Deta Studio

How to create and edit callouts on a PDF

Create a new note with a leader using Callout, or add one or more leaders to an existing text box. Reposition or remove arrows while keeping the note.

Updated

Find the tool

CalloutO

New note: left toolbar → Callout. Existing text: select it → circular + handle.

Before you start

A callout is a text note connected to a detail by a leader arrow. Open a drawing you can edit. There are two ways to create one:

  • New note and leader together: use the Callout tool (O) in the left toolbar.
  • Existing text: select the text and click its circular Add leader icon handle to add a leader.

Any text object can have multiple leaders, including text created with Text, Callout, or Cloud. You do not need an existing text box when starting with Callout.

Steps

Create a callout with the Callout tool

  1. Choose Callout in the left toolbar, or press O. Look for the Callout icon bent-arrow icon.
  2. Press and drag from the detail the arrow should point to toward the position for your note.
  3. Release to place the text box, then type your note.
  4. Press Esc or click outside the text to finish. The new note and leader are connected.

Add a leader to existing text

  1. Choose Select (V) and click the text once to select it. Finish typing with Esc first if the text editor is open.
  2. Click the circular Add leader icon handle beside the text box. Deta adds a connected leader and selects it.
  3. Drag the handle at the arrow tip onto the detail you want to point to.

Add multiple leaders to the same note

  1. Select the text box, whether it started as a plain note or a callout.
  2. Click Add leader icon again and drag the new arrow tip to another detail.
  3. Repeat for each additional leader. Each arrow has its own target and shares the same text.
Add and remove leaders on an existing note

Move the note or a leader

  1. Select the text and drag it, or use its Move handle icon move handle. The leaders stay connected, while their tips keep pointing to their targets.
  2. Move the note to the other side of a target to switch the leader's connection side automatically. The text aligns toward its leaders; with leaders on both sides, it centers.
  3. To change one target, select that leader and drag its tip. The other leaders keep their own targets.

A leader pointing to a PDF detail targets a position on the page. A leader attached to a Deta cloud follows that cloud when it moves or changes size.

Change the arrow

  1. Select the leader itself. Under arrow, choose On to show its arrowhead or Off to hide it while keeping the connecting line.
  2. With the arrowhead on, change size to adjust it.
  3. For line color and thickness or note formatting, see Markup appearance.

Remove a leader

  1. Select the leader arrow itself, rather than the text box.
  2. Press Delete or Backspace, or right-click and choose Delete. The text and its other leaders remain. Removing the last leader leaves a plain text note.

Deleting the text also deletes its attached leaders. Undo with Ctrl + Z on Windows or Cmd + Z on Mac. Redo with Ctrl + Shift + Z on Windows or Cmd + Shift + Z on Mac.

Check your result

Each leader points to the intended detail and remains connected when you move the note. After removing a leader, check that the text and any other leaders are still present.

Troubleshooting

  • Add leader icon The + handle is missing: finish typing with Esc, choose Select, and select just the text object. It must be editable and unlocked.
  • The note disappeared when you deleted: the text was selected. Undo, then select only the leader before deleting.
  • The leader has no arrowhead: select it and choose On under arrow in the properties bar.