--- title: "Draw all PDF annotations as overlays in Swift for iOS" canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/ios/samples/draw-annotations-as-overlay/" md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/ios/samples/draw-annotations-as-overlay.md" last_updated: "2026-05-25T12:14:42.940Z" description: "Learn how to overlay annotations on custom subviews in Swift with our example code. Enhance your app's UI by mastering annotation rendering techniques." --- # Draw all PDF annotations as overlays in Swift for iOS Render all annotations on top of custom subviews of the page view. [Get Started](https://www.nutrient.io/sdk/ios/getting-started.md) [All Samples](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/ios/samples.md) [Download](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/ios/downloads.md) [Launch Demo](https://www.nutrient.io/demo/) --- ```swift // // Copyright © 2021-2026 PSPDFKit GmbH. All rights reserved. // // The Nutrient sample applications are licensed with a modified BSD license. // Please see License for details. This notice may not be removed from this file. // import PSPDFKit import PSPDFKitUI /// This is an example showing how to modify all annotations to render as overlays. /// Note that this is a corner case and isn't as well tested. /// This helps in case you want to add custom subviews but still have drawings on top of everything. class DrawAnnotationsAsOverlayExample: Example, PDFViewControllerDelegate { override init() { super.init() title = "Draw all annotations as overlay" contentDescription = "Allows annotations to render on top of custom subviews of the page view." category =.subclassing priority = 150 } override func invoke(with delegate: ExampleRunnerDelegate) -> UIViewController? { let document = AssetLoader.document(for:.annualReport) // Register our custom annotation provider as subclass before the view controller is initialized. document.overrideClass(PDFFileAnnotationProvider.self, with: OverlayFileAnnotationProvider.self) let pdfViewController = PDFViewController(document: document) pdfViewController.navigationItem.setRightBarButtonItems([pdfViewController.thumbnailsButtonItem, pdfViewController.annotationButtonItem], for:.document, animated: false) pdfViewController.delegate = self return pdfViewController } // MARK: PDFViewControllerDelegate func pdfViewController(_ pdfController: PDFViewController, didConfigurePageView pageView: PDFPageView, forPageAt pageIndex: Int) { // Add a custom view on every page to demonstrate that the annotations will render ABOVE that view. let customView = CustomView(frame: CGRect(x: 100, y: 100, width: 300, height: 300)) customView.backgroundColor = UIColor(red: 1, green: 0.846, blue: 0.088, alpha: 0.9) customView.layer.cornerRadius = 10 customView.layer.borderColor = UIColor(red: 1, green: 0.846, blue: 0.088, alpha: 1).cgColor customView.layer.borderWidth = 2 customView.alpha = 0.5 pageView.insertSubview(customView, belowSubview: pageView.annotationContainerView) } func pdfViewController(_ pdfController: PDFViewController, didCleanupPageView pageView: PDFPageView, forPageAt pageIndex: Int) { pageView.subviews.first { $0 is CustomView }?.removeFromSuperview() } } private class CustomView: UIView { } private class OverlayFileAnnotationProvider: PDFFileAnnotationProvider { override func annotationsForPage(at pageIndex: PageIndex) -> [Annotation]? { let annotations = super.annotationsForPage(at: pageIndex)?? [] // Make annotations overlay annotations so they will be rendered in their own views instead of within the page image. // Making highlights as overlay really really doesn't look good. (Since they are multiplied into the page content this is not possible with regular UIView composition, so you would need to completely overlap the text unless you make them semi-transparent.) for annotation in annotations where annotation is TextMarkupAnnotation == false { annotation.isOverlay = true } return annotations } override func add(_ annotations: [Annotation], options: [AnnotationManager.ChangeBehaviorKey: Any]? = nil) -> [Annotation]? { // Set annotations to render as overlays right after they are inserted. for annotation in annotations where annotation is TextMarkupAnnotation == false { annotation.isOverlay = true } return super.add(annotations, options: options) } } ``` This code sample is an example that illustrates how to use our SDK. Please adapt it to your specific use case. --- ## Related pages - [Implement a Document Picker sidebar in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/document-picker-sidebar.md) - [Add file annotation to PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/add-file-annotation-with-embedded-file.md) - [Add a custom cloudy rectangle annotation to a PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/add-custom-cloudy-rectangle.md) - [Create an always-dark annotation toolbar in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/always-dark-annotation-toolbar.md) - [Add an image signature to PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/add-image-signature-to-pdf-programmatically.md) - [Add an Apple Maps widget to a PDF page in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/add-map-widget-to-pdf.md) - [Add image gallery to PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/add-image-gallery-to-pdf.md) - [Add video annotation to PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/add-video-annotation-to-pdf.md) - [Customize blend modes in stamp annotations in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/annotation-inspector-stamp-blend-mode.md) - [Maintain annotation aspect ratio in Swift](/guides/ios/samples/aspect-ratio-conserving-resizing.md) - [Add analytics to PDF components in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/analytics.md) - [Image annotations in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/annotate-images.md) - [Enable auto-save in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/auto-saving-pdf.md) - [Blur PDF page in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/blur-pdf-pages.md) - [Embed Nutrient as a child view controller in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/child-view-controller-using-parent-navigation-bar.md) - [Present