Leaders and Callouts
Leaders are arrow lines with a text label. Callout shapes are decorative annotation shapes with text inside.
Leaders and CalloutsThe Leader tool draws an arrow line from a point on your plan to a text label, making it ideal for identifying individual plants by species name or calling out materials for contractors. The Callout Shape tool places a styled container — speech bubble, cloud, star burst, banner, and more — that holds a text annotation for client-facing presentation boards. Both tools are found among the annotation tools in the Inspector's Annotations panel (with nothing selected) and support bidirectional entry: you can click directly on the canvas or type coordinates in the tool sidebar.
Callout shape
The Callout Shape tool places a decorative shape with text inside. Available shapes: rectangle, rounded-rectangle, circle, cloud, speech-bubble, thought-bubble, star-burst, left-arrow, right-arrow, banner, plaque, diamond, hexagon, cross.
Place the arrow tip, then the label
Click the object or location you want to annotate — this sets the arrow tip (the Start point). Click a second time away from the target to drop the text label position (the End point). A text cursor appears immediately so you can type your annotation. Press Enter or click outside to confirm the text.
Choose a text frame style
In the tool sidebar, open the Text Frame selector to wrap the label in a visual container. Options are None, Underline, Box, Rounded, and Bracket. The frame you choose becomes the default for all subsequent leaders you draw in this session.
Adjust the leader in the Inspector
Select a placed leader and open the Inspector panel on the right. You can edit the label Text, change the Frame (None, Underline, Rectangle, Rounded Rect, Bracket), and switch the Line Style between Diagonal and Orthogonal (L-shape) to suit your sheet layout.
When labeling a group of the same species, draw a single leader to one representative plant and add the total count in the label (e.g., "Acer palmatum x5"). This keeps the plan uncluttered while preserving the plant schedule information.
Activate the Callout Shape tool
Open the Annotations panel in the Inspector and click the Callout Shape tool. The tool sidebar shows Position, Width, and Height fields as well as a Shape selector. Choose your shape type before clicking on the canvas, or change it after placement from the Inspector.
Place the callout and set its pointer
Click on the canvas to drop the callout body at your chosen position. Then click a second time to set the point the callout tail should aim toward — typically the feature you are annotating. The callout is created with an empty text field ready for input.
Edit the callout text
Double-click the placed callout shape to enter text-edit mode and type your annotation. Click anywhere outside the shape to exit editing. You can re-enter editing at any time by double-clicking again. Use the Inspector to change the Shape, set the Width and Height, and toggle Show Text after placement.
Callout shape options include Speech Bubble, Thought Bubble, Cloud, Star Burst, Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Circle, Diamond, Hexagon, and Banner. Speech Bubble and Cloud work well for client mood boards; Rectangle and Rounded Rectangle are better choices for technical construction notes.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Escape | Cancel placement |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I edit a leader's text after I have already placed it?
Double-click the leader on the canvas to enter text-edit mode. The label becomes an editable field — type your changes and press Enter or click outside to confirm.
Can I change how the leader line is routed?
Yes. Select the leader and open the Inspector. Use the Line Style control to switch between Diagonal (a straight angled line) and Orthogonal (L-shape) routing so the leader fits your sheet layout.
Can I change the frame on a leader I already drew?
Yes. Select the leader and use the Frame control in the Inspector to switch between None, Underline, Rectangle, Rounded Rect, and Bracket. The Text Frame selector in the tool sidebar only sets the default for leaders you draw next — it does not modify already-placed leaders.
How do I move just the arrowhead without moving the label?
Select the leader to reveal its handles. Drag the start handle (at the arrow tip) to reposition it independently. The label end and the connecting line adjust automatically.
What is the difference between a leader, a callout shape, and a note box?
A leader is a line with an arrowhead and a small text label — best for concise labels like plant names or material codes. A callout shape is a styled container (speech bubble, cloud, banner, etc.) with a directional tail — best for short annotations on presentation boards. A Note Box or Sticky Note is a larger free-standing text block without an arrow — best for multi-line area descriptions or project notes.