Annotating images
Mark up X-rays with arrows, measurements, and freehand drawings — saved as a separate layer.
Overview
Annotations sit as a layer on top of an image. They're separate records from the image itself, so you can have multiple annotated versions for different audiences (one for patient education, one for specialist referral, etc.).
Prerequisites
- Clinical role
- An uploaded image to annotate
Steps
Open the image viewer. From the Imaging tab on the patient profile, click the X-ray card.
Click "Annotate". The annotation toolbar appears at the top of the viewer.
Pick the tool. Tools: Arrow, Rectangle, Circle, Freehand, Text label, Measurement (mm/cm).
Draw on the image. Click-and-drag for shapes; click for arrows. Each shape has a colour picker — red for issues, green for healthy, yellow for monitoring.
Add a text label. Click the Text tool, click on the image, type. Labels follow the underlying tooth as the image is zoomed.
Use the measurement tool. Click two points; the distance in mm appears. Calibrated against the image's scale metadata. If no metadata, calibrate manually using a known reference.
Save the annotation set. Click Save. Name the set ("For consult with Dr. Smith", "Patient education"). The image now shows annotation count in the imaging tab.
Toggle annotation visibility. Each saved set has a visibility toggle in the side panel. Show/hide layers without deleting.
Delete or edit a saved set. From the annotation panel, click the set → Edit or Delete. Edits create a new version (audit trail preserved).
Expected outcome
- A new Annotation entry exists with the SVG shapes and text serialised
- The image viewer shows the annotations on demand
- Annotations don't modify the original image bytes
- Audit log entry tracks creation and edits
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tools panel hidden | Some screens crop the toolbar | Scroll the viewer or maximise the panel |
| Measurements don't match reality | No calibration metadata | Use the manual calibrate tool with a known reference |
| Annotations don't save | Network glitch | Save again; the toolbar shows "Last saved" status |
| Want to compare with original | Toggle visibility | Use the eye icon to hide all annotation layers |
| Lost annotations after browser refresh | Unsaved before refresh | Annotations save on Save click only — get into the habit |