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Draw over a PDF, image or plan

Upload a PDF, image, site plan, technical drawing or map as a background layer, then draw, trace and mark up directly over it. Mark out proposed changes, or add measurements or annotations.

Uploading your own PDF or image as a background needs SimpleDraw Plus - $10 for a year's access.

See what's included in SimpleDraw Plus

How it works

Upload your PDF, image or plan as a background layer, set the scale, then draw over it with SimpleDraw's tools - lines, rectangles, circles, text and measurements, plus a full catalog of home furnishings in floor plan mode.

What can you draw over a PDF or image?

Once your image is placed and scaled, every SimpleDraw tool is available - lines of any thickness, rounded rectangles, circles, text at any angle, measurements, and full colour. Here are some of the things people do with it.

Proposed renovation changes drawn over an existing floor plan in SimpleDraw, with labelled walls, doors and cupboards

Draw over a plan to show proposed changes

Start from an existing floor plan and sketch a renovation over it - new walls, removed walls, added doors, built-in cupboards. Use lines for structure, and arrows with coloured text to call out exactly what is changing.

Real-world measurements added over a technical drawing in SimpleDraw

Draw over a technical drawing to add measurements

Trace over a technical drawing or scanned diagram and add precise, real-world dimensions with the measurement tool. Type exact lengths, place measurement lines wherever they read clearly, and label at any angle.

A proposed outbuilding drawn to scale over a site plan on an OpenStreetMap base in SimpleDraw

Draw over a site plan or property survey

Draw a proposed extension, outbuilding or boundary over a site plan built on a map base. Lines of any thickness keep boundaries, setbacks and proposed structures distinct, and you can add real-world dimensions where they matter.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

An event layout drawn over an aerial photo of a field in SimpleDraw, with marked parking, food trucks, toilets and a main stage

Draw over an aerial photo to lay out an event

Plan a festival, fete or wedding over an aerial photo of the site - mark the entrance, a parking area, food-truck pitches, toilets and the main stage. Coloured shapes and labels keep every zone clear at a glance.

An electrical layout drawn over a floor plan in SimpleDraw, with coloured circuits and labelled fuse ratings

Draw over an image to plan electrics and plumbing

Sketch a lighting layout, a ring main or a plumbing run over an existing floor plan. Use colour to separate circuits - a red ring main, blue lighting, a green run to the hob - with labels for fittings and fuse ratings. Easy to hand to an electrician or plumber for a quote.

A walking route traced over a neighbourhood map in SimpleDraw, with the route drawn as a loop and its name and distance labelled

Draw over a map to trace a walking route

Trace a walking or cycling route over a neighbourhood map - lines for the route itself, marks for points of interest, and labels for names and notes. Ideal for a guided walk, a property listing, or a printed handout.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Got a different use case in mind?

We'd love to hear about it on our Discord community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about drawing over a PDF, image or plan in SimpleDraw

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Open SimpleDraw in your browser and start drawing - no download, no sign-up. Uploading your own PDF or image as a background needs SimpleDraw Plus.

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