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Screen Annotation Software: 11 Best to Use in 2024
12 min. read
Updated onJanuary 8, 2024
updated onJanuary 8, 2024
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Key notes
On-screenannotationor screen marker software lets youannotate desktop screensand apps and then save your results.
In other words, screenannotationsoftware can also be seen as a mix of presentation, screen capturing,whiteboardand note-takingtools.
Suchtoolsare useful especially for teachers or professional who often deliver presentations and don’t want to spend too much time preparing slides.
Here are the essential features for screenannotationsoftware:
What are the best screen annotation software?
Adobe Reader
Adobe Readeris the most popular PDF reader in the world. This fact alone confirms the great value of this tool.
You can use the free version of Adobe Reader to view PDF files and add annotations, or you can get the premium version if you want to edit, convert, and protect your PDF files.
If several persons or team members are working on the same document, leaving notes, comments, sticky notes or drawings is a great way to provide feedback or share ideas.
Adding comments is really simple. You don’t need to open any complicated menus, you can add your comments while you’re reading your PDF documents.
All you need to do is select the text or the image you want to annotate and click on the Add Note option.
The secondary toolbar of the Comment feature is located on the right side of the screen for additional options. You can also add a Sticky Note to leave a comment.
You can also use the drawing tool to add a specific shape and then type your comment. Also, you can type a text message using the Sticky Note tool.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Soda PDF
Soda PDF is a popular Acrobat alternative, accessible through any device with a web browser. This is the only PDF reader equipped with a 3D View mode and it has a robust menu of annotation instruments.
You can use the free online software to edit your documents, add comments, or highlight important ideas. Alternatively, you can get the Premium version, with no size or daily usage limitations, and enjoy more tools, including the 3D technology viewer.
Soda PDF offers you many import options, allowing you to add images, links, shapes, or even interactive forms to your files.
The markup tools, as well as the Sticky Notes function, let you pick the desired colors, making it easier to organize your project or presentation.
Since it works from the cloud and on multiple devices, several people can edit a document at the same time. Soda PDF is the ideal annotation software for company use, especially due to its e-signing function. With this service, you can prepare, send and track the progress of e-signatures for your PDFs.
Check out its other key features:
• Advanced file encryption
• Customizable interface
• Inbuilt batch tool
• Split/merge PDF files functions
• Fast PDF conversion from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RTF, HTML, JPG files, and more
• Inbuilt Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Spell Check features
The fully functional PDF solution offers round-the-clock customer support and volume licensing discounts.
Soda PDF
Presentation Pointer
With the help ofPresentation Pointer, you will be able to grab your audience’s attention and focus. Check out its most useful features below:
You can try it for free with the trial version or buy Presentation Pointer and get a discount if you buy multiple licenses.
⇒Get Presentation Pointer
Presentation Marker
This tool provides users various screen marker tools including Curtain, Spotlight, Arrow Point, Screen Digital Clock, Screen Capture, Magnification and so on.
The tool is perfect for a product demonstration or a foil presentation where annotation comes in handy for better illustration.
Check out its key features:
The software also features a portable version that you can carry together with your multimedia lecture content. You just have to plug your USB drive into the PC and then run it. For some users, the tool palette may be overkill.
⇒Get Presentation Marker
Windows Snipping Tool
Windows Snipping Toolis the built-in grabber on Windows that you might not even know it exists. This tool is available on all Windows systems, includingWindows XP.
Users usually ignore it as it’s hidden in the deepest recesses of the Start menu.
Take a look at its most notable features:
In case you don’t need complicated features, you will definitely be better off usingWindows’ built-in tool. Just go to Start, typeSnipping Tooland double-click the first result to launch the tool.
Annotate Pro
Annotate Prois quite an ergonomic software, and you can check out its most important features below:
In case you have to deal with display errors with arrows and more geometric forms the whole issue will go away after you click twice on the transparency button. The software is not recommended for Windows 7.
⇒Get Annotate Pro
Gadwin PrintScreen
In case you want to create a screenshot that is suitable for printing or saving,Gadwin PrintScreenis the right tool for you. You have to download it first, but it’s definitely worth your time.
Here are the most important features of the tool:
Using this tool, you’ll save time and increase your screenshots’ quality.
⇒Gadwin PrintScreen
DemoHelper
DemoHelperis an annotation and screen zoom tool, and you can use it for your tech presentations that include app demonstrations.
The software is open-source, free, and you have to download one executable file, and that’s all.
Check out its main features:
DemoHelper requiresWindows XPor later versions, and it’s important to note that it won’t work on Windows 2000.
⇒Get DemoHelper
ZoomIt
ZoomItis a screen annotation and zoom tool targeted at tech presentations that come with app demos.
The tool runs in the system tray, and it can be activated with customizable hotkeys to zoom in on an area of the screen, move around while it’s zoomed and also draw on the zoomed image.
The tool is compatible with all versions of Windows, and you can also use pen input for drawing on tablet PCs.
Here are more of its principal features:
ZoomIt is free, but it’s not open-source.
⇒Get ZoomIt
SnapDraw Free
SnapDraw Freeis a feature-packed capture tool with lots of post-processing effects. Below, we’ll present its most important features:
The tool is an excellent choice for users who are looking to create high-quality captures featuring 3D rotation and reflection effects.
You can also automatically upload your images to an FTP server, or you can email them
⇒ Get SnapDraw Free
Ink2Go
Ink2Gois a mix of screen annotation and screen capture software, and it allows saving annotations as images or as *.wmf videos. Check out its key features below:
Annotation features of the tool are simple, and you can use either a highlighter or a configurable pen.
The tool is straightforward to learn just by taking a look at the tools tips.
It features configurable shortcuts for toggling display and for recording modes, and you can change these by just clicking its icon from the taskbar.
The exit icon from the top right of the toolbar will not exit from the program, and this is only used to stop the annotation process and to hide the toolbar; if you want to exit then click on the icon in the taskbar.
You can purchase the tool, and in case you’re interested in live annotations, it’s an ideal program.
⇒Get Ink2Go
Our list of on-screen annotation and screen marker software ends here. We guarantee you that whichever tool you decide to install, you will not be disappointed.
All the tools listed above are great and offer many useful features. So, what have you tried from these software apps? Leave us your answer in the comment section below.
Radu Tyrsina
Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).
For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.
Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.
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