6. Ink Handwriting
Ink & Drawing — Digital Pen and Handwriting on Cards
NoteDex supports full cross-platform ink so you can draw, annotate, and handwrite on any card. Ink works on any device — not just tablets — but is especially powerful with a stylus on a touchscreen device.
A card can contain text, images, and ink all at the same time.
Entering Ink Mode
There are two ways to enter ink mode:
- Click the Draw (pen) icon in the card toolbar — this switches the card to ink mode manually.
- Auto-detect (stylus devices): On supported touchscreen devices, NoteDex detects when a stylus approaches the screen and switches to ink mode automatically. Enable this in Settings → Auto-Detect Pen.
When ink mode is active, the formatting bar is replaced by the ink toolbar.
The Ink Toolbar
| Icon | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pen 1 / Pen 2 / Pen 3 | Draw with the selected pen (click to change color and size) |
| Highlight | Draw with a semi‑transparent highlighter |
| Area Eraser | Erase ink by dragging across it — removes anything the eraser touches |
| Stroke Eraser | Erase a complete stroke with a tap — precise, single‑stroke removal |
| Undo / Redo | Undo / Redo Ink |
| Clear | Clear all ink on canvas |
Changing Pen Color and Size
Click on any pen icon to open its settings:
- Choose from a color palette or pick a custom color.
- Adjust the stroke thickness (size).
- Each pen can have its own independent color and size — set them up however you like.
> Tip: The highlight pen works like a real marker — it's semi-transparent so text and images show through.
Drawing on a Card
- Enter ink mode (click the pen icon or use auto-detect).
- The first pen is already selected. Select a pen from the ink toolbar to change.
- Draw directly on the card — you can write anywhere on the card surface.
- To stop drawing, either exit ink mode or switch to the selector.
Annotating Images
One of NoteDex's standout features is the ability to draw ink directly over images on a card.
- Add an image to the card first (via the Image icon in the card toolbar).
- Enter ink mode.
- Draw over the image to annotate, highlight, label, or point to anything in the image.
This is ideal for marking up diagrams, photos, maps, or screenshots.
Erasing Ink
| Method | Best for |
|---|---|
| Area Eraser | Quick, broad erasure — drag across strokes |
| Stroke Eraser | Precise erasure — tap a single stroke to remove it |
| Clear All | Remove every ink mark on the card |
Exiting Ink Mode
Click the blue pen icon in the card toolbar again to exit ink mode and return to text editing. You can then click into any text area and continue typing.
Switching between ink and text mode is instant — your ink is preserved as you edit text.
Saving Ink
Click the Save (floppy disk) icon to save the card with its ink. A thumbnail preview of the ink is generated automatically.
Tips
- A card with ink on it shows the full ink drawing in its thumbnail on the Cards View — great for visual at-a-glance recognition.
- You can resize and position images first, then annotate them with ink for clean, organized flashcards.
- Use the highlight pen over text you've pasted onto a card — just like highlighting a printed page.
