Files, Signatures & Images

Construction reports are not just text — they need photos of the work, annotated images showing defects, signatures for sign-off, and GPS coordinates for location context. Pasco Cloud supports all of these across both the web app and the mobile app, with everything stored securely and rendered in the final PDF document.

File Attachments

Reports support file uploads through media fields. Files are stored securely on AWS S3 using presigned URLs — your files upload directly from your browser or device to cloud storage, without passing through the Pasco Cloud server. This means fast, reliable uploads with no file size bottleneck.

How It Works

1. You click the upload area on a media field.
2. The system generates a secure, time-limited upload URL.
3. Your file uploads directly to S3 with a progress indicator.
4. Once complete, the file is linked to your report field.

Files are organised by report and field, so they are always easy to find and manage.

Photo Capture

Media fields support photo upload from both desktop and mobile:

• Desktop (web app) — use the file picker to select images from your computer.
• Mobile app — choose from your photo gallery or take a new photo with your device camera.

Photos are the most common attachment type in construction reports. They provide visual evidence for inspections, document site conditions, and support compliance records.

💡 Tip

On mobile, take your photos before opening the report builder. This gives you time to frame your shots properly. Then add them to the report fields when you are filling in the form. For wide shots of site conditions, use landscape orientation.

Image Annotation

One of the most powerful features for field work is the ability to annotate photos directly within Pasco Cloud. Mark up images with arrows, text labels, shapes, and highlights to draw attention to specific areas.

Web App — Pintura Editor

On the web, clicking or tapping an uploaded image opens the Pintura annotation editor. You can:

• Draw arrows and lines to point out defects or areas of interest.
• Add text labels and callouts.
• Draw shapes (rectangles, circles) to highlight areas.
• Apply colour overlays and highlights.
• Crop and adjust the image.

The editor saves three versions of the image: the original (untouched), the annotated version (with your markups baked in), and the editor state (so you can re-open and continue editing your annotations later).

Mobile App — Pro Image Editor

On the mobile app, annotation uses the native pro_image_editor. It provides similar capabilities — drawing, text, shapes, and highlights — optimised for touch input on smaller screens.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Annotated images display correctly on both platforms. A photo annotated on mobile appears with its annotations on the web app, and vice versa. However, re-editing annotations is tool-specific:

⚠️ Watch out!

Annotation re-editing uses the platform's native tool. If you annotate a photo on the web (Pintura) and later want to edit those annotations on mobile, the mobile app will open its own editor — you cannot resume the Pintura editing session. The same applies in reverse. The annotated image is always preserved, but the editing state does not transfer between tools.

Field Response Images

Beyond dedicated media fields, most other field types also support adding photos alongside your response — if the template designer has enabled it. This is controlled by the Allow Images toggle on each field in the template builder.

Eligible field types include: short text, long text, number, checkbox, multiple choice, location, and site fields.

For example, you might attach a photo of a crack next to a "Fail" checkbox response, providing immediate visual context for your answer. These response images appear in the PDF output alongside the field they belong to.

Signatures

Signature fields capture freehand digital signatures using touch input (mobile) or mouse/trackpad (desktop). The signature is drawn on a canvas and saved as a PNG image.

Capturing a Signature

1. Tap or click the signature field in the report builder.
2. Sign using your finger (mobile) or mouse (desktop).
3. The signature is captured and displayed in the field.
4. You can clear and re-sign if needed.

Signatures are rendered in the generated PDF at their captured size, providing a clear record of who signed the document.

The signature library (perfect-freehand) is the same on both web and mobile, so signatures look consistent regardless of which platform they were captured on.

GPS and Location

Location fields capture geographic coordinates with a map preview.

Mobile

On the mobile app, location fields use your device's GPS to capture your current coordinates automatically. The field displays a map preview showing the pinned location.

Web

On the web app, location fields provide a map picker. Click or drag the pin to set the location manually.

In the PDF

GPS coordinates are rendered in the PDF with a map preview, providing a visual record of where the inspection or observation took place.

Storage and Security

All uploaded files — photos, annotated images, signatures, and attachments — are stored on AWS S3:

• Presigned URLs — short-lived (one hour) download URLs are generated when you view a report. Files are never publicly accessible.
• Direct upload — files upload directly from your device to S3, so they never pass through the Pasco Cloud API server.
• Organised storage — files are stored under a clear hierarchy, making them easy to manage at the infrastructure level.
• Thumbnails — uploaded images automatically have thumbnails generated for fast loading in lists and grids.

What's Next?

• Ready to create your first report? Follow the Tutorial: Completing Your First Report.
• Want to understand PDF output? Read Report PDFs.
• Looking at the field types? See Fields & Sections.
• Back to the overview? Return to Reports Overview.