How to Add Arrows and Numbers to a Mac Screenshot
One arrow beats a paragraph of "the button on the left, no, the other one". Here's how to mark up a capture where it sits.
Send a bare screenshot with a bug report and the other person has to guess where to look. One arrow, or a couple of numbers, cuts the explanation in half.
The built-in markup
Click the thumbnail that appears in the bottom right after a capture and the markup view opens: pen, shapes, text, signature.
Missed the thumbnail? Open the file in Preview and choose Tools → Annotate for the same tools.
It covers a lot, but there are no numbered callouts, and hiding something means covering it with a shape.
Floatie’s editor
Floatie opens its editor with ⌘E (command+E) while the capture is still floating on your screen (Pro). Nothing is saved or reopened in between.
The tools:
- Pen, line, arrow, rectangle — point at what matters
- Number — drop 1, 2, 3 in order, for step-by-step instructions
- Text — a short label on the shot
- Mosaic — cover an email address or a card number
- Six colours, three stroke widths, undo
Ship by Friday.
Card on file — do not resend.
Making the markup readable
- Stay on one colour. A red arrow plus a blue box plus a green circle scatters the eye.
- Number in reading order — top to bottom, left to right.
- Keep arrows short. A short arrow near the thing beats one crossing the whole screen.
- Hide things first. Mark up after you mosaic, or the mosaic swallows your markup.
Press Done to close the editor. The marks stay on the shot, so you can drag it straight into Slack or copy it with ⌘C. If you need a file, ⌘⇧S saves one.
The editor and every other Pro feature are open during the 14-day trial.
Ready to float?
Free for 14 days with everything unlocked. After that, a one-time purchase keeps Floatie Pro for good, or a monthly or yearly plan does the same and adds Floatie Link Pro.