a confirmation sheet for iOS annotations](/guides/ios/samples/confirm-annotation-deletion.md) - [Write PDF annotations to XFDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/annotations-to-xfdf.md) - [Add annotation buttons to PDF toolbar in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/annotation-buttons-in-navigation-bar.md) - [Select PDF text and create a note in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/create-note-from-selection.md) - [Creating effective link annotations on iOS](/guides/ios/samples/annotations.md) - [Add calculator to PDF using JavaScript on iOS](/guides/ios/samples/calculator.md) - [Create link annotations in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/create-link-annotation-in-pdf.md) - [Create a custom appearance stream generator in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/appearance-stream-generator.md) - [PDFViewController controller state in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/controller-state.md) - [Create PDF bookmark with UI in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/create-pdf-bookmark-name-ui.md) - [Create PDF programmatically in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/create-pdf-programmatically.md) - [Add a custom free text input accessory in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-free-text-input-accessory.md) - [Add custom font sizes to free text keyboard in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-buttons-free-text-keyboard-toolbar.md) - [Customize PDF page lables in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-page-label.md) - [Customize the filename of shared PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-sharing-filenames.md) - [Customize PDF annotation toolbar in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/customize-pdf-annotation-toolbar.md) - [Customized note annotation view controller in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/customized-note-annotation-view-controller.md) - [Custom thumbnail PDF view filter in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-thumbnail-view-controller-filter.md) - [Custom Comments Ui](/guides/ios/samples/custom-comments-ui.md) - [Disable annotations reviews in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/disable-annotation-reviews.md) - [Customize PDF outline in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-pdf-outline-controller.md) - [Customize pencil interactions on PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-pencil-interaction-action.md) - [Custom Thumbnail Page Label](/guides/ios/samples/custom-thumbnail-page-label.md) - [Customize PDF sharing options in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-pdf-sharing-options.md) - [How to disable digital signature removal in PDFs](/guides/ios/samples/disable-removing-digital-signature.md) - [Disable PDF annotation editing in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/disable-annotation-editing.md) - [Document With Original Url Set](/guides/ios/samples/document-with-original-url-set.md) - [Disable bookmark renaming in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/disable-bookmark-renaming.md) - [Add watermark to all PDF pages using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/draw-watermark-on-pdf-pages.md) - [Customize the PDF search highlight color in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-search-highlight-color.md) - [Customize the search result cell in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-search-result-cell.md) - [Custom PDF stamp annotation in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-pdf-stamp-annotations.md) - [Disable scroll bouncing in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/disable-scroll-bouncing.md) - [Display PDF in inbox directory using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/display-pdf-inbox.md) - [Configuring PDF reader in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/e-reader.md) - [Customize PDF view margins using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/dynamic-margins.md) - [Add text annotation to PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/add-text-annotation-to-pdf.md) - [Embed, flatten, or remove PDF annotations in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/annotation-processing.md) - [Using a custom annotation provider in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/annotation-provider-with-rotation.md) - [Add copyright watermark to PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/add-copyright-watermark-to-pdf.md) - [Prepare PDF to capture digital signature in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/contained-digital-signatures.md) - [Prepare PDF to embed PAdES digital signature in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/contained-pades-digital-signature.md) - [Custom annotation provider in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-annotation-provider.md) - [Customize vertical annotation toolbar in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-vertical-annotation-toolbar.md) - [Customize the annotations list in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/customizing-annotation-list.md) - [Customize PDF form appearance in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/customizing-pdf-form-appearance.md) - [Customize the annotation selection knobs in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-selection-knobs.md) - [Custom PDF bookmark provider in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-pdf-bookmark-provider.md) - [Asynchronously sign PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/asynchronous-digital-signature-in-pdf.md) - [LMS example: Take and grade an exam using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/e-learning.md) - [Collaborating on PDFs in board meetings using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/board-meeting.md) - [Programatically create PDF annotations in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/add-annotations-to-pdf-programmatically.md) - [Customize annotation link border color in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-link-border-color.md) - [Customize