How to use the drawing form field for visual annotations?

The drawing form field in BoldSign allows signers to add freehand drawings, shapes, and visual annotations directly within a defined area of a PDF document. This feature is useful when textual input is not sufficient and visual marking is required for better clarity.

During document preparation, the drawing field can be placed and resized to define the annotation boundaries. When the signer selects the field during the signing process, a cropped view of the corresponding document region is displayed, allowing the signer to annotate accurately within the defined area. The drawing field supports both mouse and touch input, making it compatible with desktop and touch-enabled devices.

Real-time use case

Scenario - Vehicle damage identification in insurance claims

• An insurance company collects accident details digitally using BoldSign. When a customer reports a minor vehicle accident, the insurer needs a clear understanding of where the damage occurred on the vehicle.
• Describing damage using text alone (for example, “scratch on the left side”) can be unclear and may lead to delays in claim processing.

How the drawing field helps

The insurance company sends a document containing a vehicle diagram with a drawing field placed over it.
When the signer (vehicle owner) receives the document, they can:

• Open the document.
• Select the drawing field placed on the vehicle image.
• Visually mark: (Scratches, Dents, Cracks on headlights).
• Save the drawing and complete the signing process.

The annotated image becomes part of the signed document and is available to the insurer immediately.

Benefits of using the drawing field in this scenario

• Clear visual communication of vehicle damage.
• Faster claim review and approval.
• Reduced follow-up questions.
• Improved accuracy compared to text-only descriptions.
• User-friendly experience on mobile devices.

Adding a drawing field to the document

Follow the steps below to add a drawing field while preparing a document:

1. Click Create New Document.
2. Fill in the required details in the prepare document page and click Next.
3. On the configure fields window, locate the Drawing Field in the Fields panel.
4. Drag and drop it onto the desired area of the document.

5. Resize and reposition the field to cover the exact region that requires annotation.

6. Click Send to share the document with the signer.

Using the drawing field as a Signer

Once the document is received, the signer can annotate using these steps:

1. Open the required document to be signed.
2. Locate and click the Drawing Field to open the drawing dialog.

3. View the cropped document region for better context.
4. Use the available drawing tools to annotate the area.

5. Click Save to apply the drawing.
6. Click Cancel if you want to discard changes.
7. Complete the document signing process.

Available drawing tools

The drawing field provides multiple tools for accurate annotation:

• Pencil (Freehand) – For freehand drawings, handwritten notes, or rough markings.
• Circle – To enclose or highlight damaged areas.
• Line – For underlining or pointing out scratches.
• Rectangle – To box damaged regions.
• Pointer (Arrow) – To point to a specific part of the vehicle.

Pen Color

• Choose from preset colors or use the color picker.
• The selected color applies to all new annotations.

Stroke Width

• Adjust thickness from 1 to 20 using the stroke slider.
• A live preview is displayed before drawing.

Editing Actions

• Undo – Removes the most recent annotation.
• Redo – Restores the last undone action.
• Clear All – Removes all annotations at once (cannot be undone).

Best practices

• Place the drawing field directly over images, diagrams, or layouts.
• Add brief instructions such as “Please mark the damaged areas”.
• Ensure the field size is large enough for detailed annotations.
• Use the drawing field only when visual input adds value.

The drawing field in BoldSign enables real-time visual input, making it ideal for scenarios like vehicle accident reporting, insurance claims, property inspections, and maintenance documentation, marking patience pain points. By allowing signers to visually mark relevant areas, businesses can reduce misunderstandings, speed up assessments, approvals, and improve overall document clarity.