How to Annotate and Share Capture Snapshots

Use the built-in drawing tools to add annotations, markups, and highlights to snapshots of your 3D captures. This allows you to communicate design details, point out specific features, provide feedback, or document findings directly on your capture images.

Plan Availability

Snapshot annotation is available on iOS for all subscription tiers.

iOS Web Android
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How to Annotate Capture Snapshots

Create annotated snapshots of your 3D captures using the built-in drawing tools to highlight features, or provide visual feedback.

1Navigate to Your Capture

Open the Polycam app on your iOS device and select the capture you want to annotate from your capture library.

2Position Your View

Adjust the view of your capture to frame the area you want to annotate. The current view will become the snapshot that you can draw on.

3Open Snapshot Mode

Tap the camera icon located on the right-hand side of the screen. This will capture the current view and open the annotation tools.

Extend Capture Button

Using the Drawing Tools

Once in snapshot mode, you have access to various drawing tools to mark up your capture and highlight important details.

Available Annotation Tools

On the bottom navigation bar, you'll find several annotation tools to choose from. Each tool offers different functionality for marking up and editing your snapshot:

  • Drawing Tool: Freehand drawing tool offering multiple markup styles. Tap and flip through the tool to access different options including pen, crayon, marker, water paint, and chalk. Double-click the tool to customize stroke size and opacity.
  • Highlighter: Semi-transparent tool for emphasizing areas and highlighting important details without obscuring the underlying capture.
  • Ruler Tool: Populates a ruler on your snapshot that you can drag to measure or align features.
  • Lasso Tool: Select individual annotations to move, edit, or manage them.
  • Eraser: Remove annotations with precision using two erasing modes.

Choose Your Color

After selecting a drawing tool (Drawing Tool, Highlighter, or Ruler Tool), choose the color you want to use for your annotations. Polycam provides both preset color swatches and custom color swatches.

Screenshot showing the color picker interface with spectrum chooser, color sliders, and the + button highlighted for saving custom colors

Grid: Default Color Swatches

Tap the color tool to access the color picker. The interface displays a selection of default color swatches. Tap any swatch to apply that color to your selected drawing tool.

Create Custom Colors

For precise color matching or brand-specific colors, you can create your own custom colors:

  • Spectrum Chooser: Use the color spectrum to visually select any color by tapping and dragging across the colored rows
  • Color Sliders: Fine-tune your color using RGB, HSB, or paste in the Hex color for precise control

Save Custom Color Swatches

Once you've created a custom color you want to reuse, click the + button at the bottom of the color picker. This saves your current color as a custom swatch, adding it to your color palette alongside the default swatches.

Important: Saved custom colors are available across all captures. Anytime you open the annotation tool on any capture, your saved colors will be there.

Customize Your Tools

You can adjus your annotation tools to achieve the exact look you need for your markups.

Drawing Tool Markup Styles

When using the Drawing Tool, tap and flip through the tool options to access different markup styles:

  • Pen: Clean, consistent lines ideal for technical annotations
  • Crayon: Textured strokes for a hand-drawn appearance
  • Marker: Bold, thick lines for prominent callouts
  • Water Paint: Soft, semi-transparent strokes with artistic effect
  • Chalk: Textured, matte finish

Adjust Stroke Size and Opacity

For both the Drawing Tool and Highlighter, double-click the tool icon to access advanced settings. Here you can:

  • Stroke Size: Adjust the thickness of your lines from fine to bold
  • Opacity: Control the transparency of your annotations, allowing you to create subtle highlights or bold, opaque markings
Screenshot showing the stroke size and opacity adjustment interface that appears when double-clicking the Drawing Tool or Highlighter

Eraser Options

The Eraser tool offers two modes:

  • Pixel Eraser: Drag across annotations to erase portions as you move.
  • Object Eraser: Tap any annotation to remove the entire object instantly.

Adjust the eraser size to control how much area is affected with each stroke.

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Ruler Tool

The Ruler Tool provides a visual ruler overlay that you can position and rotate to create alignment guides, or add structured reference lines to your snapshot.

Positioning the Ruler:

When you select the Ruler Tool, a ruler appears on your snapshot. Use one finger to drag the ruler to any position on your capture. This allows you to align it with edges, features, or areas you want to measure or mark.

Rotating the Ruler:

Place two fingers on the ruler and rotate to adjust its angle. This gesture will allow you to orient the ruler at any angle.

Drawing Along the Ruler:

While the ruler is active on your snapshot, you can select any Drawing Tool (pen, crayon, marker, etc.) and draw along the edge of the ruler to create straight lines.

Screenshot showing a user drawing along the ruler's edge with a Drawing Tool to create a perfectly straight line

Lasso Tool Features

The Lasso Tool allows you to select your existing drawings for further adjustments.

Selecting and Moving Annotations:

Select any annotation with the Lasso Tool enabled to select it. Once selected, you can drag it to a new position on your snapshot.

Advanced Editing Options:

Double-tap any selected drawing to reveal a context menu with the following options:

  • Cut: Remove the annotation and place it in your clipboard, ready to paste elsewhere
  • Copy: Create a copy of the annotation in your clipboard while keeping the original in place
  • Delete: Remove the selected annotation completely from your snapshot
  • Duplicate: Create an instant copy of the annotation, useful for repeating similar markups across different areas
Screenshot showing a selected annotation with the double-tap context menu displaying Cut, Copy, Delete, and Duplicate options
Editing Tip: Use the Lasso Tool's duplicate function when you need to create multiple similar annotations (like measurement lines or callout circles).

Save and Share Your Annotated Snapshot

Sharing Options

Once you're satisfied with your annotations, you have several options for saving and sharing your work.

Important: If you tap Save Thumbnail, your annotations will NOT be included. The Save Thumbnail option only saves the camera position and captures a clean snapshot without any markup. To save or share your annotated snapshot with all your drawings intact, use the Share or Download options below.
  • Share Snapshot: Tap the upward arrow button to share your annotated snapshot with all markups included. This allows you to share through various platforms including social media, messaging apps, and email.
  • Download to Camera Roll: Tap the download button to save the annotated snapshot directly to your device's camera roll with all annotations preserved.