💬 How to Use Notes in InCopy for Editorial Collaboration

Good communication is the backbone of any editorial workflow. Instead of sending endless emails or juggling comments in PDFs, Adobe InCopy offers a built-in way to exchange feedback right inside the document — through the Notes panel.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to use Notes in InCopy to leave comments, reply to feedback, and collaborate efficiently with editors and designers — all without breaking the layout or losing context.

🧩 What Are Notes in InCopy?

Notes are InCopy’s version of inline comments — they let you add thoughts, reminders, or questions directly to specific text.

Each note:

Stays attached to a word or sentence.
Appears as a colored highlight with a sticky-note icon.
Includes your name, date, and comment text.

Unlike Track Changes, Notes don’t modify your copy — they simply add a layer of communication.

✏️ Step 1: Open the Notes Panel

To get started:

Go to Window > Notes > Notes.
A floating Notes panel will appear on the right side of your workspace.
You can dock it like other panels for easy access.

The Notes panel is your central hub for reading, adding, or deleting comments in your story.

💬 Step 2: Add a New Note

To insert a note:

Highlight the word or phrase you want to comment on.
Click the New Note icon at the bottom of the Notes panel.
Type your comment in the text box that appears.

Your highlighted text now shows a small yellow bubble (or whichever color your user is assigned). Hover over it to preview the comment, or click to open it fully in the panel.

💡 Pro tip: Notes are specific to each editor — you can identify who left them by color and username, helping large teams stay organized.

🔁 Step 3: Reply, Edit, or Delete Notes

You can easily manage comments inside the Notes panel:

To reply, select the note and add your response in the same panel.
To edit, click inside the note text and update it.
To delete, select the note and click the trash icon.

Editors and proofreaders can reply directly in context, creating threaded discussions that stay attached to the content.

🧭 Step 4: Navigate Between Notes

If your document has multiple notes, use the navigation arrows at the bottom of the panel to move quickly between them.

Alternatively, choose Edit > Notes > Next Note or Previous Note for keyboard-based navigation — perfect for large publications.

🗂️ Step 5: Combine Notes with Track Changes

For best results, use Notes alongside Track Changes.

Use Track Changes for edits that affect the text.
Use Notes for comments, questions, and editorial instructions.

This dual system lets your team collaborate seamlessly — without cluttering the content with unnecessary edits.

⚙️ Step 6: Remove All Notes Before Finalizing

Before exporting or handing off your story, clean up your file:

Open the Notes panel.
Click the options menu (☰).
Choose Delete All Notes to remove every comment.

This ensures your published content is clean and ready for layout or print.

💡 Best Uses for Notes in InCopy

Sharing context or explaining an edit.
Asking layout-related questions for the designer.
Flagging content for fact-checking or approval.
Marking sections for rewrite or review.

When used consistently, Notes become the backbone of smooth, transparent editorial communication.

💰 Try Adobe InCopy for Free

Collaborate like a pro using InCopy’s built-in Notes and Track Changes features.
👉 Start your free 7-day trial of Adobe InCopy

See how easily you can edit, comment, and publish together — all in one platform.

✏️ Final Thought

Adobe InCopy’s Notes panel turns messy feedback loops into efficient teamwork. It keeps the conversation attached to the text — so every edit, question, or idea stays right where it belongs.