How to Annotate Defect Photos on Android
An annotation should help the reader find the observation without hiding it. Use a small amount of markup, retain room context and explain the point in words so the report remains useful when printed or viewed at a reduced size.
By Blu Mint Digital. 3 minute read. Last reviewed .
Choose the right photo to mark
Begin with a clear source image. If the defect is too small, blurred or outside the frame, take a better photograph while the item is accessible. Enlarging a circle around an unclear detail will not add missing evidence.
Keep a wider context view alongside the detail image when the location would otherwise be uncertain. A close-up of a hinge or tile can be accurate but impossible to locate in the building without that second view.
Add a restrained visual pointer
In Site Audit, open the photo annotation editor and use the available markup tools to indicate the relevant position. Adjust the stroke width so it is visible without covering the observation. Review at the size the recipient is likely to use.
- Place the pointer beside the detail rather than over it.
- Avoid several overlapping marks competing for attention.
- Use a caption that explains the observed condition.
- Do not rely only on colour to convey meaning.
- Check that the marked photo still identifies the component.
Markup locates a finding; it does not establish its cause or technical classification. Keep those conclusions within the evidence and the appropriate assessment.
Example of useful and unhelpful markup
For a small chip at a worktop corner, a large filled mark may obscure the very edge the contractor needs to inspect. A light outline around the nearby area, with a caption naming the corner, leaves the detail visible.
If several distinct observations appear in one image, consider separate issue records or additional detail photos. A collection of circles without corresponding descriptions can leave the recipient unsure which repair belongs to which instruction.
Check the exported version
Site Audit allows annotations to be reopened and edited. In Generate Report, check whether annotated photos are selected, then open the actual PDF. Confirm the pointer appears, the caption matches the image and the detail remains legible at the chosen photo quality.
The free project includes annotation and branded PDF output with an app credit line. Pro removes that line and adds further export options. Preserve the underlying working records through backup. Use the photo quality guide if the exported detail is unclear and the caption guide to make each image stand on its own.