How do I add a sticky note comment to my curatorial copy in Acrobat?

Open your curatorial copy in Acrobat. Go to the 'Comment' tools section. Select the 'sticky note' tool. Click on the page where you want the note to appear. Type your comment into the sticky note box that opens.

What is the difference between highlighting text and adding a text box comment in Acrobat?

Feature Purpose Visibility. Highlighting Marks specific text to draw attention to it, like using a physical highlighter. Directly colors the text, making it stand out on the page. Text Box Comment Allows you to type detailed notes or explanations related to a specific area or topic. Appears as a box on the page, often with an arrow pointing to the relevant content, containing your typed thoughts.

If I am sharing a final document with external partners, how can I ensure my review notes don't leak from the Comments and Annotations?

Before sharing, open your document in Acrobat. Go to the 'Protect' menu option. Select 'Sanitize Document'. This tool will find and remove all comments, hidden data, and markups. Review the document after sanitizing to confirm all notes are gone. Save the sanitized version as a new file, or overwrite the old one if you are sure.

Annotate Curatorial Copy in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Annotate the draft exhibit label PDF with inline corrections and commentary for the curatorial…+

Annotate the draft exhibit label PDF with inline corrections and commentary for the curatorial team, use comment tools to propose alternative wording, and save a copy with [my initials] before sharing.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Mark up the label so curators can act on it quickly — put a short summary of major changes at…+

Mark up the label so curators can act on it quickly — put a short summary of major changes at the top, use different comment colors for factual corrections versus tone edits, attach source citations where I challenge dates or names, and resolve any obvious typos so curators can accept the rest faster.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Click the Comment button in the toolbar to display the commenting tools.
3
Select the annotation tool you want to use, such as Note, Highlight, Text Box, or Draw.
4
Click on the PDF page where you want to add your comment or annotation.
5
Type your comment or draw your annotation as needed.
6
Click away from the annotation or press Escape to save your comment or annotation.

In the appWith the API

You can use multiple annotation types in one session, such as highlighting text and adding sticky notes for detailed feedback.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

AnnotateTo add notes or comments to a document.ExampleShe will annotate the draft report with her suggestions before the team meeting.

Curatorial CopyText written for museums or exhibitions, often describing artworks or artifacts.ExampleThe curatorial copy next to the painting explained its history and the artist's inspiration.

SanitizeTo remove sensitive or private information from a document before sharing it.ExampleRemember to sanitize the document by redacting personal details before sharing it publicly.

Who does this

3 roles

EditorTeacherProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

Open your curatorial copy in Acrobat.
Go to the 'Comment' tools section.
Select the 'sticky note' tool.
Click on the page where you want the note to appear.
Type your comment into the sticky note box that opens.

Feature	Purpose	Visibility
Highlighting	Marks specific text to draw attention to it, like using a physical highlighter.	Directly colors the text, making it stand out on the page.
Text Box Comment	Allows you to type detailed notes or explanations related to a specific area or topic.	Appears as a box on the page, often with an arrow pointing to the relevant content, containing your typed thoughts.

Comments and markups are saved as a separate layer on top of your document. This design choice allows you to easily edit, delete, or hide comments without changing the original text. It also means multiple people can add their feedback to the same document without overwriting each other's work, making collaboration simple.

Before sharing, open your document in Acrobat.
Go to the 'Protect' menu option.
Select 'Sanitize Document'. This tool will find and remove all comments, hidden data, and markups.
Review the document after sanitizing to confirm all notes are gone.
Save the sanitized version as a new file, or overwrite the old one if you are sure.

Reaction emojis are quick, visual ways to give feedback during shared reviews. Instead of typing a full comment, you can use an emoji to show if you agree, disagree, or have a question about a specific part of the document. They make reviewing faster and more interactive.

Annotate Curatorial Copy

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help