Box Annotation System

The box annotation system in Striae allows users to draw precise, color-coded rectangles on comparison images to highlight specific areas of interest. This powerful feature enhances documentation clarity and provides visual context for findings in both the interface and generated PDF reports.

Getting Started with Box Annotations

Activating the Box Tool

  1. Open your case and select an image for annotation

  2. Locate the toolbar at the top of the interface

  3. Click the Box Annotation tool - it will activate and highlight in the toolbar

  4. The color selector will automatically appear when the box tool is active

  5. Select your desired color from the color selector for your rectangles and click the green checkmark to confirm

Drawing Box Annotations

  1. Position your cursor over the area you want to annotate

  2. Click and drag to create a rectangular box annotation

    • Start position: Click where you want one corner of the box

    • End position: Drag to where you want the opposite corner

  3. Release the mouse to complete the box annotation

  4. The box will be saved automatically with your selected color

Color Selection

Automatic Color Picker: When you activate the box annotation tool, a color selector automatically appears with:

  • Preset color grid: Quick access to commonly used forensic annotation colors

  • Custom color wheel: Full spectrum color selection for specialized marking needs

  • Real-time preview: See your color choice before applying it to annotations

  • Confirm/cancel options: User-friendly workflow to approve or reset color selection

Color Application: Each new box annotation uses your currently selected color, allowing you to categorize different types of evidence or findings with distinct colors.

If you want to change colors for subsequent annotations, click the box tool twice to disable and re-enable it, which will bring up the color selector again. Choose a new color and continue annotating.

Box Color Labels

Preset Label Integration: Striae includes an intelligent labeling system for box annotations that enhances documentation workflow:

  • Automatic label addition: When you use preset colors, descriptive labels are automatically added to the Additional Notes section

  • Prerequisite requirement: Labels are only added after you have initially saved notes for the current image

  • Seamless documentation: This feature streamlines the annotation process by allowing the user to provide consistent terminology

Custom Color Organization:

  • Custom labels: When using custom colors from the color wheel, you can create your own color-coded organization or references

  • Reference purposes: Custom color labels can serve as personal reference tools for maintaining consistency across cases

  • Workflow flexibility: Allows laboratories to develop their own color-coding systems

Important Rendering Note:

  • Canvas-only display: All box labels (both preset and custom) are visible only on the canvas interface

  • PDF exclusion: Labels do not appear in generated PDF reports - only the colored box annotations themselves are included in additional notes, if desired

  • Clean documentation: This ensures PDF reports maintain professional appearance while providing organizational benefits during analysis

Managing Box Annotations

Removing Annotations: You have two options to remove unwanted box annotations:

  1. Double-click method: Double-click directly on any box annotation to remove it

  2. Right-click method: Right-click on any box annotation to delete it immediately

Visual Feedback:

  • Box annotations show hover effects when you position your cursor over them

  • Tooltip guidance appears to remind you of removal options

  • Clear visual indicators distinguish between drawing mode and interaction mode

Box Annotation Visibility

Toolbar Integration: Box annotations have integrated visibility controls:

  • Annotations are visible only when the box annotation tool is active

  • Toggle visibility by activating/deactivating the box tool in the toolbar

  • Seamless workflow allows you to focus on analysis without visual clutter when not needed

Technical Features

Precision and Accuracy

Percentage-Based Coordinates:

  • Box annotations use percentage-based positioning for device-independent accuracy

  • Annotations maintain precise positioning across different screen sizes and resolutions

  • Pixel-perfect placement ensures consistency between interface and PDF output

Real-Time Visual Feedback:

  • See your box annotations as you draw them

  • Transparent styling keeps focus on the underlying evidence

  • Colored borders provide clear delineation without obscuring image details

Professional Integration

Automatic Saving:

  • All box annotations are saved automatically to your case

  • No manual save required - your work is preserved instantly

  • Annotations persist when switching between images or cases

State Management:

  • Box annotations maintain their position during case switching

  • Annotations are preserved through application sessions

  • Robust error handling protects against data loss

PDF Report Integration

Seamless Report Generation

Automatic Inclusion: When you generate a PDF report, box annotations are automatically included:

  • Exact positioning: Box annotations appear in PDFs with precise placement matching the interface

  • Color consistency: All colors are preserved in the final PDF document

  • Professional styling: Transparent backgrounds with colored borders maintain document clarity

Conditional Rendering: Box annotations appear in PDF reports only when:

  • The box annotation tool was active when the report was generated

  • Annotations exist for the selected image

  • This ensures clean reports when box annotations are not needed

Best Practices

Effective Annotation Strategies

Color Coding System:

  • Establish consistent color meanings for your laboratory or unit

  • Use distinct colors for different types of markings or characteristics

  • Document your color coding system for team collaboration

  • Use the additional notes section to clarify annotations

Annotation Placement:

  • Draw boxes that encompass the full area of interest without excessive surrounding space

  • Ensure boxes are large enough to be clearly visible in PDF reports

  • Avoid overlapping boxes when possible for clarity

Quality Control:

  • Review annotations before generating final reports

  • Use the visibility toggle to check annotation placement without distraction

  • Verify color choices align with your documentation standards

Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Box Not Appearing:

  • Verify the box annotation tool is active (highlighted in toolbar)

  • Ensure you're clicking and dragging, not just clicking

  • Check that your box is large enough (minimum 1% of image size)

Color Selector Not Visible:

  • The color selector only appears when the box annotation tool is active

  • Click the box tool in the toolbar to activate it

  • Refresh the page if the color selector doesn't appear

Annotations Not in PDF:

  • Ensure the box annotation tool was active when generating the PDF

  • Verify annotations exist for the selected image

Performance Considerations:

  • Large numbers of annotations may affect rendering performance

  • Consider using fewer, more strategic annotations for optimal performance

  • Complex annotation patterns may increase PDF generation time

Security and Privacy

Data Protection

Automatic Encryption: All box annotation data is encrypted in transit and at rest using enterprise-grade security protocols.

Access Control: Box annotations are tied to your user account and case permissions, ensuring data privacy and proper access controls.

Audit Trail: All annotation activities are logged for accountability and compliance with forensic documentation standards.

Need additional help? Don't hesitate to reach out to our support team. We're here to ensure you have secure and seamless access to Striae's features.

Updated on
Striae Image Annotation & PDF Generation Guide
Authenticated Confirmations