Deta Studio

How to trace a PDF and snap markups together

Trace PDF drawing lines with a polyline, then snap new or existing markup points to other shapes in Deta.

Updated

Find the controls

SnappingF3

Bottom viewer bar → Snap & measure options → Snapping

Before you start

Open a drawing you can edit. Tracing with snapping requires a PDF with vector linework; a scanned page or photograph does not provide snap targets. Snapping between Deta markups works on either kind of page.

Steps

Trace an outline in the PDF

  1. Open the Snap and measure options control options arrow in the bottom viewer bar. Turn on Snapping and Snap to drawing.
  2. Choose Line tool icon Line (L). Move to the first corner of the outline and click when the Corner snap marker square snap marker appears.
  3. Click each next corner to trace the outline. Press Backspace to remove the last point if you need to try it again; the starting point stays in place.
  4. Click the starting point to close the outline, or press Enter to finish an open polyline.

To read the traced shape’s length or area, set the page scale, then use selection measurements.

Snap markups together

  1. In the same Snap and measure options control menu, enable Snapping and Snap to markups. Turn off Snap to drawing if the PDF’s lines are getting in the way.
  2. With Line (L), move to a corner or edge of an existing markup. Click when its snap marker appears to start the new line there.
  3. Move to the target on another markup, click to place the endpoint, then press Enter.
  4. To adjust an existing polyline, choose Select (V), select it, and drag a vertex to a target on another markup. Release when the snap marker appears.

Snapping positions the points together; it does not join the two markups into one shape.

Recognize the snap markers

MarkerTarget
Square snap marker SquareEndpoint or corner
Circular snap marker CircleMidpoint or center
Diamond snap marker DiamondPoint along an edge
Cross snap marker CrossIntersection or tracking stop
Dashed guideAlignment with another point

Check your result

The polyline follows the chosen outline, or its endpoint lands on the intended markup. Zoom in where nearby targets are hard to distinguish.

Troubleshooting

  • No targets on the PDF: check Snap to drawing. Image-only scans have no vector snap points.
  • The wrong line attracts the pointer: disable the source you do not need: Snap to drawing or Snap to markups.