How to Change Strikeout Line Thickness in a PDF
Question details
Users want to adjust the thickness of the strikeout text annotation in a PDF but cannot find a functional setting to change the line weight.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing and marking up text within a PDF document using the strikeout annotation tool.
- Observed behavior
- The standard strikeout annotation does not expose a visible line-width control. Modifying the width property via JavaScript fails to alter the rendered visual appearance.
Keep in mind that standard PDF strikeout tools automatically scale their thickness based on the underlying text's font size. If a custom thickness is strictly required, you will need to utilize alternative drawing tools instead of the default text markup feature.
Use the Line Drawing Tool for Custom Thickness
Since the default strikeout tool lacks a thickness setting, drawing a custom shape line over the text provides full control over the line's visual appearance.
PDF viewing software, including Adobe Acrobat, renders the standard strikeout annotation as a fixed property of the text size. To bypass this limitation, you can use the graphical line tool to manually draw a thicker strikeout.
Open your PDF document and navigate to the 'Comment' or 'Markup' section in the top toolbar.
Locate the 'Drawing Tools' or 'Shapes' menu and select the straight 'Line' tool.
Click and drag to draw a horizontal line directly over the specific text you wish to strike through.
Right-click the newly drawn line and select 'Properties'. Under the 'Appearance' tab, adjust the line 'Thickness' (or 'Weight') to your desired level and click 'OK'.
Attempt Modification via JavaScript (Advanced)
For advanced users, targeting the annotation via JavaScript allows you to alter the code property, though visual results may vary across different PDF viewers.
Annotate PDFs Customly with WPS Office
WPS Office offers a comprehensive PDF editor with flexible commenting and drawing tools. Easily bypass default markup limitations by using customizable lines and shapes for your document reviews.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you want to edit.
- 2. Navigate to the Comment tab: Click on 'Comment' in the top ribbon to access the markup and drawing tools.
- 3. Draw a custom strikeout: Select 'Shapes' from the toolbar, choose the 'Line' tool, and draw a line over your target text.
- 4. Change the thickness: Click the drawn line to reveal the floating properties menu, then select 'Line Style' to increase or decrease the line thickness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I change the default strikeout thickness in Adobe Acrobat?
In most PDF viewers, the standard strikeout text annotation is hard-coded to scale automatically with the font size of the text it covers. It does not provide an independent visual property setting for line thickness.
Does changing the text font size affect the strikeout line?
Yes. Because standard strikeout annotations are linked to the text properties, increasing the font size of the underlying text will automatically make the strikeout line appear thicker.
Can I change the color of the strikeout line without changing its thickness?
Yes. You can easily change the color. Right-click the existing strikeout annotation, select 'Properties', navigate to the 'Appearance' tab, and choose a new color.
Are custom drawn lines searchable like standard strikeout text?
Drawing a custom line over text acts as a separate graphic object. However, the underlying text remains completely intact, searchable, and selectable, as the graphic line simply sits on top of it.
