Write and customize ink with the Pen tool

Use the Pen tool to handwrite or draw with a stylus or your finger. Customize the pen style, stroke pattern, thickness, color, and supported writing behavior.

Write with the Pen tool

1. Select Writing Tools in the toolbar.
2. Select the Pen icon.
3. Choose a stroke preset and color from the contextual controls.
4. Write or draw on the page.

Customize a stroke preset

1. Select a stroke preset again to open its settings.
2. Choose Solid, Dashed, or Dotted.
3. Adjust the thickness slider.

Customize a color preset

1. Select a color slot again.
2. Choose a preset or custom color.
3. To reorder color slots, press and drag a slot to a new position.

For more options, see Add colors to pen and highlighter presets.

Choose a pen style

Select the Pen tool again to open its settings.

• Fountain Pen: Pressure-sensitive ink for everyday notes and sketches.
• Ball Pen: Consistent, non-pressure-sensitive ink.
• Brush Pen: Highly pressure-sensitive ink for lettering, drawings, and expressive strokes.

Adjust how ink responds

• Tip Sharpness: Changes the stroke end from round to sharp where supported.
• Pressure Sensitivity: Changes how line width responds to stylus pressure. The “Min” value reduces sensitivity but does not remove it.
• Tip Flatness: On supported Apple devices, changes how blunt the Fountain Pen tip appears.
• Stroke Stabilization: Smooths small shakes or jitters.

Draw and hold to create shapes

With “Draw and Hold” enabled, draw a rough line, curve, oval, or polygon in one stroke and keep the stylus pressed briefly at the end. Goodnotes converts it into a regular shape.

To change this behavior, select the Pen tool again, open Pen Settings > Draw and Hold, then turn the option on or off. For additional shape controls, see Use the Shape tool.