How do I proofread a PDF using custom stamps?

Roundup: PDF Proofreading Stamps (quick-access links)

26/8/2012

Alison Lees link

18/9/2012 05:56:30 am

These are really helpful, thanks!

pamela

6/3/2013 07:09:09 pm

I have downloaded these files because they looked really good, thank you for being willing to share them but I was disappointed when all that all that showed on the files was a single "delete mark". I have a mac, do you have any suggestions?

Alice Willoughby

12/1/2014 08:07:31 am

these are wonderful, thanks so much for sharing them

ellie daniels

10/2/2014 03:47:20 am

Hi. Is there a stamp for C10 - set line justified to specified measure?

Many thanks - these are great!

Louise Harnby

10/2/2014 04:07:20 am

Sorry, no, Ellie. Only what's there. I use this so infrequently that I didn't put in the time to create it when I started using these. Make your own one using the snip tool, perhaps. It should be quite easy to draw on the margins of a pdf.

Carol Lamble

18/6/2014 05:20:32 am

The proofreading stamps are excellent. Thanks so much.

Soffia

19/11/2014 07:12:18 am

Louise these look great and are fabulous for saving paper! I am currently trying to learn from scratch how to proofread using the BSI symbols. Is there any chance you could do a small description of what each of your symbols mean?

Louise Harnby

19/11/2014 07:24:45 am

I'd recommend you get hold of a copy of BSI Marks for Copy Preparation and Proof Correction BS 52461C: 2005 in the first instance, Soffia. The SfEP sells these. This will tell you what each mark is and where it should be placed. Alternatively, take a training course that teaches you how to use them appropriately.

Charlotte

17/3/2015 06:43:37 am

Just experimented with these for the first time - so brilliant, thank you!

Nick Hamar

30/4/2015 10:56:17 am

Downloading PDF-XChange Editor stamps - That was easy!

Thanks for all your hard work and thanks to the other contributors. Something that easy to use must have taken hours to sort out.

Teresa

7/5/2015 07:57:14 am

I must be stupid . You show me the symbols but not how to use them. Der.

Louise Harnby

7/5/2015 11:15:31 am

Hi Teresa.

Do you mean I haven't provided a demonstration of how to actually use the stamps tools on a PDF? One of the issues with this is that the details will vary depending on which PDF editing software you are using, e.g. PDF XChange, PDF Editor, Adobe Reader, Adobe Pro (though again it may vary depending on which version you have), Foxit or whatever. The best thing in this case would be for you to google for tutorials that demonstrate how to use stamps for your preferred piece of software. Then it should be quite simple for you, having downloaded my stamps, to apply what you've learned. Usually you'll be looking for some sort of stamp-tool icon in the menu that will allow you to select a stamp from the palette and imprint it on the PDF page. I may well do a tutorial for PDF XChange later this month, because that's the software that I use when marking up PDFs, then follow up later with Adobe Reader, perhaps, when I have the time (though this isn't my preferred piece of software). You'll have to keep a lookout here on the Parlour (perhaps you could subscribe), so that you can see when the tutorial is available.

Or do you mean that you need instruction on when it's appropriate to use which symbol? In that case, I'd recommend you do a proofreading course that will teach you the basics. Your national editorial society will be able to guide you on what the best options are.

Or if you mean you need help with how to actually download the symbols you can see, check out my installation instructions.

Hope that helps!

Katherine Cavendish link

6/2/2016 11:57:31 am

Just wanted to say a huge thank you for making these stamps available for one and all. I first read about them when I started out about 4 years ago, but never had any reason to use them until this week. They are brilliant, my production editor loves them too, and you are a wonderful human being!

Stephen Sefton link

26/3/2016 01:50:34 pm

Are the proofreading pdf stamps no longer available? None of the links take me to anywhere they can be downloaded.

Stephen Sefton link

27/3/2016 06:37:03 am

Ok Got it. Silly me. The moral of this is 'look below the fold!" When I clicked on the quick access links, then the first bullet, I came to a page that above the fold again said "quick access links" and it looked like I was just going round in circles. Look below the fold and yes, you find the pdf's. Thanks.
PS not sure I can use them though. I am on linux using PDF Studio so I have the challenge of importing them as stamps. I may not bother. I was just using them whilst I am doing a proofreading course. Saves on ink printing out pages and using a pen. Hey, but great work on your part.

