The Asset Annotation Editor is a canvas-based tool for adding visual markup to assets. Use it to place numbered callouts, draw arrows, add text frames, and overlay shapes directly on an asset.
Opening the Asset Annotation Editor
There are two ways to open the Asset Annotation Editor.
From a document: Click the asset in the document editor, click Edit (bottom left) in the Asset view preferences modal, then click the Asset Annotation icon (top right) in the Properties panel.
From the Quick Action Menu: Open the Quick Action Menu in the document editor, go to the local assets tab, click the edit icon next to the asset, then click the Asset Annotation icon in the Properties panel.
Info
Both entry points open the same full-screen editor. Any annotations you save are attached to the asset and reflected wherever that asset appears in your document.
Workspace overview
The editor is divided into two panels.
The Asset Annotation Editor with a toaster asset loaded and ready to annotate.
Sidebar
The sidebar runs along the left side of the editor. It contains the tool tabs at the top, a scrollable properties panel that updates based on the active tool, and a fixed bottom bar with zoom controls, undo/redo, grid toggle, and the Save button.
Canvas
The canvas fills the remaining space to the right. Your asset is displayed on an artboard, a white surface you can resize independently of the asset. All annotations are drawn on top of the artboard.
Note
When no asset is loaded, the canvas displays a "Waiting for image..." placeholder. The annotation tools are unavailable until an asset is present.
Tools
Five tools are available from the tabs at the top of the sidebar. Click a tab or press the keyboard shortcut to switch tools.
| Tool | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Select | V | Select, move, and edit existing annotations |
| Callout | C | Place numbered or lettered markers on the asset |
| Text | T | Draw a text frame and add typed content |
| Line | L | Draw arrows and lines |
| Shape | S | Draw circles, squares, and rounded rectangles |
Tip
Press Esc at any time to switch back to the Select tool without closing the editor.
Annotation types
Callout
A labelled marker placed at a single point on the asset. Callouts auto-increment their labels in numeric (1, 2, 3), lowercase letter (a, b, c), or uppercase letter (A, B, C) sequence. The marker shape can be a circle, square, rounded square, or text-only.
For a toaster asset, you might use callouts to identify the bread slots (1), browning dial (2), cancel button (3), lever (4), and crumb tray (5).
Arrow (Line)
A line segment between two points, with independent arrowhead styles on each end. Six arrowhead styles are available: filled, outlined, narrow, wide, needle, and sharp outlined, plus dot and tick mark options. Line style can be solid, dotted, or dashed.
Use arrows to draw attention to a specific component, for example, pointing from a label outside the asset boundary to the toaster's browning dial.
Text frame
A rectangular text area drawn by dragging on the canvas. Supports full typography controls including font family, size, weight, alignment, line height, and vertical alignment. The frame can have a background fill and a styled border.
Use text frames to add descriptive labels alongside a component, for example, a note next to the control panel explaining the browning range.
Shape
A filled geometric shape: circle, square, or rounded rectangle, with independent fill and border colour controls. Use shapes to highlight a region of the asset, such as drawing a rectangle around the toaster's control panel to group related callouts visually.
Artboard and canvas settings
The artboard is the white surface your asset sits on. You can resize the artboard beyond the asset boundaries to create space for annotations outside the asset area, for example, arrow labels or a legend placed beside the toaster diagram.
Artboard settings are always visible at the bottom of the sidebar properties panel.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Width / Height | Artboard dimensions in pixels. Minimum is the original asset size. |
| Presets | Apply a common aspect ratio: Original, 1:1, 4:3, 16:9, or A4. |
| Background | Artboard fill colour. Defaults to white (#ffffff). |
Note
Resizing the artboard does not scale or crop the asset. The asset stays at its original dimensions inside the expanded canvas area.
Zoom and navigation
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Zoom in | Ctrl/Cmd = or the + button in the sidebar |
| Zoom out | Ctrl/Cmd - or the - button in the sidebar |
| Reset zoom to 100% | Ctrl/Cmd 0, or click the zoom percentage label |
| Zoom to cursor | Ctrl/Cmd + Scroll |
| Pan the canvas | Hold Space, then drag |
The zoom range is 25% to 400%.
Saving
Click Save to save your annotations. The editor saves your work and returns you to the document with the annotated asset updated.
Info
The Save button is enabled only when at least one annotation exists, or when the artboard dimensions have been changed from the original asset size.
Warning
Do not close the editor or navigate away before clicking Save. Unsaved annotations cannot be recovered.
Keyboard shortcuts
Click the keyboard icon next to the Save button to open the full shortcuts reference panel inside the editor, or see Keyboard shortcuts for the Asset Annotation Editor.
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