Highlighting text in PDFs is a fundamental feature of Adobe Acrobat Reader, allowing users to emphasize important information. However, the default highlight color might not always suit your needs or preferences. Fortunately, Adobe Acrobat Reader offers various options to customize the highlight color, ensuring that it stands out in a way that best suits your reading or editing tasks. This tutorial will guide you through the steps to change the text highlight color in Adobe Acrobat Reader, as well as the form field highlight color, making your PDF reading experience more personalized and efficient.
Why Change the Highlight Color?
The ability to change the highlight color in Adobe Acrobat Reader is particularly useful for distinguishing between different types of information within the same document. For instance, you might want to use one color to highlight critical points and another to flag areas that require further review. Customizing highlight colors can also reduce eye strain by selecting a shade that is more comfortable for extended reading sessions.
Different Methods to Change Highlight Colors in Adobe Acrobat Reader
This tutorial covers two main methods: changing the text highlight color and changing the form field highlight color. The first method is ideal for those who frequently annotate PDFs, while the second is useful for users working with interactive forms in PDFs. Each method is broken down into simple steps, ensuring that even those new to Adobe Acrobat Reader can follow along easily.
How to Change Text Highlight Color in Acrobat Reader
This method is essential for users who need to annotate text within PDFs frequently. By changing the text highlight color, you can easily distinguish between different annotations or ensure that the highlight stands out against varying backgrounds.
- Select the Text to Highlight
Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Navigate to the text you wish to highlight. Click and drag your mouse to select the text.
- Access the Highlight Text Tool
Right-click on the selected text to open the context menu. Choose “Highlight Text” from the available options to apply the default highlight color.
- Open the Properties Menu
With the text still highlighted, right-click again to bring up the context menu. This time, select “Properties” to access the customization options.
- Change the Highlight Color
In the “Properties” dialog box, go to the “Appearance” tab. Click on the color box next to “Color” to choose a new highlight color from the palette.
- Set as Default Highlight Color
Click “OK” to confirm your changes. To make this color your default for future highlights, check the “Make Properties Default” box before closing the “Properties” dialog box.
- View the Updated Highlight
The selected text should now appear with the new highlight color. Continue highlighting text using the same method, and it will automatically use the new default color.
How to Change Form Field Highlight Color in Acrobat Reader
This method is geared towards users who work with interactive forms within PDFs. Changing the form field highlight color can improve the visibility of active fields, making it easier to identify where input is required.
- Open Preferences in Adobe Acrobat Reader
Navigate to the “Edit” menu at the top of the screen and select “Preferences” from the dropdown.
- Adjust Form Highlight Colors
In the “Preferences” dialog box, go to the “Forms” category on the left-hand side. Here, you will find options to change the highlight color for form fields. Click on the color box to select your preferred color for form field highlights.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Highlighting in Adobe Acrobat Reader
Can I have multiple default highlight colors in Adobe Acrobat Reader?
Adobe Acrobat Reader does not support setting multiple default highlight colors simultaneously. You must manually change the color each time you need a different one by adjusting the properties of each highlighting action independently. This feature focuses primarily on setting one default color for a uniform look across your document.
What are the best highlight colors for readability?
Optimal highlight colors for readability include soft yellow, light green, and sky blue. These colors are vibrant enough to stand out against the contrast of typical document backgrounds (usually white) but soft enough not to disrupt the reading process. Adjust the colors based on the lighting conditions and the specific display settings, as some screens may render colors differently.
Can I change highlight colors in bulk in Adobe Acrobat Reader?
Adobe Acrobat Reader currently does not support the bulk changing of highlight colors directly within the software. If you need to change multiple highlights at once, you might consider using scripts or advanced PDF editing software that supports action batches.
Can I customize the opacity of the highlight color in Adobe Acrobat Reader?
Yes, you can adjust the opacity of highlight colors in Adobe Acrobat Reader by accessing the “Properties” dialog for any selected text highlight. Under the “Appearance” tab, use the opacity slider or enter a percentage to fine-tune how translucent the highlight appears, which can be particularly useful for color-coding documents without obscuring text.
How do I ensure my highlight color changes are saved for future documents?
