How to Make Circles and Annotations Print in a PDF
Question details
The user needs to print a PDF file so that drawn circles and form annotations appear on the physical printed page.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / PDF Readers
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a PDF document or form where choices like AM or PM have been circled using annotation tools.
- Observed behavior
- The circles and annotations are perfectly visible on the computer screen but are completely missing from the final printed document.
Before adjusting your print options, make sure you have saved your PDF file so that all recent circles, comments, and form field entries are fully applied to the document.
Enable Document and Markups in Print Settings
Change the default Acrobat print parameters from 'Document' to 'Document and Markups' to ensure all annotations and drawn shapes are sent to the printer.
By default, many PDF viewers are set to print only the core document layer. Drawn objects, text boxes, sticky notes, and circles are considered 'Comments and Forms' or 'Markups'. You must explicitly tell the software to include this markup layer when spooling the file to the printer.
Open your annotated PDF document in Adobe Acrobat. Go to the top menu bar, click on 'File', and select 'Print'. Alternatively, you can press the 'Ctrl + P' keyboard shortcut.
Look for the 'Comments & Forms' section in the Print dialog box. This is typically located in the middle or top right area of the print settings window.
Click the dropdown menu under 'Comments & Forms'. Change the selection from 'Document' to 'Document and Markups'.
Check the print preview thumbnail in the dialog box. Your circles and annotations should now be visible on the preview. Click the 'Print' button to output your document.
Use WPS Office to Manage and Print PDF Annotations Flawlessly
WPS Office features a powerful built-in PDF reader and editor that effortlessly handles form filling, drawn annotations, and printing without complex or hidden settings configurations.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your computer and open the PDF file containing your circles and annotations.
- 2. Access the Print Menu: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply use the 'Ctrl + P' shortcut to open the print settings.
- 3. Choose to Print Annotations: In the Print dialog box, locate the 'Print Content' section. Select the 'Document and Annotations' option from the dropdown menu.
- 4. Confirm and Print: Ensure the circles appear in the preview pane on the right side of the window, then click the 'Print' button to start printing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my PDF highlights and text boxes not printing either?
Highlights, text boxes, and stamps are categorized as markups, just like drawn circles. If your print settings are configured to print 'Document' only, all of these added elements will be excluded. Switching the setting to 'Document and Markups' resolves this for all annotation types.
Can I make 'Document and Markups' the default setting for printing PDFs?
Yes. In Adobe Acrobat, you can set a default print preset for a specific document. Go to 'File' > 'Properties', navigate to the 'Advanced' tab, and look for 'Print Dialog Presets'. You can change the 'Comments and Forms' default option to 'Document and Markups' there.
What if the circles print, but they are misaligned from the text?
Misaligned annotations during printing are usually caused by page scaling settings like 'Fit to Printable Area'. To keep annotations perfectly aligned with the underlying text, ensure your page scaling is set to 'Actual Size' or 'None' in the print dialog.
Does flattening the PDF help with printing annotations?
Yes, flattening a PDF permanently merges the annotation layer (circles, signatures, etc.) into the main document layer. You can achieve this by using a 'Print to PDF' printer. Once flattened, the document will always print with annotations regardless of the PDF viewer's markup settings.
