How to install Annotator on Ubuntu?

You can install it via a PPA for Ubuntu 20.04+ by running commands: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/annotator, sudo apt update, and sudo apt install com.github.phase1geo.annotator. Alternatively, use Flatpak for broader compatibility.

Annotator vs Flameshot for screenshot annotation?

Annotator is a dedicated desktop app with more tools like magnifiers and multi-format export, ideal for detailed markup. Flameshot is lighter and faster for quick screenshots, but has fewer annotation features.

Can Annotator edit PDF files?

No, Annotator only exports to PDF; it cannot edit existing PDF files. You must load images from files, clipboard, or screenshots for annotation, as per the overview.

How to add custom stickers in Annotator?

The README does not mention custom sticker support. Annotator likely includes predefined stickers, and adding custom ones may require modifying the source code, which isn't documented.

Is Annotator available for Windows?

No, Annotator is built for Elementary OS and Linux only. Running it on Windows would require unofficial methods like virtualization or compatibility layers, with no official support.

How to use Annotator with clipboard images?

Simply copy an image to your clipboard, open Annotator, and use the load from clipboard feature to annotate directly without saving the image first, as stated in the overview.

Open-Awesome

Annotator

GPL-3.0Vala2.0.3

A desktop image annotation tool for Elementary OS with screenshot capture, drawing tools, and export to multiple formats.

GitHub

272 stars27 forks0 contributors

What is Annotator?

Annotator is a desktop image annotation application built for Elementary OS. It allows users to load images from various sources, annotate them with shapes, text, drawings, and other tools, and export the results in multiple formats. It solves the need for a dedicated, lightweight annotation tool integrated into the Elementary OS desktop environment.

Target Audience

Elementary OS users who need to annotate images for tutorials, documentation, communication, or content creation, such as developers, designers, educators, and technical writers.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Annotator for its native integration with Elementary OS, comprehensive annotation features, and support for multiple export formats, providing a free and open-source alternative to proprietary annotation tools on Linux.

Overview

Image annotation for Elementary OS

Use Cases

Best For

Creating annotated screenshots for software documentation
Marking up images for tutorials or instructional content
Obfuscating sensitive data in images before sharing
Adding callouts and highlights to design mockups
Quickly annotating clipboard images for communication
Exporting annotated images to PDF or SVG for presentations

Not Ideal For

Users on Windows or macOS needing a native, cross-platform annotation tool
Teams requiring real-time collaborative annotation with cloud sync
Projects needing advanced image editing features like layers or filters beyond basic markup

Pros & Cons

Pros

Native Elementary OS Integration

Built specifically for Elementary OS with seamless desktop integration, including AppCenter support and adherence to its design philosophy, as shown in the installation options.

Comprehensive Annotation Toolkit

Includes a wide range of tools like shapes, text, drawings, stickers, magnifiers, and blur features, detailed in the overview for versatile image markup.

Flexible Export Options

Supports export to multiple formats including JPEG, PNG, PDF, SVG, and WebP, with clipboard copy and printer support, enhancing workflow versatility.

Efficient Workflow Features

Offers unlimited undo/redo, color picker, and drag-and-drop functionality, as noted in the overview, improving productivity for iterative edits.

Cons

Limited Platform Support

Primarily designed for Elementary OS and Linux, with no native builds for Windows or macOS, restricting access for users on other operating systems.

Complex Setup for Source Builds

Installation from source requires dependencies like meson and valac, and varies by distribution, making it less accessible for casual users compared to one-click installs.

No Collaboration Features

Lacks real-time collaboration or cloud sync capabilities, as the README focuses on single-user desktop use, limiting team-based annotation workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Planify

Task manager with Todoist, Nextcloud & CalDAV support designed for GNOME

Stars5,318

Forks304

Last commit3 days ago

Dino

Modern XMPP ("Jabber") Chat Client using GTK/Vala

Stars2,440

Forks268

Last commit2 days ago

TextSnatcher

How to Copy Text from Images ? Answer is TextSnatcher !. Perform OCR operations in seconds on Linux Desktop.

Stars1,379

Forks53

Last commit2 years ago

Minder

Mind-mapping application for Elementary OS

Stars1,169

Forks83

Last commit5 days ago

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

Found a gem we're missing?

Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.

Submit a project Star on GitHub