lines, or colors that are used to correct the pdf are available via the toolbar below the menu. Please see pictures:
When finished, don’t forget to export if you want to distribute or send the results to others, or click the Save button if you want to save the work for editing in the next session.
Cross out PDF
Use the “Pen” logo on the far left, the icon is a fat pen. Here you can select the desired shape of the stroke to make the stroke whether standard, dashed, dash dotted, or dotted (use the down arrow next to the pen icon).
Highlight File PDF
To highlight text and give it color in PDF files, already available on the “Highlight” toolbar is the highlighter icon. Please click the icon then choose a color and scratch!
Conclusion
This Xournal++ application is excellent for handwriting, for in my case I can insert pictures and pdfs and then give notes for students to study. This application has many useful tools, intuitive, clear. You can also annotate PDF files with Xournal++ the only problem is that to have pdf editing facility you have to understand and have LaTeX installed (this can be ignored).
This is the best note annotation software for PDF on Linux I’ve ever used! This app is very light and works well. I’ve been using Xournal++ for several years and I couldn’t find any flaws in it: it has many powerful features and is not a waste of resources. I mainly use it for taking notes during lectures and filling out forms and signing PDF files but Xinput’s functionality makes it a good tool for basic sketching too. Last but not least its compatibility with Linux and Windows. Seriously I couldn’t ask for anything better it’s a cool app thanks Xournal++ team!