Tools for drawing reviewers

PDF markup and drawing review guides.

Choosing a PDF tool, measuring a plan, comparing revisions or sharing drawing comments? Find practical guides for the job you need to do.

LayrPDF is paid PDF markup and measurement software, with a 7-day editing trial. Solo costs US$35/year or US$5/month. View plans.

Watch a drawing-review lesson

Short PDF markup video tutorials with written steps: calibrate a drawing, measure an opening, cloud a detail, save a reusable note and compare two cabinet revisions.

LayrPDF kitchen elevation with colored measured areas, numbered pull counts, a review note and the All Pages totals panel

Take a kitchen drawing from PDF measurements to CSV.

Watch a kitchen millwork takeoff in LayrPDF: set sheet scales, measure gross areas and baseboard, count pulls, review grouped totals and export CSV.

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Full video on YouTube

LayrPDF desktop and browser showing the same kitchen drawing with a revision cloud, the note Move DW to I03, an arrow and participant presence

Review the same drawing from desktop and browser.

Watch live PDF markups between LayrPDF desktop and browser: a revision cloud, a browser note and arrow, a moved cloud and participant presence.

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Full video on YouTube

Measure a PDF to scale: LayrPDF tutorial showing the calibration window and a sample drawing

Calibrate a PDF drawing, then measure an opening.

Watch how to calibrate a PDF from a known dimension, enter feet and inches, measure a cabinet opening and check the scale against a second dimension.

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Full video on YouTube Watch Short

Cloud and callout on shop drawings: LayrPDF tutorial thumbnail with sample cabinet elevation

Mark a drawing detail with a cloud and callout.

Watch how to draw a revision cloud around a millwork detail, adjust its style, add an arrow callout and edit a short PDF review note in LayrPDF.

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Full video on YouTube Watch Short

Save a markup and reuse it anywhere: LayrPDF Tool Chest video tutorial thumbnail

Save a markup you use all the time.

Draw a Field verify note once, group the cloud and text, save it to LayrPDF's Tool Chest and place the reusable markup on a drawing again.

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Full video on YouTube Watch Short

Two drawing revisions side by side: LayrPDF Split View tutorial showing sample cabinet drawings

Compare two drawing revisions side by side.

Watch two cabinet drawing revisions side by side in LayrPDF. Open Split View, zoom and pan each pane, then compare doors and drawers by eye.

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Full video on YouTube Watch Short

LayrPDF Count tutorial showing cabinet doors and drawers on a sample kitchen elevation

How to Count Cabinet Doors and Drawers on a PDF Drawing

Count the doors and drawers on a cabinet elevation with the Count tool, using a separate group for each, then read the totals.

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Full video on YouTube Watch Short

Browse the video tutorial library

Choose a PDF tool

Compare free annotation, affordable paid tools and the drawing features you need.

PDF drawing review

A Bluebeam alternative for the drawing reviews you do every day.

Looking for an affordable Bluebeam alternative for drawing review? Explore LayrPDF's markup, measurement, comparison and live team collaboration tools.

Read the guide Choosing a PDF tool

When is a free PDF markup tool enough?

Need a free PDF alternative? Learn when basic annotation is enough and what to check for drawing scale, measurement, live collaboration and paid review tools.

Review and measure drawings

Drawing scale, revision comparisons, clear redlines and shared team comments.

PDF measurement guide

How to measure a PDF drawing to scale.

Learn how to calibrate a PDF drawing, measure distance and area, check mixed scales and spot scan distortion before relying on a drawing measurement.

Read the guide Drawing revision review

Compare PDF drawings without losing track of the revision.

Compare PDF drawings side by side, match the right sheet revisions and record changes clearly. A practical guide for construction and shop drawing reviews.

Read the guide Clear PDF drawing markups

Redline PDF drawings so the comment is easy to act on.

Redline PDF drawings with revision clouds, arrows and clear callouts. See practical shop drawing comments and organise them in LayrPDF's markup register.

Read the guide Team drawing review

Live PDF markups, across the drawing set.

Review shared drawing sets with live PDF markups in LayrPDF. Keep comments on the drawing and open shared projects in your browser on site.

Work faster with markups

Keyboard commands and reusable tools for the drawing comments you make every day.

PDF keyboard shortcuts

PDF markup keyboard shortcuts for the work you repeat.

Useful LayrPDF keyboard shortcuts for opening, saving and comparing drawings. Move between sheets, fit the page and use split view during PDF review.

Read the guide Reusable PDF markups

Keep the PDF markup tools you use again and again.

Keep common PDF markups ready in LayrPDF's Tool Chest. Reuse clouds, highlights, stamps and custom drawing tools for clear, consistent drawing reviews.

Drawing review for your trade

See the details that matter on your drawing set.