Louise Harnby

26/3/2016 02:07:01 pm

All the links seem to be working on my PC, Stephen. The files for download are here. http://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/blog-the-proofreaders-parlour/free-downloadable-pdf-proofreading-stamps.

Which particular page are you having problems with?

Rebecca link

29/4/2016 09:53:33 am

It's awesome, thank for your post.

Hazel Blumberg-McKee

12/7/2016 04:36:26 pm

Wow! A fellow proofreader referred me to your page. I am awed. Thank you so much for making proofreading online so much easier!

David Lloyd-Johnson

27/10/2016 11:29:59 am

Louise

I note that you have said that you renamed the indiviual marks to enable you to then reorder them to facilitate their efficient use by you.

Was this something that needs to be done before importing into PDF Xchange, or is it something that can be done afterwards?

With thanks in anticipation of your reply.

Regards

David

Louise Harnby

27/10/2016 01:12:15 pm

Hi David.

See http://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/blog-the-proofreaders-parlour/onscreen-proofreading-tips-reorganizing-your-stamps-palette-in-pdf-xchange for how to do this.

Hope that helps!

Louise

David Lloyd-Johnson

1/11/2016 10:19:45 am

Thanks Louise.

All sorted now.

David

David Lloyd-Johnson

2/11/2016 04:29:04 pm

Hi Louise

One further question if I may, as to how to use the transposition marks practically.

Obviously, using the margin mark isn't problematical. However, in a situation where it is, say, two words that have been transposed, presumably the text mark cannot be used given its relatively small size.

Is the solution to draw the larger mark-up symbol required or would you just write a note indicating the correct order or the two words concerned?

Apologies for posing a further question.

Regards

David

Louise Harnby

22/2/2017 02:49:54 pm

I use the line tool in the onboard editing tools of Acrobat or XChange to draw the transpose mark in the text. Sorry for the delay in replying. Some of my comments have ended up in a 'Pending' box for some reason!

Jessica Spencer

25/1/2017 12:06:49 pm

Thank you for making these available. The stamps will make life working on PDFs much easier!

Rod Crews

1/2/2017 11:49:52 am

Louise, I'm having the same problem as Stephen had. In my case, the Free proofreading stamps button doesn't work. Clicking it simply brings up the same page again. Happens on all my laptops.

Louise Harnby

1/2/2017 11:59:22 am

This page that you've commented on has the link to the stamps. Can you not see it at the top? There's a picture of a few of them. However, to avoid confusion, I've now redirected the button to the actual post with all the files on. I'd not done that before because some people weren't reading the information about the installation instructions! Anyway, I hope it's clearer now!

Louise Harnby

1/2/2017 12:01:23 pm

You do have to scroll down the page a little! It's not possible to include all this information above the fold.

Louise Harnby

1/2/2017 11:52:08 am

I'll take a look right now, Rod.

Carolyn Bell

7/9/2017 07:15:33 pm

Thank you so much for these Louise. It took a while to install every one of the stamps but was worth every minute!

I am just starting out studying proofreading so these will be extremely useful as I progress.

Ellen

17/10/2018 03:31:28 pm

Hi Louise,
Thanks so much for these stamps! They're really helpful. I can see that you have created stamps for the marginal marks for moving text to the right/left, but I can't see the corresponding textual marks? I also can't see either the marginal or textual marks for justifying text to the right/left. Would it be possible to add these? Or could you advise where I could download these stamps from?
Many thanks!

Louise Harnby

17/10/2018 04:00:14 pm

I draw with the polygon, Ellen. A stamp is problematic because one stamp might work for one or two lines but if you're marking up for 5, 6, or 10, it will be too small.

Tara

15/2/2019 10:24:46 pm

Hi Louise,

Thank you for providing these great stamps! I've downloaded the set for use in Acrobat Pro, and it shows up as a series of 113 pages, each displaying one proofreading mark in the upper left corner. I can't seems to figure out how to import these into the Stamp Tool. Is there perhaps an incompatibility issue here? I'm using Acrobat X. Any help would be appreciated.

