How to use Draw tools for annotations and markup

Annotate your site map with pens, arrows, text, icons, images, and shapes.

Written by Raymond Fuorry
March 31, 2026

Draw tools provide freeform annotation capabilities on the map. You can draw over overlays, scans, and any other visible layer. This article explains the available tools and how to save your work.

Available Draw tools

TraceAir offers a comprehensive set of drawing tools:

Color Pen — freeform drawing in a selected color. Multiple line thicknesses and styles are available in the floating menu. Works with mouse, touch, or stylus.

Highlighter — semi-transparent highlighting. Same line thickness and style options as the pen.

Arrow — directional arrows for pointing out features.

Line — straight lines with configurable thickness and style.

Text — add text annotations at any location. You can change the color, size, and alignment. Background color and transparency are adjustable. Bold, italics, and a duplicate button are available.

Icon — place icons on the map. Use the search function to find the right icon. Icons can be recolored, resized by dragging corner points, repositioned by dragging, and changed to a different icon via the hover menu.

Image — upload an image from your device and place it on the map. Accepts JPG and PNG files. Useful for quick side-by-side comparisons.

Rectangle, Circle, Pill, Cloud — shape tools for marking areas.

Important notes about Draw tools

Draw tools stay active after you click away from the toolbar. The tool remains on until you manually toggle it off at the top of the interface. This is a common source of confusion — always check the top toolbar and deactivate the draw tool when finished.

Trash can icon vs. “X”: The trash can icon deletes the drawing. The X icon closes the tool. These are different actions.

Ctrl+Z works as an undo shortcut for all Draw tools.

Draw tools work on the map/ortho view only, not on panorama views.

Saving Draw work

Draw tool work can only be saved through Exhibits. Without saving as an Exhibit, all drawings will be lost when you navigate away, or refresh the page. There is a separate color selector in the drawing menu and for each individual draw tool.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my Draw tool still active after I clicked away from the toolbar?

Draw tools stay active after you click away. The tool remains on until you manually toggle it off at the top of the interface. Always check the top toolbar and deactivate the draw tool when finished.

Can I undo a drawing?

Yes. Ctrl+Z works as an undo shortcut for all Draw tools.

Are drawings saved automatically?

No. Draw tool work can only be saved through Exhibits. Without saving as an Exhibit, all drawings will be lost when you navigate away or refresh the page.

Need help?

If you have questions about Draw tools, reach out to your TraceAir Customer Success Specialist or start a conversation with us using the chat icon below.