Personally I use PDF Pen 10 for that kind of work as I find it more precise, but it can be done in Preview. Assuming you have the Edit/annotate menu open
  1. On the preview Tool Bar click on the text box.
  2. Click somewhere on a blank part of the page, this will insert a text box
  3. Click on the word TEXT in the text box then type the letter X on our keyboard
  4. If the handles are not showing on the text box click on the text box frame
  5. Use the handles to size the fram appropriately
  6. With the handles still showing press Command+C (⌘C) to copy the text box onto the clipboard
  7. Press Command+V (⌘V) to create a new copy of the text box
  8. click anywhere on the page to clear the text box selection
  9. Click in the center of the new text box and drag it to the desired location.
  10. Repeat. steps 7 though 9 until all the proper locations have been marked.


If you are going to be doing this kind of thing a LOT you might want to consider PDFPenPro 10. Although it is pricey it will convert any PDF into a form pretty accurately and then all you have to do is click on the checkbox in the form and it will automatically insert an X or ✔ It can make short work of an otherwise onerous and time consuming task.

Last edited by joemikeb; 01/08/19 03:53 PM. Reason: Add comment about PDFPenPro
If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein