Handouts???

I am trying to figure out if when I make a new handout, is it visible to my players automatically, or do I need to specifically make it so?

You need to specifically make it so. You can quickly tell if handouts are shared. If they are shared by all players, there will be a blue dot next to the name in the Journal tab. If it is shared with specific players, there will be a dot for each of their avatar colors.

It is not automatically visible to players.  You would need to add "All Players" or specific players into the "In Player's Journals" setting for them to see it.  You can also look to the right of the Handout name in the Journal for colored dots associated with players (or a blue one for all players). Bonus info: You can drag a handout from the journal onto a specific player's name/portrait to add the to the list and pop it up on their screen.

The Aaron said: Bonus info: You can drag a handout from the journal onto a specific player's name/portrait to add the to the list and pop it up on their screen. TIL

I appreciate it fellas thank you! New DM using roll20, still havent gotten the hang of all the functions I have available..

It's also worth noting that you can open a handout yourself and there will be a 'show to players' button at the top that will share it with all players without having to go into the edit options... it will also pop it up on their screen at the time too which is perfect for in play reveals: You also get a handy warning incase you click accidentally: "Show to players" is also available via right clicking on a journal entry :) As a bonus, I believe that "Show to players" also respects any preset player visibility permissions so you can 'show' a handout to select groups or individuals rather than all players (which will be the default where no permissions are already set).

Showing to players makes it readable and seen in the journal but it does not give them the ability to edit incase that wasn't nailed down yet so you would still need to go into that edit permissions section for that.  

Good point! DM Eddie said: Showing to players makes it readable and seen in the journal but it does not give them the ability to edit incase that wasn't nailed down yet so you would still need to go into that edit permissions section for that.