Can I annotate photos offline?
Yes. All Inspectly360 image annotation tools work fully offline. Annotations are saved locally with the photo and sync to the cloud automatically when connectivity returns. Inspectors can mark up defects, add callouts, and apply severity colours in the field with no signal, exactly as they would online. This matters because many defects are found in the worst places for connectivity: basements, plant rooms, remote sites, and buildings still under construction. Once the device reconnects, the annotated images appear in reports and issue records with the full markup preserved, so nothing is lost between the field and the office.
What annotation tools are available?
Inspectly360 offers arrows, circles, rectangles, freehand drawing, text labels, callout boxes, measurement lines, and severity stamps. Tools can be customised with colours and line weights to match your reporting standards, and severity colours follow a consistent scheme, such as red for critical, orange for major, and yellow for minor. Every annotation attaches directly to the inspection item or issue it documents. This means a single photo can carry several marks: an arrow to the defect, a callout describing it, a measurement line for scale, and a severity stamp. The result is a clear record that supports corrective actions, re-inspection, and client or regulatory reports.
Are annotated photos included in reports?
Yes. All annotated photos are automatically included in Inspectly360 PDF reports with their full markup, labels, and severity indicators intact. Reports are suitable for client handover, punch lists, and compliance documentation, and you can choose which annotations to include and how the report is laid out, so deliverables stay professional and consistent. Because the annotation is part of the photo record, there is no separate step to assemble visual evidence: the report is generated with the marked-up images already in place. A manager can produce a client-ready document in one action instead of editing photos by hand.
Can I compare before and after photos?
Yes. Inspectly360's side-by-side comparison view shows the original finding alongside the corrective action evidence, clearly documenting that an issue has been resolved. This is especially useful for closing out snagging items, defect fixes, and compliance findings, because it gives visual proof rather than a simple status change. When a contractor or vendor marks an issue as fixed, the re-inspection photo sits next to the original, and a reviewer can confirm the fix at a glance. The before-and-after pair stays attached to the issue record, so it remains available for handover, audit, and any future dispute about whether work was actually completed.
How do annotations improve communication between field teams and managers?
Annotations remove ambiguity. A plain photo of a wall raises questions: which crack, how big, how urgent? An annotated photo answers all of them at once. The inspector circles the exact defect, adds a callout describing it, draws a measurement line for scale, and applies a severity colour. A manager or office team then sees a finding they can act on immediately, without calling the inspector back. This shortens the loop between finding an issue and assigning a fix. It also makes severity triage visual: a manager scanning a report can spot every red critical annotation in seconds and prioritise those sites and assets first.
