Callouts are numbered or lettered markers you place directly on an asset to identify individual components. Each callout auto-increments its label so you can work quickly without manually tracking the sequence.
This article uses a toaster as the example product. The following components will be identified: bread slots, lever, browning dial, second dial, body, and feet.
Before you begin
Open the Asset Annotation Editor with your asset loaded. If the canvas shows a "Waiting for image..." placeholder, the asset has not yet been attached to the document.
Info
Callout labels auto-increment from the last placed callout. If you are continuing a previous session, check the Next number will be preview in the Callout panel before placing new callouts, and adjust the Start from value if needed.
Step 1: Select the Callout tool
Click the Callout tab in the left panel, or press C.
The Callout panel showing Callout Type, Start from, Shape, and Text Inside Callout options.
The Callout panel displays the following options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Callout Type | Sets the label format: numeric (1, 2), lowercase letter (a, b), or uppercase letter (A, B) |
| Start from | Sets the starting label value |
| Next number will be | Live preview of the label that will be applied to the next callout you place |
| Auto increment | When checked, each new callout receives the next label in sequence. Uncheck to repeat the same label for every placement. |
| Shape | Sets the marker style: Circle, Square, Rounded, or Text |
Step 2: Choose your callout type and shape
Before placing callouts, set the label format and marker style that suits your document. For a toaster user manual, numeric labels with circle markers are a conventional choice for part identification.
- Under Callout Type, click 1, 2 to use numeric labels.
- Under Shape, click Circle.
Note
You can change the callout type and shape at any point. Changing these settings affects only new callouts placed after the change. Existing callouts on the canvas are not updated.
Step 3: Place callouts on the asset
Click anywhere on the canvas to place a callout at that position. The label is applied automatically and increments with each click.
Six callouts placed on the toaster asset identifying the bread slots (1), lever (2), browning dial (3), second dial (4), body (5), and feet (6)
For the toaster, click each component in sequence:
- Click the bread slots at the top of the toaster — callout 1 is placed.
- Click the lever on the right side — callout 2 is placed.
- Click the browning dial — callout 3 is placed.
- Click the second dial — callout 4 is placed.
- Click the body of the toaster — callout 5 is placed.
- Click the feet at the base — callout 6 is placed.
Tip
If you place a callout in the wrong position, press Ctrl/Cmd Z to undo, then click the correct location.
Step 4: Edit a callout label
If you need to change the text of an existing callout, for example to correct a label or use a custom value:
- Press V or Esc to switch to the Select tool.
- Double-click the callout on the canvas.
- The label editor appears over the callout. Type the new label.
- Press Enter to confirm, or Esc to cancel.
Note
The label editor accepts any text value. If Auto increment is on, the next callout placed after an edit will continue from the recalculated sequence based on all existing labels on the canvas.
Step 5: Reposition a callout
- Press V or Esc to switch to the Select tool.
- Click the callout to select it. A selection ring appears around the marker.
- Drag the callout to the new position.
To constrain movement to horizontal or vertical, hold Shift while dragging.
Step 6: Change callout appearance
Select a callout to display its properties in the left panel. You can adjust the following:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Shape | Circle, Square, Rounded, or Text |
| Fill color | The marker background colour |
| Text color | The label text colour inside the marker |
| Border color | The stroke colour around the marker |
| Stroke weight | The border thickness in pixels |
| Font family | The typeface used for the label |
| Font size | The label text size in pt |
| Bold / Italic / Underline | Typography styles |
| Opacity | Marker transparency (0–100%) |
Info
When multiple callouts are selected, property changes apply to all selected callouts simultaneously.
Step 7: Delete a callout
- Press V or Esc to switch to the Select tool.
- Click the callout to select it, or hold Alt and click to select multiple.
- Press Delete or Backspace.
To remove all annotations from the canvas at once, click the trash icon in the left panel bottom bar.
Warning
Deleting callouts does not automatically renumber remaining callouts. Review your numbering after any deletion and update labels manually if needed.
Step 8: Save your work
Click Save in the left panel when you have finished placing and adjusting callouts. Your annotations are saved to the asset and reflected in your document.
Warning
Do not close the editor or navigate away before clicking Save. Unsaved annotations cannot be recovered.
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