Annotate images in TextEdit on Mac
When you add an image to your document, you can use Markup to write or draw on the image; rotate or crop it; or add shapes, text, or a signature to it within TextEdit.
In the TextEdit app on your Mac, move your pointer over an image, click the Markup pop-up menu , then choose Markup.
If you don’t see the pop-up menu, you may need to enable Markup. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click General in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) Click Login Items & Extensions, go to Extensions, click next to Actions, then turn on Markup.
Use the tools in the toolbar to mark up the image.
Tool
Description
Sketch
Sketch a shape using a single stroke.
If your drawing is recognized as a standard shape, it’s replaced by that shape; to use your drawing instead, choose it from the palette that’s shown.
Draw
Draw a shape using a single stroke. Press your finger more firmly on the trackpad to draw with a heavier, darker line.
This tool appears only on computers with a Force Touch trackpad.
Shapes
Click a shape, then drag it where you want. To resize the shape, use the blue handles. If it has green handles, use them to alter the shape.
You can add a highlight shape or zoom lens using these tools:
Highlight : Drag the highlight where you want. To resize it, use the blue handles.
Zoom : Drag the lens where you want. To increase or decrease the zoom, drag the green handle; drag the blue handle to change the lens size.
Text
Type your text, then drag the text box where you want.
Highlight Selection
Highlight selected text.
Sign
If signatures are listed, click one, then drag it where you want. To resize it, use the blue handles.
To create a new signature, see Fill out and sign PDF forms in Preview on Mac.
Shape Style
Change the thickness and type of lines used in a shape, and add a shadow.
Border Color
Change the color of the lines used in a shape.
Fill Color
Change the color that’s used inside a shape.
Text Style
Change the font or the font style and color.
Rotate Left or Rotate Right
Click to rotate an item to the left. Continue clicking to keep rotating.
To rotate an item to the right, press and hold the Option key, then click until you’re done rotating the item.
Crop
Hide part of an item. Drag the corner handles until just the area you want to keep is shown within the frame’s border. You can also drag the frame to reposition it. When you’re ready, click Crop.
Image Description
Enter, view, or edit a description of an image. (The tool is highlighted when an image has a description.)
Image descriptions can be read by screen readers and are useful for anyone who has difficulty seeing images online. For example, if you use VoiceOver, the built-in screen reader on Mac, you can press the VoiceOver command VO-Shift-L to hear a description of the image in the VoiceOver cursor.
Annotate , , (Continuity Markup)
Annotate an item by sketching or drawing on it using your nearby iPhone or iPad . If both devices are nearby, click Annotate , then choose a device. The tool may appear highlighted to show your device is connected. To disconnect your device without using it, click the tool again.
Note: To use your nearby iPhone or iPad to sign or annotate items, it must meet Continuity system requirements. See the Apple Support article Continuity features and requirements on Apple devices.
Click Done.