When you’re working on a collaborative project in Photoshop or need to submit a project for review, adding notes can be useful to point out changes. The Note Tool in Photoshop makes this easy, with a one-click method of adding notes to a project for other collaborators to review.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you the power of easily adding text-based comments to your project. You will learn how to make multiple notes, move each note, and delete them. Plus, by the end of this guide, you’ll learn how to make an interactive PDF to view your notes with style. 

Let’s dive in.

What Are Notes In Photoshop?

The Note Tool is a feature that allows you to add text notes in Photoshop. You can use these notes to store information about the image or just for simple reminders. You can also set the priority level of each note through color.

In addition, the Note Tool is handy when collaborating with other team members. You can assign tasks to others and keep things organized by setting an author name and color to each note. This ensures that everyone is kept up to date and accountable for their work.

Overall, the Note Tool in Photoshop is an excellent way to keep track of all your comments related to a project or image. You can utilize this tool to keep everyone, or just yourself, up-to-date.

Also, notes written in Photoshop will not appear when you export the photo unless you check the option to do so.

How To Add A Note In Photoshop

It’s easy to add a note to any project in Photoshop and is much easier than making notes with a pen and paper.

Step 1: Select The Note Tool From Inside The Hidden Menu

The Note Tool (I) is a hidden tool that you can find in the Toolbar. 

Click and hold the Eyedropper Tool to bring up the sub-menu. The Note Tool is toward the bottom of the list. 

Step 2: Add Your Name And Color

After selecting the Note Tool, direct your attention to the Options bar at the top. 

Before you create your note, you can add your name to the Author Box and use the Color Picker to choose a color for the card. 

Step 3: Click On Your Canvas

To add your note, simply click anywhere on your canvas. You will see your note represented as an icon in the color you have chosen. The Notes Panel will open right next to it. 

Step 4: Add Your Text

To add your text, click inside the Notes Panel itself. You can add as much text as you need.

You can edit your note anytime by clicking the middle of it.  

How To Move, Delete, And Add Notes

To move a note on your Canvas, position your mouse on the upper left corner of the note icon. Then, click and hold on to the icon. Drag your mouse wherever you need to place your note. 

To add a new note, click on the lower left corner of the note icon. This will create a new note you can add anywhere to your project. You can add as many notes as you need to. 

You can even add a note outside your canvas. 

In the Notes Panel, you can use the arrows to cycle through your notes. Alternatively, you can click the exact note you want to view or edit. Just make sure to click the middle of the note. 

If you need to delete a note, select it, then click on the Trash Can icon in the Notes Panel. You will be prompted to confirm your decision. Click Yes to do so. 

If you aim to delete all your notes, click on Clear All in the Options bar. 

How To Change The Color Of A Note In Photoshop

You can change the color of your note at any time by selecting your note, then clicking the Color Picker in the Options bar. 

You can choose any color that is available in Photoshop. This includes selecting a more or less saturated version of your color. 

You can also change the name in the author box at any time. So if you have a project with multiple people involved, you can have each person use their name on every note and pick a color for each person. 

How To View Notes In Photoshop

You can read a note at any time by selecting it and then viewing it from the Notes Panel. 

If the Notes Panel is in your way, you can temporarily hide it by clicking the Show/Hide button in the Options bar. Click this button once to hide the Notes Panel. Click this button again to bring the Notes Panel back. 

You can also view your notes outside of Photoshop in a PDF format.

To do this, go to File > Save A Copy. 

When the Save A Copy Properties Panel pops up, click on the Format drop-down menu. You must save your copy as a Photoshop PDF. 

Before you confirm your choice, make sure that Notes is checked on. If this option is not checked on, you will have no way to access your notes on your exported PDF. 

Click Save. 

In the next menu, the only option you need to be concerned with is the Compatibility option. Click on the drop-down menu and ensure that you have the most recent version of Acrobat. The latest version of Acrobat will be whatever the highest number is. 

Once that is done, click Save PDF. 

Your PDF will be downloaded onto your computer. 

When you open this PDF, you may at first think that your notes were never exported or that some kind of mistake occurred. Your PDF will look like a normal picture at first. 

Look a little closer. You will notice little dots on your canvas. These dots may seem like random pixels on your image, but these dots are the notes you created along the way. 

To view one of your notes, just click on it. Your note will temporarily expand enough for you to read it. 

Another cool thing is that if you need to move one of your notes, you just need to drag it with your mouse. Yes, you can do this right in the PDF!

Also, if you want to delete one of these notes from the PDF, click on it, then hit the Delete key. This will remove your note from the exported PDF. 

Ultimately the note tool in Photoshop is helpful for both in-project and exported project comments to share with your co-workers. That way, you can easily keep track of changes that need to be made without manually writing them down with pen and paper!