How to Draw on a PDF on Mac for Free

Drawing on a PDF on a Mac is simple, thanks to the built-in Preview app that can handle quick sketches, light annotations, and basic markups. However, Preview also has notable limitations: you can’t edit objects after drawing, some tools require specific Mac hardware, and it lacks more advanced annotation options.

When you need more flexibility or precision, PDFgear fills in those gaps and offers free, full-featured drawing tools both online and in a standalone Mac app.

How to Draw on a PDF Using Preview on Mac

Preview is pre-installed on every Mac, making it the fastest option for quick edits. It offers freehand drawing and basic shapes that can help you create simple diagrams or handwritten notes. The Sketch feature can automatically correct your lines, and it has various stroke styles. For light, occasional use, Preview does the job with almost no setup required.

Steps to Draw on a PDF with Mac Preview:

1. Open your PDF in the Preview app.
2. Click the “Markup Toolbar” icon.
3. Select “Sketch”, “Draw”, or “Shapes”.
4. Adjust the stroke style, border color, and fill color.
5. Draw using your trackpad, mouse, or stylus.
6. Save the file, or go to “File” > “Print” > “Save as PDF” to flatten your edits.

How to Draw on a PDF on Mac Using Your iPhone or iPad

With the Continuity feature, you can use your iPhone/iPad to draw on a PDF open on your Mac, syncing edits instantly.

Prerequisites: To use this feature, both devices must share the same Apple ID and have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Your Mac must be running at least macOS Catalina, and your iPhone or iPad must be running iOS or iPadOS 13 or later. 

Steps to draw on a PDF on a Mac using Continuity Markup:

1. Locate the PDF file in Finder.
2. Control-click the PDF, click Quick Actions, then select Markup.
3. Click the Annotate button in the upper Markup toolbar.
4. A markup screen will open, where you can draw with your finger or an Apple Pencil (if using an iPad).
5. When finished, tap Done on your iPhone, then click Done on your Mac to save the drawing.

While macOS’s Continuity feature is handy in certain cases, it has limitations, such as basic tools and reliance on device syncing. PDFgear is the better choice, providing flexible editing, multi-shape support, offline workflow, and stylus compatibility across all Macs. 

Alternatively, you can also draw on a PDF in Preview on your iPad, which is simpler and ideal for working on the go without needing a Mac.

How to Draw on a PDF on a Mac Using Free PDFgear

PDFgear is the best free drawing and annotation app for Mac, offering powerful, precise tools without subscriptions or limitations. 

Compared with Preview on Mac, it allows you to resize or reposition objects after drawing. It also offers precise stroke-thickness control in points (pt), lets you easily draw and duplicate signatures across pages, add comments to your drawings, and even edit existing text in a PDF.

What’s more, PDFgear is completely free and easy to use.

Steps to Draw on a PDF Using Free PDFgear Mac App:

1. Download and install PDFgear for Mac.
2. Open your PDF, go to the Annotations section, and choose the Marker tool or shapes like Rectangle.
3. Pick your preferred stroke color and thickness.
4. Draw with a mouse, trackpad, or stylus.
5. Save your PDF to apply the edits.

Rated 4.8 on the Mac App Store, PDFgear is praised by users as the best alternative to Acrobat and Preview, offering powerful features tailored for Mac.

If you prefer not to install any apps, you can use our online PDF editor instead. It runs smoothly in any browser: Safari, Chrome, Edge, and more, on any device. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of this online editor.

How to Draw on a PDF on Mac Using Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat remains a popular option for users deeply integrated with Adobe Cloud or those who need syncing across multiple devices. Acrobat supports drawing with Mac trackpads and mice, although it tends to run more slowly with large PDFs and may feel less responsive than lightweight editors.

Steps to Draw on a PDF with Acrobat on Mac:

1. Open Adobe Acrobat and access the left-side Quick Action toolbar.
2. Click the Draw freehand button and select Draw, Line, Arrow, etc.
3. Choose a color and line thickness.
4. Draw directly on the PDF using your input device.

Many of Acrobat’s useful editing options require a paid subscription, which can be a limitation for users who only need drawing tools. PDFgear offers similar functionality for free with a simpler workflow.

Pro Tips for Smooth PDF Drawing on Mac

Flattening your PDF after drawing ensures that your annotations won’t shift or disappear when the file is opened in other apps. When sending annotated PDFs to others, flattening the file is a helpful step to preserve your edits. Learn about the correct ways to flatten a PDF or flatten your PDF online right now.

FAQs

How can I draw on a PDF on Mac for free without Adobe Acrobat?

You can use the built-in Preview app for basic annotations, but its drawing tools are limited. If you need more control, PDFgear provides free, full-featured drawing tools with no subscription or account required.

How to edit a PDF document on Apple Mac?

You can edit a PDF on a Mac using the built-in Preview app. Open the PDF, then use the Markup toolbar to add text, draw, highlight, sign, or reorder pages. For fuller tools like editing text, resizing drawings, or editing text, open the PDF in a dedicated editor such as PDFgear for Mac.

How do I draw a signature on a PDF on Mac?

You can draw a signature on a PDF on a Mac using the Preview app. Open the PDF, click Markup, then select the Signature icon > Create Signature. Choose Trackpad to draw your signature with your finger, or iPhone to draw on your iPhone. Insert it into the document, resize it, and place it where needed.

Can I use an Apple Pencil to draw on a PDF from my Mac?

Yes. If you use Preview, you can rely on Continuity Markup to sketch on your iPad using Apple Pencil and send the results back to your Mac. This process requires compatible hardware and up-to-date software.

Why doesn’t the pressure-sensitive drawing option appear on my Mac?

Pressure sensitivity in Preview is only supported on Macs equipped with a Force Touch trackpad. If your device does not have this hardware, the Draw tool will not show pressure-based controls. 

Why are my drawings missing after saving a PDF in Preview?

This issue usually occurs when Preview saves markups in an editable layer that other PDF viewers may not fully recognize. To preserve drawings reliably, use the Print and Save as PDF method to flatten your annotations. PDFgear automatically embeds drawing strokes directly into the PDF when exporting, reducing the risk of missing or altered annotations in other apps.

Conclusion: The Easiest Way to Draw on PDFs on Mac

Preview remains a convenient tool for quick edits and simple sketches. When you need more drawing options, better precision, or a smoother experience across all Mac models, PDFgear becomes the better choice. 

Try drawing on your next PDF using PDFgear’s free online editor or the Mac app.