In this article we’ll show you:

• The pen types on the Drawboard PDF iOS app: standard, variable and calligraphy
• How to select or change the properties of your ink including color, opacity and thickness
• How to use smart inking (smart line and shape recognition) to create neat lines and shapes with your ink

Pen types

On the iOS and macOS apps there are three types of pens that you can select from:

Standard: basic digital pen without pressure sensitivity (fixed width)

Variable: Pressure sensitivity for life-like ink

Calligraphy: Highly dynamic to replicate the look and feel of calligraphy inking

To choose your pen type:

1. Select the pen tool from the toolbar and then tap the 3 dots to open the pen properties
2. Select either Standard, Variable or Calligraphy (The Calligraphy pen is available to all Drawboard PDF Pro plan users).

Changing the properties of your ink

To change the color of your ink

1. Select the pen tool form your toolbar and then tap the three dots to open the pen properties
2. Select from the colors displayed or tap the expansion arrow to select from a wider range of colors:
   • Grid: select a color from the grid of colors
     
     
      
   • Spectrum: Drag the selector and release when you find your preferred color/shade
     
     
      
   • Sliders: drag the color sliders or type the saturation level for each in the number field until you find your preferred color/shade. Note: The sliders control the saturation levels of each color component (red, green and blue), ranging from 0 (none) to 255 (full saturation). The resulting RGB color is displayed at the bottom. You can also type your preferred Hex color code in the Display P3 Hex Color # field.
     
     

To select a color on your canvas using the color picker:

1. Select the pen tool form your toolbar and then tap the three dots to open the pen properties
2. Tap the expansion arrow to select from a wider range of colors
3. Select the color picker icon in the top left corner
4. Tap any section on your canvas and the color picker will detect the color selected. Use the pen tool to apply this color ink to your canvas

Tip: To add a color to your saved colors (located underneath the color grid/spectrum/sliders), select your preferred color and then tap the plus icon

To change the opacity of your ink:

1. Select the pen tool form your toolbar and then tap the three dots to open the pen properties
2. Use your mouse, finger or stylus to drag the opacity slider between 0% - 100%

To change the thickness of your ink:

1. Select the pen tool form your toolbar and then tap the three dots to open the pen properties
2. Use your mouse, finger or stylus to drag the thickness slider between 0.5pt to 32pt

Smart inking (Smart line and shape recognition)

Available to all Pro plan users.

What is smart inking?

With smart inking, hand-drawn shapes and lines automatically transform into perfect shapes and lines.

How to toggle smart inking on and off

1. Select the pen tool from your toolbar and then tap the three dots to open the pen properties
2. Tap the smart inking toggle to switch smart inkling on and off

Using smart inking to create precise shapes and lines:

1. Using your finger, stylus or mouse, draw a freehand ink line or shape on your canvas and hold until smart ink-to-line recognition is triggered
2. Your freehand line or shape will automatically transform into a neat and precise line or shape

Tip: Prior to releasing your ink, you can move your stylus, finger or mouse around to rotate/pivot and resize your shape or line.

Note: Smart ink-to-shape recognition can detect and transform hand drawn triangles, circles, squares, rectangles, pentagons, hexagons, octagons, ellipses and more

Smart ink-to-line recognition can detect and transform hand drawn straight, curved, zigzag and squiggly lines