1. Draw Manga

• Jul 19, 2018 The folks at Apple seem to have addressed the absence of a paint tool on mac. Starting from the OS X Yosemite the macOS comes with a markup tool palette that offers basic functionalities. I personally use this for minor edits like cropping and marking. That apart the tool also lets you draw, scribble, draw shapes and annotate the image preview.
• Jan 14, 2015 Well, Drawing and sketching apps use onscreen tools, so there is no getting around that. If you want to draw and sketch more freehand-like, you will need to purchase a drawing/painting/sketching app, as one example Autodesk SketchBook Pro, and you would need to purchase some sort of external USB drawing tablet/stylus combo like these made by Wacom.
• Did you know there’s a hidden paint app on your Mac? Here’s how to find it. By Zach Epstein @zacharye. December 6th, 2014 at 9:30 AM.
• Jan 28, 2020 To point, click, select, and perform tasks such as drawing, editing photos, and manipulating objects on your iPad while it's extending or mirroring your Mac display, you can use your Apple Pencil instead of your mouse or trackpad. You can also use it to write, sketch, and mark up documents while seeing the updates live on your Mac.

The Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen are mighty tools that let you get more done on your Surface PC. To maximize the Surface Pen's ability, there are some essential apps you should check out. From note-taking to form-filling to coloring, here are the best apps to grab.

True paper feel: Bamboo Paper

Jan 28, 2020  To point, click, select, and perform tasks such as drawing, editing photos, and manipulating objects on your iPad while it's extending or mirroring your Mac display, you can use your Apple Pencil instead of your mouse or trackpad. You can also use it to write, sketch, and mark up documents while seeing the updates live on your Mac. Made with Mischief is a unique, simple drawing app for Mac. This application is as easy and simple as you could ever imagine. This application is as easy and simple as you could ever imagine. After installation you are welcomed by a blank screen and can start drawing right away, creating the nostalgic experience of pen and paper.

Editor's pick

The first time you touch your Pen to the screen with Bamboo Paper open, you'll wonder just how they made it seem so much like real paper. Take notes using the six writing tools, add pictures to your pages, and write over them. And share your ideas with others using Bamboo Paper on other platforms.

Free at Microsoft

Infinite canvas: Leonardo

Staff favorite

Leonardo is still in its beta stage. But it has a full set of tools for amateurs and pros alike, including infinite canvas, tons of brushes, grids and perspective lines, and a user interface that's easy to navigate. Whether you're sketching, drawing, or painting, this app will accommodate your needs. While it remains in beta, the price is knocked down to $40, 50% off the full price, at least for now.

$40 at Microsoft

Pro drawing tools: Autodesk SketchBook

If you were holding out on Autodesk SketchBook because of the price, you can now get the full version — including some Pro tools — for free. This is one of the best drawing and sketching apps for pretty much anyone, with a wide selection of brushes, surfaces, tools, and features to choose from.

Free at Microsoft

Take control of PDFs: Drawboard PDF

Drawboard PDF is regarded as one of the best PDF apps available, thanks to an enormous selection of tools. It's a document builder that lets you merge multiple PDFs, has annotations that can be calibrated for scale, and a large number of grid and line templates. If you're often working with PDF files in a professional environment, Drawboard PDF should be near the top of your list.

$12 at Microsoft

Write music with ease: StaffPad

Musicians out there, take notice: StaffPad is an app designed for Surface that makes it incredibly easy to annotate music. As you handwrite your music, it's automatically and precisely converted into an engraved score. Once you finish writing, let StaffPad playback your creation with its full orchestra of instruments.

Jun 07, 2010  Watch the in-app video tutorials for guidelines on how to use the app. Read some tips and advice on how to get more out of the tools the app offers. Download TouchRetouch now and have a bit of magic in your pocket. TouchRetouch is brought to you. Jul 22, 2013  I came across TouchRetouch while looking at possible object removal photo editing apps on my iPad, went to the developer’s web site, and found there was a Mac desktop version (my preferred platform for photo editing). After purchasing it on the Mac App Store, I spent about 10 minutes familiarizing myself with TouchRetouch’s tools and functions. Oct 11, 2018  TouchRetouch is a photo editing app that primarily allows users to remove unnecessary or unwanted content from photos, but also features other basic image editing tools such as color correction, cloning, horizon straightening, and cropping.

$70 at Microsoft

Multipurpose inking: Sketchable

Sketchable is a free (with paid upgrades) drawing, sketching, and painting app that has been designed with the Surface Pen in mind. Not only can you use Sketchable for notes or to work on existing images and artwork, use it to create an entirely new work of art thanks to its wide array of tools. If you have even a bit of creativity in you, this app will be hard to put down.

Free at Microsoft

Get organized: Index Cards

There's just something about a stack of index cards that makes you feel like you've got your life in order. Both sides of cards can be marked up with your pen, and a zoom function lets you jam quite a bit of information onto each card. Cards and stacks of cards can be shared with others, and there's no limit to the number of cards you can create.

Free at Microsoft

Digital whiteboard: CollaBoard

For those of you who commonly involved in team projects, CollaBoard is an app that works with your Surface device and the Microsoft Hub. It's best described as a digital whiteboard that multiple users can contribute to, all in real-time. With Skype for Business integration and compatibility with PDF, images, videos, and more, the whiteboard can become the central pivot point of your larger project.

Free at Microsoft

Digital notebook: OneNote

Microsoft's own free note-taking app syncs across all your devices, but it shines when you add the Surface Pen. Take notes on blank or grid backgrounds, highlight text, or draw pictures using various tools, then easily sync with OneDrive to keep your notes with you wherever you go.

Free at Microsoft

Read and edit PDFs: Xodo

This fantastic PDF reader and editor is completely free, which is frankly surprising considering what you're getting here. Just open a PDF file, and you're given free rein over what you can do. Write all over it, highlight the important bits, and save it as a new file. This is especially useful for quickly filling out those annoying forms that you usually have to type information into.

Free at Microsoft

If we're making some suggestions

Thanks to most of the above apps having at least some sort of free version, you can give them a try with your pen essentially risk-free to see if they'll come in handy. Wondering exactly where to start? