How to Add an Empty Box Border to a PDF
Question details
The user needs to draw a simple empty rectangle or box border around specific text or content within a PDF file.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Annotating or highlighting specific content by enclosing it in a rectangular border without covering the text.
- Observed behavior
- The user wants to successfully draw a rectangle with visible borders but a transparent fill so the underlying text remains fully legible.
Ensure you are using a PDF editor with annotation tools, such as Adobe Acrobat or WPS Office, as basic PDF web viewers may not support custom shape drawing.
Draw an Empty Box Using Adobe Acrobat Drawing Tools
Use the built-in comment and drawing tools in Adobe Acrobat to create a customizable transparent rectangle.
Adobe Acrobat includes comprehensive markup tools that allow you to draw shapes over your document. By default, these shapes might have a solid fill, but you can easily adjust their properties to make them transparent.
Launch Adobe Acrobat and open the PDF document you wish to annotate.
Go to the right-hand pane and click on 'Comment'. From the toolbar that appears at the top, select 'Drawing Tools' and choose the 'Rectangle' option.
Click and drag your cursor over the text or content you want to enclose to draw the initial rectangle.
Right-click the drawn rectangle and select 'Properties'. In the properties panel, change the 'Fill Color' to 'Transparent' or 'No Color'. You can also adjust the border color, line thickness, and opacity here.
Click 'OK' to apply the changes. The box will now be empty, framing your content. Save the PDF document to preserve your annotations.
Add Box Borders to PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office provides powerful and intuitive PDF editing tools, allowing you to easily draw shapes, add text, and annotate your PDF files without the high cost of premium software.
- 1. Open the PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your target PDF file.
- 2. Navigate to the Comment Tab: Click on the 'Comment' tab located on the top ribbon menu to reveal annotation tools.
- 3. Select the Rectangle Tool: Click on the 'Shapes' drop-down icon and select the 'Rectangle' tool.
- 4. Draw and Customize: Draw the box over your text. Click the newly drawn shape to access its quick properties menu, set the fill color to 'No Fill', customize your border color and thickness, and save your document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the box I drew covering the text underneath?
By default, drawing shapes might be set to have a solid background color (fill). You need to right-click the shape, access its properties, and change the fill color to 'Transparent' or 'No Fill' so the text remains visible.
Can I change the thickness of the box border?
Yes. After drawing the rectangle, right-click it and select Properties. Look for the 'Thickness' or 'Line Weight' setting to make the border lines thicker or thinner.
Is it possible to draw a perfect square instead of a rectangle?
Yes. In most PDF editors, including Adobe Acrobat and WPS Office, holding down the 'Shift' key on your keyboard while clicking and dragging the rectangle tool will constrain the proportions, creating a perfect square.
How do I remove a box border if I made a mistake?
Simply click on the border line of the box to select it (you will usually see a selection outline or dots appear), then press the 'Delete' or 'Backspace' key on your keyboard to instantly remove it from the PDF.
