Highlight Text in a PDF (Free, Non-Destructive)
Highlighting key sentences helps judges and clerks see what matters in dense exhibits. With overlay highlights, you can mark passages without altering the original file.
Why highlight exhibits?
Court packets often span hundreds of pages. A subtle highlight directs the reader to the exact clause, payment, or signature you need them to review. Combined with a document index, highlights keep your narrative tight.
How overlays work
The tool adds a semi-transparent rectangle on top of the PDF page. The underlying text remains intact, so authenticity is preserved. You can remove the overlay later by regenerating the file without those coordinates.
Step-by-step: add highlights
- Open the PDF Highlighter tool.
- Select your PDF. Everything runs locally—no uploads.
- Enter the page number, X/Y position, width, height, and opacity for each highlight.
- Optionally paste a JSON array of rectangles if you already mapped them in a spreadsheet.
- Click “Apply Highlights & Download” to save the marked-up PDF.
FAQ
What units should I use?
PDF coordinates use points (1/72 of an inch) from the bottom-left corner. A standard letter page is 612 by 792 points.
Can I highlight multiple lines at once?
Yes—set the rectangle height to cover all lines you need, or add multiple rectangles for complex layouts.
How transparent should the highlight be?
Courts usually prefer a light overlay. Opacity between 0.25 and 0.4 keeps the text readable while drawing attention.
Will the overlay change the original text?
No. The highlight sits on top of the page. The underlying text stays untouched, which preserves evidence authenticity.
How do I remove a highlight later?
Generate a new PDF from the original file or re-run the tool without the rectangle coordinates.