Grid Scratchpad Canvas
Add a grid, ruled or blank note area to the right or bottom of every page of a PDF. The original content is not resized.
About This Tool
Grid Scratchpad Canvas adds a note-taking area to every page of a PDF, next to the original content rather than on a separate page.
The pad goes on the right, which makes each page wider, or at the bottom, which makes each page taller. Its size can be set from 100 to 350 pt (it starts at 200 pt, about 7 cm), and it can carry a square grid, ruled lines or no lines at all. The original content is not scaled or covered, and text stays selectable. On a page that is stored rotated, the pad can land on another side than the one you chose, so check the result.
The pad is plain page space: off-white, with pale grey lines and a thin line separating it from the page. The colours cannot be changed, and there is no Cornell layout. Write in it with the pen or note tools of your own PDF app, or by hand after printing. Everything happens in your browser, and the file never leaves your device.
How to Use
Upload your PDF
Drag one PDF onto the box labelled "Upload Lecture Slides / PDF Papers", or click it to choose a file. The pad is added to every page.
Choose the side, the size and the pattern
Under "Scratchpad Placement Margin" choose the right side or the bottom. Drag "Scratchpad Physical Width" to a value between 100 and 350 pt. Under "Scratchpad Grid Style" choose "Subtle Digital Glow Grid" for squares, "Standard Ruled Notebook Stripes" for lines, or "Pure Artist White Canvas" for no lines.
Add the pad and download
Click "Stitch Scratchpad Canvas", then "Download". The picture on screen is only a sketch: it always shows the pad on the right, whichever side you chose, and never your own pages. To try another setting, change it and click the button again.
Use Cases
Working space beside exam questions
Add a squared pad next to maths or physics problems and work each one out right beside the question.
Notes beside a reading text
Add a ruled pad next to an article or a chapter for vocabulary, translations or a short summary.
Room for remarks on slides and plans
Add a pad without lines to lecture slides or drawings, so there is space for comments that does not cover the content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it shrink or cover my original page?
No. The page content is left as it is: the page is only made wider, or taller, and the pad is drawn in the new space. Text stays selectable and nothing is turned into a picture. On a page that is stored rotated, the pad can land on another side than the one you chose.
Can I choose the colours or a Cornell layout?
No. There are three patterns: a grid of 15 pt squares, ruled lines 20 pt apart, or no lines. The pad is always off-white with pale grey lines, and there is no Cornell layout.
Can I write or type in the pad?
The pad is ordinary page space with lines drawn on it; the tool adds no typing or drawing features of its own. Use the pen or note tools of your PDF app, or print the pages and write by hand. The pages are no longer a standard paper size, so let the printer scale them to fit the paper.