PDF tab titles in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-tabbed-bar-title.md) - [Save reading position in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/document-view-state-restoration.md) - [Use a custom image picker controller in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-image-picker-controller.md) - [Create password-protected PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/create-password-protected-pdf.md) - [Disable bookmark editing in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/disable-bookmark-editing.md) - [Continiously create free text annotations in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/create-free-text-annotations-continuously.md) - [Clear all PDF annotations with a button in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/custom-button-in-annotation-toolbar.md) - [Embed PDFViewController as a child in iOS](/guides/ios/samples/child-view-controller.md) - [Display building floor plans in iOS with Swift](/guides/ios/samples/construction.md) - [Apply XFDF annotations and save it as new PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/embedded-xfdf-annotation-provider.md) - [Fixed-sized PDF stamp annotations in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/floating-pdf-stamp-annotation.md) - [PDF highlight annotation blend mode menu in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/highlight-annotation-blend-mode-menu.md) - [Insert page into PDF from another document in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/insert-pdf-page-from-document.md) - [Exit PDF drawing mode automatically in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/exit-drawing-mode-automatically.md) - [Initialize a PDF with data in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/document-data-provider-pdf-from-data.md) - [Add a bottom inset to the user interface in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/inset-user-interface.md) - [Add video, audio, image annotation to PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/gallery.md) - [Convert HTML to PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/html-to-pdf.md) - [Customize comment font size in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/large-font-for-comments.md) - [Configuring multiline titles in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/multiline-pdf-title.md) - [Open AES-encrypted PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/open-aes-encrypted-pdf.md) - [Link annotation view customization in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/link-annotation-view-customization.md) - [Monitor UI touches using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/monitor-touches.md) - [Encrypt and decrypt a PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/encrypt-decrypt-pdf.md) - [Add overlay views to PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/overlay-views.md) - [Encrypted Xfdf Annotation Provider](/guides/ios/samples/encrypted-xfdf-annotation-provider.md) - [Face redaction in document using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/face-redaction-in-pdf.md) - [Configure PDF annotation toolbar using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/manual-toolbar-setup.md) - [OCR PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/ocr-pdf.md) - [Password Not Preset](/guides/ios/samples/password-not-preset.md) - [Lazy load PDF annotations in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/lazy-load-pdf-annotations.md) - [Customize PDF editor toolbar using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-editor-toolbar-customization.md) - [Custom PDF page labels in the sharing UI in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/page-labels-in-sharing-ui.md) - [Allow freeform image annotation resizing in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/freeform-image-resize.md) - [Custom saving options after editing PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-editor-custom-saving-confirmation.md) - [Create email snippet when sharing PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/predefined-email-body.md) - [Create PDF teleprompter using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-teleprompter.md) - [Persist view settings using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/persist-view-settings.md) - [Programmatically edit PDFs using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/programmatic-pdf-editing.md) - [PDF reflow with Reader View in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-reader-view.md) - [Display PDFViewController in popover using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/popover-presentation.md) - [Toggle PDF form field highlight color in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-form-highlight-color.md) - [Printer defaults for PDF annotations in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/printer-defaults.md) - [Rotate PDF pages with Swift](/guides/ios/samples/rotate-page-temporarily.md) - [Download PDF from URL using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/remote-document-url.md) - [Rotate PDF page using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/rotate-pdf-page.md) - [Open PDF with preset password using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/preset-pdf-passwords.md) - [Remove password from PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/remove-pdf-password.md) - [Custom page template in PDF editor using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-editor-custom-templates.md) - [Select free text annotation in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/select-free-text-annotations.md) - [Simplifying the font picker for text annotation using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/simple-font-picker.md) - [Customize iOS annotation inspector color presets](/guides/ios/samples/preset-customization.md) - [Enable saving confirmation when exiting PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/save-confirmation.md) - [Customize scrubber bar with buttons using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/scrubber-bar-with-buttons.md) - [Redact text in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-redaction.md) - [Search