How to Add Annotations to Your SOPs

30-Second Summary

Annotations let you mark up images and video frames in your SOP with arrows, rectangles, ellipses, text, and callouts. They always show on the step thumbnail and can optionally show on the video clip during playback. SOPX also opens a Detail view next to the video so operators can see the annotated key frame at full size. This guide walks through adding annotations in seven steps, from entering editor mode to switching between video and Detail view.

You can see a live example here: SOPX walkthrough with annotations. It opens in the browser, no login required.

Why annotations matter

A video clip shows a step from start to finish. That is useful, but it does not always tell the operator where to focus. A specific button on a panel, a torque value on a wrench, the difference between two similar parts: these need a visual marker, not just narration.

Annotations close that gap. You point at the exact thing on the frame and the operator sees it before they ever press play. For training new hires and for any work instruction where small details decide whether the job is done correctly, annotations carry a lot of weight per minute of editing.

Step 1: Enter editor mode

Open the SOP and switch to editor mode.

Step 2: Click the Annotate button

On the step you want to mark up, click Annotate to open the annotation tools.

Step 3: Add annotations

Use any combination of text, arrows, rectangles, ellipses, and callouts to point operators at the exact thing they need to focus on. You can layer more of them on one image and sort which one is in the foreground with arrows in the right menu.

Step 4: Click Apply

Apply confirms the markup on the frame and closes the annotation popup. This does not save the SOP yet. Saving happens in the next step.

Step 5: Choose where annotations show, then Save changes

A toggle controls whether annotations appear on the video clip during playback or only on the thumbnail. It defaults to off, which means thumbnail only. Turn it on if you want operators to keep seeing the markers while the video plays. Click Save changes to commit the SOP.

Step 6: Toggle between video and Detail view

End users can now switch between the video clip and the Detail view. Detail view opens the annotated key frame at full size next to the video, so the operator can study the marker without pausing the playback.

When to use annotations

• Point to a specific button or control on a panel.
• Mark a torque value, gauge reading, or measurement.
• Highlight an inspection point on a part.
• Call out the difference between two similar components.
• Flag a safety hazard the operator should avoid.

A good rule: if a new operator would need someone standing next to them to point at the right thing, that is a place for an annotation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I annotate with?

Text, arrows, rectangles, ellipses, and callouts. You can combine any of them on a single frame.

Can I annotate both images and videos?

Yes. Annotations work on standalone images and on video frames. You decide whether the annotations appear on both the thumbnail and the video, or on the thumbnail only.

Where do annotations appear?

Annotations always appear on the step thumbnail. They optionally appear on the video clip itself during playback if the toggle is on. Detail view shows the annotated key frame at full size next to the video.

Are annotations added automatically by AI?

Not today. Annotations are added manually. AI-generated annotations are in development. Contact us at [email protected] for the release date.

Can I edit or remove an annotation later?

Yes. Re-enter editor mode on the step, click Annotate, and adjust or delete any annotation. Save changes to publish the update.

Do annotations show in PDF and Word exports?

Yes. Annotations are included in PDF and Word exports, so shared SOPs and printed copies stay consistent with what operators see in the app.

Annotations are available now in SOPX. Sign up or log in to start marking up your procedures.