Who is this article for?
This article is for Hypothesis web and LMS app users who want guidance on how to create image annotations using keyboard shortcuts only. If you are looking for the general guide to image annotations, please click the relevant link below for either the Hypothesis web or LMS app.
Image Annotation Keyboard Shortcuts
Image annotations can be created using the mouse, keyboard, or a combination of the two. To create image annotations using the keyboard alone, use the keyboard shortcuts below. Note that all keyboard shortcuts can be customized; for guidance see our article on Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts in Hypothesis.
Create Rectangle Selection
The Create Rectangle Selection action refers to the function when clicking the button shown below in the sidebar.
This allows a user to draw a rectangular area in the document and annotate it. This can be activated using the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + Y). When the rectangle selection tool is activated, a small selection box will appear in the upper-left portion of the most prominent page currently displayed in the PDF document.
After enabling the rectangle selection, you will also notice that the rectangle selection tool in the sidebar will change into the button shown below.
This indicates that you can now move the rectangle selection around the page(s) currently displayed on your screen using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
Once you’ve positioned the rectangle over the area you wish to annotate, press Enter (or Return) on your keyboard. This will open the text editor, where you can enter your annotation. After writing your annotation, press Ctrl + Enter (or Return) to save it. This keyboard shortcut is equivalent to clicking the Post to button.
Resize Rectangle Selection
The Resize Rectangle Selection feature allows you to adjust the size of a rectangle selection drawn on the document. This keyboard shortcut is only available when there is an active rectangle selection. This can be activated using the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + J).
After enabling the resize rectangle selection, you will also notice that the rectangle selection tool in the sidebar will change into the button shown below.
When the resize rectangle selection is used, the current rectangle selection in the page will change. The border on the right and bottom will be thicker.
The thicker borders indicate that the rectangle selection can be resized from those edges using the arrow keys on your keyboard. By default, the selection can be expanded using the Right Arrow and Down Arrow keys, since those are the sides with the thicker borders. Below is a screenshot showing how the selection grows after pressing the Right and Down Arrow keys several times.
If you want to resize the selection from directions other than the default (bottom and right), you can press the Tab key on your keyboard to move the thick border clockwise. Once the thick border is on the side you want, you can resize the selection in that direction using the arrow keys.
The image above shows a selection with the resize rectangle activated. Notice that the thick borders are now on the bottom and the left sides. The thick border has moved clockwise after pressing the Tab key once. At this point, you can resize the selection using the Left Arrow and Down Arrow keys.
Once you’ve positioned and resized the rectangle over the area you wish to annotate, press Enter (or Return) on your keyboard. This will open the text editor, where you can enter your annotation. After writing your annotation, press Ctrl + Enter (or Return) to save it. This keyboard shortcut is equivalent to clicking the Post to button.
Create Pin Selection
The Create Pin Selection action refers to the function when clicking the button shown below in the sidebar.
This allows a user to annotate a particular point in the document. This can be activated using the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + U). When the pin selection tool is activated, a pin will appear in the upper-left portion of the most prominent page currently displayed in the PDF document.
You can move the pin around the page using the arrow keys on your keyboard. The pin will also follow your mouse pointer, allowing you to reposition it by moving your mouse as well.
Once you’ve positioned the pin to a point in the document you wish to annotate, press Enter (or Return) on your keyboard. This will open the text editor, where you can enter your annotation. After writing your annotation, press Ctrl + Enter (or Return) to save it. This keyboard shortcut is equivalent to clicking the Post to button.