GD&T symbols copy and paste

How to copy and paste GD&T symbols into a PDF

1. Find the symbol you need and select its Copy PNG button.
2. Switch to your PDF editor and activate its editing or markup mode.
3. Paste using Ctrl + V on Windows or ⌘ + V on Mac, if the editor supports pasting images.
4. Resize and position the symbol beside the affected feature. Add a note explaining the question or proposed change.

If pasting is unavailable, select Download PNG and use the editor’s image insertion tool. Some PDF viewers only display documents and cannot add images. A transparent PNG is portable, but the receiving application must support image annotations or insertion.

Position, profile, runout, and perpendicularity symbols

The position symbol is the circle with crosshairs. Perpendicularity uses an upright line on a horizontal base. Profile of a line uses an open arc; profile of a surface adds a baseline. Circular runout uses a single diagonal arrow, while total runout uses two joined arrows. Choose the specific symbol shown on the drawing or needed for your review comment.

These are individual symbol images. To communicate a complete geometric tolerance, use the GD&T feature control frame builder to add the tolerance value, modifiers, and datum references.

Why use PNG symbols instead of text?

A PNG keeps the symbol’s appearance independent of the font in your PDF editor. It also avoids substituting a generic arrow or a missing-character box for a drawing symbol. The transparent background lets the image sit over the page without a white rectangle.

These 96 × 96 pixel images are intended for small annotations. Shrink them to suit the drawing; enlarging a raster image substantially can make it look soft. For editable notes using ordinary characters, use the mechanical engineering symbols reference.

Keep the symbol library close during reviews

Use Bookmark this page above the library for instructions to save it in your browser. Keep it beside your drawing during supplier clarifications, inspection discussions, and design reviews, then copy the symbol you need without searching through fonts.

For repeated mechanical redlines, download PDF Engineer for native GD&T frames, leaders, flag notes, and drawing markup tools.

Common questions

Why did Copy PNG fail?

Your browser may restrict image clipboard access or deny permission. Download the PNG instead and insert it from a file. The copy buttons copy image data, not text characters.

Can I use these symbols in a released drawing?

Use these images for review communication. A symbol alone does not define a complete requirement; released drawings should follow your applicable drawing standard and approval process.