It’s perhaps a creative professional’s most dreaded client phone call: making revisions over the phone. I know it’s a higher level of customer service, and there are certainly times when phone revisions are appropriate, but making revisions to a multi-page project over the phone is asking for trouble.
Mainly because it’s virtually impossible for the designer to accurately proof the revisions they’ve made against the edits requested. This can lead to additional sets of edits being required to catch any new or missed revisions, which can then add to the timeline, swell the budget, and increase stress levels.
There’s a simple solution to this problem: Adobe Acrobat and PDFs. One powerful example of the flexibility Acrobat affords users is the ability to mark-up a PDF document with comments and revisions, effectively allowing the client and supplier to share ideas directly within the document. Once the marked-up PDF is sent back to the designer, a built-in checklist allows the user to verify that each change has been made.

I recommend Acrobat to all my clients as the best way to provide project feedback and revisions. Even if you don’t own a copy of Adobe Acrobat, you can use a scaled-down version called Acrobat Reader, which is available as a free download. This free version offers a minimal suite of tools that still allow users to take advantage of its powerful commenting.
When working in Adobe Acrobat, there is a Comment Tab, where all the editing tools are available. Here’s a quick rundown of the ones you’ll need the most for proofing:

1. 1. Delete Text: Sometimes you’ll find there are words or entire sentences you want to delete from a proof. By selecting the text and choosing the Strikethrough icon, you can clearly indicate exactly what needs to be removed.
2. 2. Replace Text: If you want to replace text with different text, you can do this simply by selecting the Strikethrough tool with text insertion. This way the deletion and insertion are including in one “comment”, rather than two separate ones.
3. 3. Add New Text: If you realize you need to add new text, the Insert Text tool allows you to add the text exactly where you need it.
4. 4. Highlight Text: For style changes, such as italicizing or bolding, use the Highlight tool to clearly show the designer what needs changing.
5. 5. Add a Note: For giving instructions to the designer or other members of your team, you can easily add a “sticky note” and clearly write your comments.

Ready to make your life—and your supplier’s—a lot easier? Download a copy of Adobe Reader and start providing your revisions in PDFs.
Want more tips on how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader? We’re happy to help!
Posted by: Jason