A couple months back I posted a review about Bluebeam stating how much better the PDF editing document was for working on tax returns than the competing software. Revu, after reading the review, was kind enough to provide me with a new copy of Bluebeam, for which I am extremely grateful.
Bullet Points In Bluebeam File
Since I’m in the middle of working on way too many state tax returns, and don’t have the time to continue on my tax tips at the moment, I thought I’d throw together a couple of Bluebeam tips (using version 12). While they are specifically for tax returns, I’m sure all of them can be used with other documents.
With Revu 2017, we are no longer limited to the 5 default count symbols. See more with the '4 C’s of Bluebeam Revu – Counts, Capture, Cloud+, and Custom Colu. Create 3-6 bullet points for each experience that illustrate accomplishments (no period recommended). Bullet formula: Action Verb + Task + Result/Accomplishment, i.e. Developed Matlab model of enzyme kinetics in the bloodstream, which led to groundbreaking research in studying drug propagation within the body. Leadership Experience.
Let’s start out with the feature I use the most: changing text.
When I was first learning CAD, my mentor told me, “If you want to get fast at CAD, type!” I believe the same thing holds true with Bluebeam Revu, if you want to be fast at Revu, type!Revu has a fairly robust set of keyboard shortcuts that come with the software. Bluebeam Revu seams really cool, almost like AutoCAD or something based on my 2 minute experience watching a youtube video. If you just want to make basic changes, convert to word/excel and recoginize scanned documents I would recommend adobe acrobat DC professional.
Most state tax returns are straight forward, adjusting a few numbers from the Federal return and calling it good. Other state tax returns were crafted in the bowels of hell by power hungry sadists. One of the latter returns is Pennsylvania. I’ve just printed the return to PDF from OneSource and have the return opened in Bluebeam.
While reading the filing instructions, I notice a couple errors. Since OneSource doesn’t trust their users, they no longer allow changes to the filing instructions in the software, so I’ll have to make the edits in Bluebeam.
Edit 1: Adding the company name to the top of the document
I’m working with multiple companies, and I want to make sure whoever processes the return doesn’t apply the wrong instructions to the wrong company. So I’m going to add the company name to the top of the instructions. This can be added either using the text box or the typewriter feature.
The only difference between these two options is that the text box allows you more font editing features up front, whereas the typewriter chooses a font by default.
I personally prefer the typewriter feature. To add the text, all you do is press the typewriter button (or use the W hotkey), click where you want to type, and then start typing:
Click the typewriter, click where you want to type, and start typing
If, after you’ve put the text down you don’t like the font, simply open up the side editing panel, click the gear box, and change the appearances:
Bluebeam Text Box Not Working
Make sure you have the text you want to change selected, then make the changes in the right panel, including font, size, and color
And that’s it. You have the text at the top of your document.
Bluebeam Autosize Text Box
Edit 2: Changing printed text
The next feature is both awesome and dangerous. If the text printed to PDF isn’t correct, you can actually change the text in Bluebeam. It doesn’t work perfectly, which I believe is due to Bluebeam not always getting the font right, so you have to be careful using the feature. And I’ve seen people try to use it for evil, like changing the actual tax return document (had it ever made it to the state, the state would certainly not be happy). But it’s a nice feature when you have a typo or two.
Bullet Points In Bluebeam Free
To make this change, click on Edit->Content->Edit Text. You can then click on any text and edit it.
I apologize for my arrow looking terrible. I would use a better photo editing software than Paint, but. . .well, I’m not.
Note that this will not work scanned documents. Only text created through software, like Word or, in my case OneSource.
In my example, the address was slightly off, so I went ahead and changed it:
Edit 3: Whiting out information
Since the world isn’t perfect, sometimes the edits above don’t work, especially edit 2. For example, when I tried to change the date on this form, I got an error message and jumbled results. That happens surprisingly often. So let’s say I want to change the date, but the Text Editor isn’t working. What do you do? This is, by far, my favorite feature of Bluebeam. You just white it out.
