Draw or handwrite on a Freeform board on iPad

In the Freeform app , you can sketch or jot a handwritten note with Apple Pencil (see compatibility) or your finger.

Drawings and handwritten text on a Freeform board. The drawing tools appear along the bottom.

Draw or handwrite

Open the Freeform app on your iPad.
Open a board, or tap to start a new one.
Tap , then draw with your finger or Apple Pencil.
If you’re using Apple Pencil and want to be able to switch to draw with your finger, tap in the drawing tools, then turn on Draw with Finger.
Tip: Hold your finger or Apple Pencil still for a moment when you finish the drawing to smooth or straighten its shape.
Tap a tool to switch to it. (Swipe to see other tools, such as Fill, Crayon, Fountain Pen, or Watercolor Brush.)
Tap any tool a second time to change its qualities, like the thickness or opacity of a stroke.
To fill a closed shape with color, use the Fill tool (the paint tube).
To draw a straight line, tap the Ruler tool. (You can rotate it by placing two fingers on it and turning your hand.)
Scribble (next to the pen) transforms your handwriting to typed text as you write with Apple Pencil. To learn more about writing on boards with Apple Pencil, see Enter text with Scribble on iPad.

Note: By default, Apple Pencil works as a drawing and writing tool in Freeform. You can change this setting if you also want to use Apple Pencil to select and scroll.

Select and edit parts of a drawing

When you draw in the Freeform app , your strokes are grouped. If you want to break a drawing apart, you can separate and merge your strokes. You can also delete, resize, or straighten parts of a drawing.

After you draw or write on your Freeform board with the drawing tools, tap (between the Eraser and Ruler) in the drawing tools.
Tap or circle the part of the drawing you want to select, then choose an option.
Tip: Choose Snap to Shape to smooth or straighten hand-drawn lines.

You can also tap to select an entire drawing or other item when you’re not using the drawing tools. Tap an item to select it, tap in the formatting tools, then tap Cut, Copy, or Duplicate.

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iPad User Guide

Draw or handwrite on a Freeform board on iPad

Draw or handwrite

Select and edit parts of a drawing