Arrows
Draw arrows on screenshots and image pins, choose one-way, two-way, or dimension styles, adjust lines and curves, and add text along the arrow.
Use arrows to point out buttons, text, or image details more clearly than describing “the third line on the left.” After drawing, you can adjust the length and direction, curve a straight arrow, or add a short note in the middle.
Draw your first arrow
For a screenshot, select an area first. On an image pin, press SpaceSpace to show the annotation toolbar.
Click “Arrow,” or press the default shortcut Shift+3⇧ Shift+3. If the button is in a grouped menu, click the small arrow next to the tool to expand it.
Choose the arrow shape, line style, width, and color in the style bar below.
Hold the left mouse button at the tail and drag toward the target, then release to finish. With a one-way style, the release point becomes the arrow tip.
Hold Shift⇧ Shift while drawing to snap the direction to 45° increments, making horizontal, vertical, and 45° diagonal arrows easier to draw.
Choose the shape and line style
The first dropdown on the left of the style bar sets the arrow shape. The default is “Straight Arrow”; use a two-way style to show a relationship between both ends.
- Straight / two-wayA notched arrowhead for everyday pointing.
- Line / two-wayTwo lines form a lightweight arrowhead.
- Solid / two-wayThe head is a filled triangle.
- Arrow outlineA widening shaft with only its outline drawn.
- Arrow fillA widening shaft filled throughout.
- Dimension line / arrowBars at both ends indicate a range or gap.
“Straight Arrow,” “Line Arrow,” and “Solid Arrow” each have one-way and two-way versions. “Arrow Outline” and “Arrow Fill” have widening shafts that make a target stand out. “Dimension Line” and “Dimension Arrow” have short bars at both ends to indicate a range or gap.
Dimension styles do not calculate or display lengths automatically. To label a value, double-click to add text as described below.
Use the controls to the right of the shape selector to adjust the line:
| What to adjust | How |
|---|---|
| Line style | Choose solid, dash, dot, dash-dot, or dash-dot-dot in the second dropdown |
| Width | Adjust the pencil value, or move the mouse over the image and scroll |
| Color | Choose a color in the palette |
| Opacity | Move the mouse over the image, hold Ctrl⌘ Command, and scroll |
Dashed and other line styles affect each shape differently: they mainly change the shaft of ordinary arrows and the outer contour of “Arrow Outline.” “Arrow Fill” remains a fully filled shape.
Style changes apply to a selected existing arrow. If scrolling has no effect, check “Disable mouse wheel to adjust annotation tools” in the “Annotation” settings.
Adjust direction and curvature
Keep the “Arrow” tool selected, move the mouse over an existing arrow, and click to edit it again. If you cannot select it, check that “Mark secondary editing” is set to “Enable.”
- Drag an endpointDrag either square endpoint; hold Shift to snap to 45° increments.
- Drag to curveDrag the middle round point to curve; right-click it to straighten.
- Double-click for textEnter text and confirm to place it in the middle of the line.
- Change length or direction: Drag the square control points at either end; hold Shift⇧ Shift to snap the endpoint direction to 45° increments.
- Move the whole arrow: Drag the shaft away from the control points; hold Shift⇧ Shift to constrain movement to horizontal or vertical.
- Curve the arrow: Drag the round control point in the middle to route the shaft around content you want to keep visible.
- Restore a straight line: Right-click the round control point in the middle.
In “Annotation” → “Arrow,” check “Hide curve control points” to hide and disable the middle control point and reduce accidental dragging. This option is off by default; hiding the point does not straighten an existing curve.
Add text to an arrow
Double-click an existing arrow to open the “Comment Text” window. Enter a short note, then click “OK” or press EnterEnter to place it in the middle of the line. Double-click again to edit it; clear the text and confirm to remove the note.
The window offers two “Direction” options:
- Follow: Text rotates with the arrow; on a curved arrow, it follows the direction of the middle section.
- Flat: Text stays horizontal, which works well for longer notes.
You can also choose the font, size, bold, and italics. With the size set to “Auto,” it adjusts to the arrow width. Enable “Text Style” to set text and background colors.
To stop double-clicking from adding text, check “Double-click arrow to disable comment” in “Annotation” → “Arrow.” This option is off by default.
For undo, redo, deletion, and dragging with Alt⌥ Option to duplicate arrows, see annotation basics.
Related articles
Pencil
Draw freehand on screenshots and image pins, adjust line styles, width, and transparency, use Shift for straight lines, and smooth or undo strokes.
Text
Add text to screenshots and image pins, set fonts, strokes, and backgrounds, move, scale, and rotate labels, wrap long lines, and attach arrows.