The process is pretty simple, but it took us a while to figure it out. All you need to do is create a white shape and put it over the text. Then you’re free to use the feature in Edit 1 to type whatever you want.
I prefer the rectangle. So I click on the rectangle, set the box where I want.
If you use the standard rectangle, it’ll start as a nice red box around what you want to change. Just like with the text above, though, you can change this in the editing tab:
If you look over on the right, you’ll see that I changed both the Color and Fill Color to white, covering up my text. Now I can put whatever month I want over the original “September.”
(Important note: changing the PDF document does not change the actual due date. Just in case you hadn’t figure that out.)
Making in permanent
One problem I’ve had when working with Bluebeam is that not all the changes show up in Acrobat, which my coworkers are still forced to use. A couple times I’ve sent my masterpiece over only to receive complaints back that it looks wrong. If, however, you make the changes permanent, it will be embedded in the document, and everyone will see the same product.
To do this, select the edit you’ve made, right click, and press “Flatten.”
Once you do this, remember that you will not be able to change your work.
And that’s it. My document is perfect, and ready to be sent off to processing.
If you’ve liked this tip, I’ll be adding some more in the future. If you had any of your own, feel free to share below.
The Text Box tool is useful for placing text notes and comments on the PDF. Text is contained within a text box you define, including its size, background color, and other properties.
- Select the Text Box tool using one of the following methods:
- Go to Markup > Text > Text Box.
- Click on the
- Press T on the keyboard.
- Click and drag a rectangle to define the area of the text box.
- Enter the desired text in the text box.
- If desired, press ALT+Z to autosize the text box to fit the text.
- Click away from the text box or press ESC to finish.
Select a markup to reveal its control handles. Each handle controls a different aspect of the markup's size and orientation.
To rotate the markup, click and drag the orange handle outside the markup (when the markup is first placed, it will be at the top). By default, the markup is rotated in increments of 15°; to rotate in increments of 1°, hold down SHIFT while dragging.
The rotation can also be entered in the Rotation field found in the Layout section of the Properties tab.
To resize the markup, click and drag the appropriate yellow handle.
To autosize the text box so that it fits the text, select the markup and press ALT+Z.
See Editing Markups for more information.
Appearance of the text is configurable, including settings for the font as well as the box in which the text is formatted. Examples include:
The default setting for this tool is red text with no fill color.
There are two ways to change the default settings of a tool:
- Select an existing example with the desired settings and click Set as Default on its Properties tab.
- Select the tool and change the desired Properties before placing the markup.
The entire contents of a text box can be selected by clicking the text box. Once it has been selected, changing any of the font formatting options will apply to all text within the box.
To select particular words in a text box, click the box to make it active, then click and drag over the desired text. Any formatting you change in the Properties tab will only affect the selected text.
To change the appearance of a text box and its text, select it and click the Properties tab.
The Appearance section of the Properties tab contains the following options:
Color: Sets the color of the text box and leader line, if any.
Fill Color: Controls the fill color of the text box.
Opacity: Sets transparency level for the text box and the leader line.
Fill Opacity: Sets transparency level (100 = opaque, 0 = completely transparent) for the fill color.
Bullet Points In Bluebeam Download
Line Width: Sets the thickness of the line segment in points. If the Line Width is set to 0, it is effectively invisible.
Style: Determines the pattern of the line segment. The Cloud style only affect the text box; the leader line will be solid. Any styles other than Cloud will affect both the text box and the leader line.
Shape: Sets the shape of the text box.
Font Size: Sets the size of the font.
Auto
Line Space: Adjusts the spacing between multi-line rows of text.
Margin: Defines the amount of space between the text characters and the border of the Text Box.
Text Color: Sets the color of text.
Alignment: Defines the alignment of text within the box. The icons represent Left, Center, Right, Top Justified, Middle Justified and Bottom Justified respectively.
Bullet Points In Bluebeam Photoshop
The Font Style