Looking for Apple Pencil tips and tricks? You have come to the right place. Here are the best Apple Pencil tips and tricks in 2024.
The Apple Pencil is the best stylus for the iPad; no objection. No one has even come close to creating a stylus as responsive and easy to use as the Apple Pencil. Sure, the first-generation Apple Pencil isn’t the best, especially when it’s time for you to charge it. Still, both pencils are years ahead of the competition. And it seems like The Cupertino based company will go even further since there are rumors the company is working on a third-generation Apple Pencil.
The best part is that such a small device is loaded with tons of features you can take advantage of to make your life easier and help work faster from your iPad. If you’ve just started using the Apple Pencil, or you want to up your game, continue reading to learn 9 Apple Pencil tips and tricks you might not know about.
Best Apple Pencil tips and Tricks
Here are the best Apple Pencil tips and tricks in 2024.
Avoid Flubbing Your Art with Your Fingers
You can make it so you can only draw with your Apple Pencil, so your iPad won’t inadvertently register your fingers when drawing!
This may appear a little restrictive, but it’ll help you not draw unexpected lines with your fingers when you’re creating your art. Follow these steps to enable it.
- Start the Settings app on your iPad.
- Go to Apple Pencil.
- Turn Only Draw with Apple Pencil on.
Drop a Ruler to Draw Straight Lines
When you’re taking notes, you can use the different Apple Pencil tools on your iPad to personalize your notes however you like.
You can use a pen, pencil, highlighter and change the color of your tools. You can even use a ruler on your notes.
To use a ruler, simply put both fingers on your iPad to make the ruler appear. Afterward, your iPad will only draw straight lines where the ruler is. You can move it and adjust it to fit your notes.
Customize the Double Tap Feature
You’ve probably already tried it, but your iPad can sense when you double tap it. When you do it, your iPad will complete an action like opening the color wheel or switch between the eraser and another tool you’re using.
What’s great about it is that you can customize it to do what you want. Sure, the options are a bit limited so far, but hopefully, Apple will add other options in the future. Or, if you don’t like it or use it, you can turn this feature off.
Here’s how you can change the Double Tap feature on your Apple Pencil:
- Start the settings app on your iPad.
- Tap on Apple Pencil
- Select what you want the Double Tap feature to do.
Write a Note When Your iPad Is Locked
We’ve previously talked about this, but it’s such a helpful Apple Pencil tip, we needed to share it with you again.
In case you didn’t know, you can write notes on your iPad without unlocking it. This makes it super easy and quick to take notes wherever you are, especially if you don’t want to leave your iPad unlocked in a public place.
All you need to do is take your Apple Pencil and tap on your iPad’s screen. Your iPad will automatically open the Notes app, and you’ll be able to start writing till your heart’s content.
Take a Screenshot with Your Apple Pencil
Taking screenshots on the iPad isn’t difficult, but Apple made it even easier with the Apple Pencil’s help.
You can take screenshots wherever you are with your Apple Pencil and with just a simple gesture. All you need to do is take your Apple Pencil and place it on any corner of your iPad and then drag it to the center of the screen.
The iPad will automatically take a screenshot that you can edit or save like you normally would.
Use Scribble on iPad
Thanks to iPadOS 14, the iPad got a bunch of new and unique features, including one that’s called Scribble.
Scribble lets you.. scribble on your iPad, and it’ll automatically detect what you wrote and turn it into text! That way, you don’t have to switch between a keyboard and the Apple Pencil. You can just hand-write something on Safari, and your iPad will understand what it is.
Scribble is turned on by default, but you can turn it off if you don’t like the feature. Here’s how:
- On your iPad, open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on Apple Pencil.
- Enable or Disable Scribble.
Use Gestures with Scribble
Using Scribble can be hard if you make mistakes or the iPad doesn’t register your words correctly. Fortunately, Apple thought about this and created some gestures you can use to make your experience easier.
You can select words, delete them, separate them, or join them with a few gestures. First, make sure you have Scribble turned on following the last steps. Then try these gestures.
To Delete Text, just scratch the words you want to delete with your Apple Pencil.
To Select a Text circle around the word or phrase you want to select. If you did it correctly, you’ll see the highlighted words.
To Insert Text, touch, and hold in the place where you want to add a word. Your iPad will create a space between the words of your sentence. Write the word you want to add.
To Join or Separate words, you need to draw a vertical line between the words you want to join or in the middle of the word you want to separate.
Draw Perfect Shapes
Whether you’re starting out as an artist or you’re already a professional, you’re going to have a hard time drawing perfect shapes. The good news is, with your Apple Pencil, you don’t have to.
Again, iPadOS 14 brought this new feature that lets you draw perfect shapes automatically. All you need to do is use your Apple Pencil a draw any shape you want. Almost instantly, your iPad will turn your poorly-drawn circle into a perfect one.
You can draw circles, squares, triangles, and even more shapes. Try it for yourself and take your art to the next level.
Trace Drawings on Your iPad
The Apple Pencil is so precise and accurate; you can actually trace drawings into your iPad.
That’s right; you don’t need any fancy equipment or special paper. You can use a regular sheet of paper to trace real-life drawings into your iPad.
Keep in mind, though; you can’t trace if you’re using a thick piece of paper. Try to use regular paper or thin paper to make it work.
Charging The Apple Pencil
To charge the Apple Pencil, just plug it into the iPad again (the same way you pair it). Or you can use the Lightning adapter that comes in the box to charge it with a Lightning USB cable plugged into the wall or your computer.
Considering the differences between Apple Pencil 1 and Apple Pencil 2, the original Apple Pencil charges awkwardly by removing its end cap and plugging it into a Lightning port. The Apple Pencil 2, by contrast, charges by snapping into place via magnets in the frame of compatible iPad Pro models. This becomes the obvious place to store the Apple Pencil 2, as well.
Check The Battery Life
To check how much battery you have left on the Apple Pencil, you will have to pull up the Battery widget on the iPad. This can be found on the Today View of the iPad (swipe all the way to the left).
If you do not see the Battery widget, then you will have to add it by going to the bottom of Today View, tapping on Edit and then selecting the widget that says “Batteries.” Then push the + button and hit done. (Note: The Apple Pencil charges rapidly. For example, The Apple Pencil charges fully in 15 minutes and it gets 30 minutes of usage in 10 seconds of charging).
Replacing The Apple Pencil Tip
In case you lose the Apple Pencil tip or it gets damaged, you can replace it with the one that comes in the box. And if that one has been lost or damaged also, then you can buy more from Apple. Simply unscrew the tip and screw it the new one.
Applying Pressure
As you make drawings or sketches, you can tilt the Apple Pencil to make shadings. Or you can press firmly on the Apple Pencil to make darker lines. Or when you tilt the Apple Pencil, it may create different textures depending on the app you are using.
Palm Rejection
As you use the Apple Pencil, you will notice that the iPad is able to recognize and reject contact with the palm. This will prevent errors from occurring as you use the Apple Pencil.
See also: 40+ Best iOS 15 Tips and Tricks You’ll Want to Try
Your favorite Apple Pencil tips and tricks
what are some of your favorite Apple Pencil tips and tricks? Share with us in the comments section below.