To ensure that your new highlight color settings are applied to future documents, you must check the “Make Properties Default” box found in the “Properties” dialog box under the “Appearance” tab when changing colors. This action sets your customization as the standard setting for all future highlighting in new documents.
How do I reset to the default highlight color in Adobe Acrobat Reader?
To reset the highlight color to the default setting in Adobe Acrobat Reader, open the “Properties” menu for an existing highlight or set up a new highlight and choose the default color (usually yellow). Ensure you select ‘Make Properties Default’ to apply this setting across future uses.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to highlight text in Adobe Acrobat Reader?
In Adobe Acrobat Reader, after selecting the text with your mouse, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + H (Cmd + Option + H on Mac) to apply the highlight. Make sure the highlighting tool is activated and the text you wish to highlight is selected.
Does changing the text highlight color affect existing highlights?
Any changes you make to the highlight color settings will only apply to new highlights you create. Existing highlights remain unchanged unless you manually adjust them by selecting each highlighted area and updating its properties individually.
How can I remove a highlight from text in Adobe Acrobat Reader?
To remove a highlight from text in Adobe Acrobat Reader, right-click on the highlighted section and select ‘Delete’ from the context menu. Alternatively, you can select the text and hit the delete key on your keyboard if the highlight tool is active.
What should I do if my highlight color isn’t saving?
If your new highlight color isn’t saving, first double-check that you have selected ‘Make Properties Default’ in the highlight properties dialog. If issues persist, it may be a glitch; try restarting the software or reinstalling Adobe Acrobat Reader to resolve configuration or installation errors.
How can I see all my highlights at once in Adobe Acrobat Reader?
To view all your highlights in Adobe Acrobat Reader, open the ‘Comments’ pane. This pane aggregates all annotations and highlights made within the document, allowing you to click on each entry and navigate to the corresponding section of the document directly.
Can I export my highlighted sections as a separate text?
Adobe Acrobat Reader does not natively support extracting only highlighted texts as a separate document. To accomplish this, consider using advanced PDF software or a script that extracts highlighted text based on annotation properties.
How do I highlight text if the highlighting tool is unavailable in my toolbar?
If the highlight tool is not visible in your toolbar in Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can add it by right-clicking any part of the toolbar, selecting ‘Customize Quick Tools,’ and then adding the Highlight Text Tool from the list of available tools. This customization allows quicker access and can be tailored to fit your frequent use cases.
Why can’t I change the highlight color on some PDFs?
Some PDFs have editing restrictions imposed by their creators, which can prevent you from changing the highlight color. These restrictions are often set to maintain document integrity and security. If necessary, you can check the properties of the PDF or contact the creator for permissions modifications.
Is it possible to highlight non-text items like images in Adobe Acrobat Reader?
Directly highlighting images within Adobe Acrobat Reader is not supported as the highlight function is designed primarily for text. However, you can use comment tools like boxes or shapes to indirectly highlight or call attention to images within the document.
Related: How to Add Notes to a PDF
If you work with PDF files regularly, you may want to know how to annotate and edit them effectively. PDF annotations are comments or notes you can add to a PDF document to provide feedback, suggestions, or instructions. In our other guide, we show you how to add notes to a PDF with Microsoft Edge, Adobe Acrobat Online, and the free PDF viewer UPDF.
Related: How to Convert a JPG to PDF
You might want to turn downloaded or created images into an easily browsable document. For this purpose, there’s no better file format than the humble PDF. In our other guide, we show you how to convert a JPG to a PDF using a variety of methods.
Related: How to Save a Google Doc as PDF
Google Docs, a tool that has become synonymous with online document creation and collaboration. Whether you’re drafting a contract, preparing a report, or simply sharing a document, converting a Google Doc to a PDF ensures that its content remains consistent and unaltered, regardless of where it’s viewed.
Related: How to Convert Excel Files to PDF (.XLSX to PDF)
Excel is an incredible tool for data processing, but its file format isn’t quite as universal as the humble PDF. The PDF is harder to edit, compatible with a wider range of devices, and requires little to no additional software. This, combined with its static nature, makes it an ideal format for published reports. In our other guide, we show you how to save an Excel File as a PDF from Excel or a third-party software, with some additional tips on speeding up the process.
