Cloud Annotations

Cloud annotations (also called revision clouds) are scalloped outlines used to flag changed or reviewed areas on a drawing.

Three Ways to Draw a Cloud

1. Rectangular Cloud

Draw a rectangle with line style = Cloud.

1. Pick Rectangle (R).
2. In Tool Options, set Line Style = Cloud.
3. Drag to define the rectangle.
4. Release — scalloped border appears.

2. Circular / Elliptical Cloud

Same as above but pick Circle (C) with Line Style = Cloud.

3. Free-form Revision Cloud

Use the dedicated Revision Cloud tool (Tools → Revision Cloud). Click to add a vertex, double-click to finish. The closed path gets scalloped automatically.

Tool Options

Set these before drawing. To change after, use the right-click context menu (see below).

Outward vs Inward

• Outward — bumps protrude from the shape (the classic revision cloud look).
• Inward — bumps curve into the shape, giving a cut-out / scalloped-hole appearance.

Flipping an Existing Cloud

To switch the direction of an already-drawn cloud:

1. Activate the Select tool.
2. Right-click the cloud annotation.
3. Choose Flip Cloud Direction.

The cloud is re-generated with the opposite orientation immediately. Works for:

• Rectangular clouds.
• Circular / elliptical clouds.
• Free-form Revision Clouds.

Recoloring and Recouding

• Right-click → Change Color for stroke color.
• Select the cloud and edit Cloud Intensity in Tool Options to re-bump with tighter / looser arcs.

Selecting and Editing

Clouds select like any other annotation:

• Drag to move.
• Drag corner handles to resize (bumps recalculate).
• Drag rotation handle to rotate.

For free-form Revision Clouds only, you also get per-vertex orange handles. Drag one to move a single bump point; right-click near a bump for Insert Point Here / Delete Point.

Save and Open Elsewhere

• Cloud geometry saves back into the PDF as a path annotation.
• Cloud direction (outward / inward) and intensity are stored in Spark-specific PDF keys and preserved when reopened in Spark.
• Other PDF viewers will display the cloud outline but won't offer the flip / direction controls.

Common Pitfall