Draw in a Freeform board on iPad

In the Freeform app , sketch, draw a diagram, or jot a handwritten note with Apple Pencil (on supported models) or your finger.

Drawings and handwritten text on a Freeform board. The drawing tool is selected, and the tools are minimized.

Draw in a board

Create or open a board, 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.
Tap a tool to switch to it, then tap it a second time to see if there are additional options, like stroke size (line thickness) or transparency. These two tools behave differently:
- (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.
- Fill: With the Fill tool (the paint tube) selected, tap any closed shapes to fill them with color. Or draw to create a filled shape.

A Freeform board with the drawing tools visible. You can select the handwriting tool to convert handwritten text to type, choose a drawing tool, fill an area enclosed by a drawn line, select a drawing, and define a custom color.

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, copy, and delete sections of a drawing

When you finish drawing, your strokes are grouped. If you want to break a drawing apart, you can regroup your strokes, or separate, delete, or resize them.

Tap (between the eraser and color palette) in the drawing tools.
Tap or circle the part of the drawing you want to select, then choose an option.

You can also tap to select a drawing or other item when you’re not using the drawing tools. Tap an item, tap in the pop-up menu, then choose an option.

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iPad User Guide

Draw in a Freeform board on iPad

Draw in a board

Select, copy, and delete sections of a drawing