--- title: "Adding text markup annotations to a PDF document | Nutrient Python SDK" canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/python/editor/add-text-markup-annotations-to-pdf/" md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/python/editor/add-text-markup-annotations-to-pdf.md" last_updated: "2026-05-23T00:08:18.143Z" description: "How to add text markup annotations to a PDF using Nutrient Python SDK." --- # Adding text markup annotations to a PDF document Use text markup annotations to add review feedback directly on text in PDF files. Common use cases include: - Proofreading workflows - Collaborative document review - Content highlighting and emphasis - Revision and deletion tracking In this guide, you’ll add: - Highlight annotations - Underline annotations - Strikeout annotations - Squiggly annotations - Custom colors for each markup type [Download sample](https://www.nutrient.io/downloads/samples/python/add-text-markup-annotations-to-pdf.zip) ## How Nutrient helps Nutrient Python SDK handles text markup annotation structures and appearance generation. The SDK handles: - Text markup dictionaries and quadrilateral arrays - Translucent overlays and blend modes - Coordinate calculations and bounding box intersections - Appearance streams and color transformations ## Complete implementation This example adds several text markup annotations to a PDF file: ```python from nutrient_sdk import Document from nutrient_sdk import PdfEditor from nutrient_sdk import Color from nutrient_sdk import NutrientException ``` ## Working with text markup annotations Open the document in a [context manager](https://docs.python.org/3/reference/datamodel.html#context-managers) so resources are cleaned up after processing. Then: - Create a PDF editor. - Get the page collection. - Add a letter-size page (`612 × 792`) if the document is empty. - Get the annotation collection from the first page. ```python def main(): try: with Document.open("input.pdf") as document: editor = PdfEditor.edit(document) pages = editor.get_page_collection() if pages.get_count() == 0: pages.add(612.0, 792.0) page = pages.get_first() annotations = page.get_annotation_collection() ``` ## Adding a highlight annotation Add a highlight with `add_highlight(x, y, width, height, author, contents)`. In this sample: - The position is `(50, 700)`. - The size is `150 × 20`. - The color is set to translucent yellow with `Color.from_argb(128, 255, 255, 0)`. - The alpha value `128` gives 50 percent opacity. ```python highlight = annotations.add_highlight( 50.0, 700.0, 150.0, 20.0, # x, y, width, height "Highlighter", "Important information" ) # Optionally customize the color highlight.color = Color.from_argb(128, 255, 255, 0) ``` ## Adding an underline annotation Add an underline with `add_underline(x, y, width, height, author, contents)`. In this sample: - The position is `(50, 650)`. - The size is `150 × 20`. - The color is set to blue with `Color.from_argb(255, 0, 0, 255)`. ```python underline = annotations.add_underline( 50.0, 650.0, 150.0, 20.0, # x, y, width, height "Underliner", "Emphasized text" ) # Optionally customize the color. underline.color = Color.from_argb(255, 0, 0, 255) ``` ## Adding a strikeout annotation Add a strikeout with `add_strike_out(x, y, width, height, author, contents)`. In this sample: - The position is `(50, 600)`. - The size is `150 × 20`. - The default color is red (`ARGB 255, 255, 0, 0`). - Use this style to mark text for removal. ```python strike_out = annotations.add_strike_out( 50.0, 600.0, 150.0, 20.0, # x, y, width, height "Reviewer", "This content should be removed" ) ``` ## Adding a squiggly annotation Add a squiggly underline with `add_squiggly(x, y, width, height, author, contents)`. In this sample: - The position is `(50, 550)`. - The size is `150 × 20`. - The color is changed to green with `Color.from_argb(255, 0, 128, 0)`. - Use this style to flag spelling or grammar issues. ```python squiggly = annotations.add_squiggly( 50.0, 550.0, 150.0, 20.0, # x, y, width, height "Proofreader", "Check spelling here" ) # Optionally customize the color squiggly.color = Color.from_argb(255, 0, 128, 0) ``` ## Saving the document Save the output PDF and close the editor. The `except` block catches `NutrientException` if processing fails: ```python editor.save_as("output.pdf") editor.close() except NutrientException as e: print(f"Error: {e}") if __name__ == "__main__": main() ``` ## Conclusion Use this workflow to add text markup annotations: 1. Open the document using a [context manager](https://docs.python.org/3/reference/datamodel.html#context-managers) for automatic resource cleanup. 2. Create an editor and access the page collection. 3. Ensure at least one page exists by adding a letter-size page if needed. 4. Retrieve the annotation collection from the target page. 5. Add highlight annotations with translucent overlays using `add_highlight()` for emphasizing content. 6. Customize highlight transparency using ARGB alpha values (128 = 50 percent transparency). 7. Add underline annotations with `add_underline()` for drawing attention beneath text. 8. Add strikeout annotations with `add_strike_out()` for marking deleted or outdated content. 9. Add squiggly annotations with `add_squiggly()` for indicating spelling or grammar issues. 10. Customize text markup colors using the `color` property with ARGB color values. 11. Position annotations with consistent vertical spacing to create organized markup sequences. 12. Save and close the editor. For related annotation workflows, refer to the [Python SDK annotation guides](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/python/editor.md). --- ## Related pages - [Adding a custom page to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-custom-page-to-pdf.md) - [Adding interactive form fields to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-form-fields-to-pdf.md) - [Adding redaction annotations to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-redaction-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding invisible digital signatures to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-invisible-signature-to-pdf.md) - [Adding free text annotations to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-freetext-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding shape annotations to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-shape-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding sticky note annotations to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-sticky-note-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding stamp annotations to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-stamp-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding link annotations to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-link-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding visible digital signatures to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-visible-signature-to-pdf.md) - [Editing PDF form fields](/guides/python/editor/editing-pdf-form-fields.md) - [Editing PDF metadata with Nutrient Python SDK](/guides/python/editor/editing-pdf-metadata.md) - [Advanced digital signature workflows](/guides/python/editor/advanced-digital-signatures.md) - [Filling PDF form fields](/guides/python/editor/fill-pdf-form.md) - [Managing PDF page order](/guides/python/editor/manage-pdf-page-order.md) - [Adding annotations to a PDF document](/guides/python/editor/add-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Nutrient Python SDK editor guides](/guides/python/editor.md) - [Merging PDFs](/guides/python/editor/merge-pdf-into-other-pdf.md)