LEADTOOLS document imaging SDKs offer .NET (C# & VB, Core, Xamarin, UWP), C/C++, iOS, macOS, Linux, Java, and web developers a variety of document and document image annotation options that can be integrated into your application to mark up documents, bitonal, grayscale, and color images. A distinct advantage of LEADTOOLS annotations is that even though most document images are bitonal (1-bpp, black and white), color and multimedia markups can still be added without changing the image data. Additionally, searchable documents can be marked up and still remain searchable.

Overview of LEADTOOLS Document Annotation SDK Technology

  • Broad range of document annotation objects, including text, geometric shapes, rulers, Bates stamps, audio, and video
  • Text-based review and collaboration objects that are similar to Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word. The document can remain searchable, even after it has been marked up.
    • Underline
    • Strike-through
    • Highlight
    • Redact
  • Full-color image annotations can be added to bitonal, color, and grayscale images
  • Draw image annotations to a presentation layer or permanently burn onto the bitmap
  • Document mark up and redaction can be added to searchable documents and the documents can remain searchable
  • Protect sensitive information with powerful redaction and encryption objects
  • Control access and design rights with annotation security
  • Import and export IBM FileNet P8 and Daeja annotations
  • Customize existing or create new document image annotation object types
  • Document annotation behaviors can be fully automated or manually implemented for maximum control
  • Snap-to-grid and alignment UI
  • Supports single and multi-page image and document files
  • Flexible annotation object storage options, including image file, separate annotation file, database, and memory
  • Unlimited undo and redo levels
  • Document and document image annotation technology available as .NET classes, C DLL API, C++ classes, iOS, macOS, Android, HTML5/JavaScript libraries, and WPF controls
  • Add document and document image annotation technology to single and multi-threaded applications
  • 32 and 64-bit binaries for document and document image annotation development

Specialized Document and Document Imaging Annotation Objects Include:

  • Text
  • Rich Text
  • Text Pointer
  • Text Rollup/Push Pin
  • Encryption
  • Redaction
  • Sticky Note
  • Rubber Stamp
  • Highlighter
  • Freehand

Full list of annotation objects

Storage of Annotations

LEADTOOLS annotations can be stored as an external annotation file, XML, private DICOM data elements, or within a TIFF file as LEAD or Wang annotation tags. Alternatively, annotations can become a permanent part of the image data or exported as SVG or EMF.

LEADTOOLS annotations may also be exported as native PDF annotations in PDF documents with the LEADTOOLS Document Writers.

Ease of Use and Control

The simplicity of using LEADTOOLS annotations is extended to both the developer and the end-user. With very little code, the developer can create a fully automated, dynamic, and feature-packed annotation application which is also easy to operate by the end-user. Automation features include mouse event handling, cursors, toolbars, right-click context menus, and instant text editing.

With the LEADTOOLS Image Annotation Customizable Features, developers can create new annotation types, change the context menus and toolbars, and localize the dialog strings. End-users can rotate, calibrate, and change virtually any visual setting of the annotations on the screen.

Confidence and Security

Enhanced redaction objects hide and encrypt confidential parts of images even in non-LEADTOOLS viewers. When combined with annotation security, these redact objects provide a means of granting user-level access to view redacted areas of an image.

Technology Related to Document Image Annotation

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Documentation Links for Document Image Annotation

Supported Development Platforms for Document Image Annotation

Screenshots of Document Image Annotation

Document Annotations

Document Annotations

LEADTOOLS SDK Products that Include Document Image Annotation

LEADTOOLS Document Imaging v20

Develop powerful document imaging applications with LEADTOOLS Document Imaging. Features include PDF viewing and editing, comprehensive image annotating, specialized bitonal image displaying, and image processing. Other features include performance and memory optimizations for bitonal images, document image cleanup, including inverted text, border, hole-punch, and line removal, and scanning with LEADTOOLS Fast TWAIN and WIA.

LEADTOOLS Recognition v20

The LEADTOOLS Recognition Imaging SDK is a handpicked collection of LEADTOOLS SDK features designed to build end-to-end document imaging applications within enterprise-level document automation solutions that require OCR, MICR, OMR, barcode, forms recognition and processing, PDF, print capture, archival, annotation, and image viewing functionality. This powerful set of tools utilizes LEAD's award-winning image processing technology to intelligently identify document features that can be used to recognize and extract data from any type of scanned or faxed form image.

LEADTOOLS Document Imaging Suite v20

The LEADTOOLS Document Imaging Suite SDK is a comprehensive collection of LEADTOOLS SDK features designed to build end-to-end document imaging solutions that require OCR, MICR, OMR, ICR, barcode, forms recognition and processing, PDF, HTML5 Zero-footprint viewing, conversion, print, capture, archival, annotation, and image viewing functionality. This powerful set of tools utilizes LEAD's award-winning image processing technology to intelligently identify document features that can be used to recognize and extract data from any type of scanned or faxed form image.

LEADTOOLS Medical Imaging v20

Develop powerful Medical Imaging applications with the LEADTOOLS Medical Imaging SDK. Features include comprehensive DICOM data set support, 8-16 bit extended grayscale image support, image annotation, specialized extended grayscale image display such as window level and LUT processing, and medical-specific image processing. Other features include lossless JPEG compression, and signed and unsigned image data processing.

LEADTOOLS PACS Imaging v20

Develop robust DICOM PACS applications with LEADTOOLS PACS Imaging. Features include Medical Web Viewer Framework, high and low-level PACS SCP and SCU functions and controls, secure PACS communication, comprehensive DICOM data set support, image annotation, extended grayscale image display such as window level and LUT processing, and specialized medical image processing. Other features include lossless JPEG compression, JPIP, MRTI, and signed and unsigned image data processing.

LEADTOOLS Medical Imaging Suite v20

Develop powerful PACS and Medical imaging applications with LEADTOOLS Medical Imaging Suite. Features include LEAD's Zero-footprint HTML5 DICOM Viewer, Medical Web Viewer Framework, Medical 3D, DICOM Multimedia codecs, high and low-level PACS SCP and SCU functions and controls, secure PACS communication, Print to PACS, comprehensive DICOM data set support, image annotation, extended grayscale image display such as window level and LUT processing, DICOM Hanging Protocol, and specialized medical image processing. Other features include lossless JPEG compression, JPIP, and signed and unsigned image data processing.