multiple PDF files using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/search-multiple-pdf-files.md) - [Customize view controller for screen mirroring in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/screen-mirroring.md) - [Convert stamp into a PDF button in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/stamp-button.md) - [Select all text in a PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/select-all-pdf-text.md) - [Simplifying the annotation inspector using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/simple-annotation-inspector.md) - [Generate a PDF report using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/generate-pdf-report.md) - [Hide or reveal an area in a PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/hide-reveal-area-in-pdf.md) - [Multi-user PDF collaboration using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/multi-user-pdf-collaboration.md) - [Display measurements on PDF pages or spreads in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/measurements-on-pages-spreads.md) - [Using Instant JSON to collaborate on PDFs in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/instant-json.md) - [Show PDF download progress in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-download-progress.md) - [Compare PDF documents using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-document-comparison.md) - [PDF page scale and resize using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-page-scaling.md) - [PDF collaboration using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-collaboration.md) - [Highlight text in PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/highlight-text-in-pdf.md) - [Cycle through PDF documents using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/page-view-controller.md) - [PDF text redaction using regex in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/redact-pdf-text-using-regex.md) - [PDF magazine reader using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-magazine-reader.md) - [Search and redact text in a PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/search-and-redact-pdf-text.md) - [Programmatically add a signature to all PDF pages using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/sign-all-pdf-pages.md) - [Store PDF annotations for multiple users in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/store-multiple-user-annotations.md) - [Show author name on annotation selection in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/show-author-name-on-annotation-selection.md) - [Customize PDF view settings in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-view-settings.md) - [Auto-save PDF annotation changes in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/save-as-pdf.md) - [Show note controller for highlights in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/show-note-controller-for-highlights.md) - [Swiftui Sharing](/guides/ios/samples/swiftui-sharing.md) - [Embed a SwiftUI view inside a page view on iOS](/guides/ios/samples/swiftui-on-page-view.md) - [Programmatically go to PDF outline in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/programmatically-go-to-outline.md) - [Show or hide PDF annotations using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/toggle-annotation-visibility.md) - [Enable fixed PDF toolbar position in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/top-toolbar-position.md) - [Encrypt disk cache when rendering PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/encrypted-cache.md) - [Show multiple files as a single PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/show-multiple-files-in-pdf.md) - [Use PDFViewController with SwiftUI for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/swiftui.md) - [Create a custom PDF navigation bar with SwiftUI for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/swiftui-custom-navigation-bar.md) - [SwiftUI split screen: Display two PDF views side by side on iOS](/guides/ios/samples/swiftui-split-screen.md) - [Programtically search a PDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/search-without-controller.md) - [Update configuration when rotating PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/update-configuration-when-rotating.md) - [Render drawings on PDF pages using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-page-drawing.md) - [Convert MS Office (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) to PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/office-to-pdf-conversion.md) - [Show multiple PDFs with tabbed UI using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/tabbed-bar.md) - [Add SwiftUI sidebar next to PDF view on iOS](/guides/ios/samples/swiftui-sidebar.md) - [PDF streaming with SwiftUI for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/streaming-pdf-swiftui.md) - [Import and export annotations in XFDF using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/xfdf-annotation-provider.md) - [Customize PDF annotation toolbar with SwiftUI for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/swiftui-annotationt-toolbar.md) - [Custom annotation inspector with SwiftUI for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/swiftui-custom-annotation-inspector.md) - [Sticky header for PDF thumbnail view in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/sticky-header.md) - [PDF streaming using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/streaming-pdf.md) - [Create a custom PDF page setting view in SwiftUI for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/swiftui-settings.md) - [Add a snake game inside a PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/snake.md) - [Integrate UIStoryboard with PDFViewController in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/storyboard.md) - [PDF form examples using Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-forms.md) - [Display PDF annotations on layers in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/pdf-annotation-layers.md) - [Aviation example: Displaying flight plan PDF in Swift for iOS](/guides/ios/samples/aviation.md) - [Getting started with iOS playground](/guides/ios/samples/playground.md)