Best,
Tara

Louise Harnby

16/2/2019 09:58:23 pm

Hi, Tara!

Did you follow the installation instructions? If not, the link is at the top of the post. Click on the link to the instructions, and scroll down the section on Acrobat X.

Alastair Naughton

4/1/2020 01:15:15 am

Hi Louise, your stamps look great! However, I am having great difficulty putting this all together on Office 365. The path on the C drive is not the same. That's the first problem. I managed to download pdf exchange from tracker software, although I already had a paid version of Acrobat on my desktop. When I try and create a new stamp palette, when I choose a path on C drive I am prompted to "open" it instead of "save" it. And so the problems go on. What can I do about this?!!! MTIA, Alastair

Louise Harnby

4/1/2020 08:10:04 pm

Hi, Alastair.

If you've downloaded the most recent version of PDF-XChange Editor from Tracker Software then I suspect you're not using the correct installation instructions. I've just reordered them so that the most recent ones are at the top. I've also added some for V8, though nothing seems to have changed since V6.

Michael Message

8/4/2020 01:41:38 pm

Good Morning,

Your 'stamps' look amazing and I would like to make use of them. However, I use FOXIT Reader (version 9.7.1.29511 at present).

So please how would I install them for that product?

Many thanks

Michael Message

Louise Harnby

8/4/2020 01:53:16 pm

Hi, Michael. So sorry but I don't use it so I couldn't tell you. Have you searched online for something like 'How to import custom stamps into Foxit' or 'How to create custom stamp in Foxit'? There's lots of help on YouTube. Foxit also has a customer support tool - maybe they could advise.

Raphael

1/5/2020 03:32:11 pm

Hi Louise, thank you so much for creating these stamps and making them available for everyone. I'm working through some proofreading training and these have been brilliant for me. I'm currently using your red stamps to mark up a PDF which is designed on a coloured background. When I add in some of the symbols (for example the 'insert space' stamp on pg 16 of your PDF download), it has a white box around the top of the stamp. Sorry if this is a silly question. Is there a way of removing the white box or that just how the stamps are designed? The reason I want to remove them is so they don't block out any text on the line above where I'm adding the mark (if that makes sense). I'm working on a mac and using Acrobat Pro DC, just in case that is relevant. If this is something you can help with, I would be very grateful. Thanks again for making these available.
Many thanks
Raphael

Louise Harnby

1/5/2020 03:49:55 pm

Hi, Raphael.
It's the way they're designed, alas, because they weren't free-drawn but created using shapes, parts of which needed to be whited out. If I ever think of a quick workaround I'll let you know, but at the moment this isn't something I can invest in changing because it would be an extraordinary amount of work. And since the stamps are free, I need to focus my time on what pays the bills! So sorry, but I'm sure you understand.
Lx

Raphael

1/5/2020 04:02:04 pm

I totally understand Louise :) I just wanted to check it wasn't happening because I did something wrong – that makes sense now. Thanks for coming back to me so quickly. Best wishes Raphael

Liz

4/6/2020 06:26:42 pm

I've been using your stamps for a few years now and they are brilliant, especially now, during these Covid times where proofreading on a pdf is essential.Thank you so much for creating them. Could you tell me one thing, though: how do you make half circles to close up letters within the text? If I use your stamp it blocks out part of the letters because of the way you had to set it up (see your reply to Raphael!). Is there an easy way to create half-circles? I'm using the free Pdf X-Change Editor. Thanks again.

Louise Harnby

5/6/2020 12:50:58 pm

I haven't found a solution to this, Liz. Sorry! You could try resizing the stamp so it only fits in the space and doesn't overlap the letters. Or does your PDF editor have a hand-drawing tool?

Liz

5/6/2020 12:57:10 pm

Ah well, thanks anyway. I'll try shrinking it massively. Yes, I've got the hand-drawing tool but I'm just not that good at steering a mouse in a small semicircle! It's a shame that although they've got a polygon tool, and a cloud tool, they haven't thought to combine the two. I may put it to the tracker bods...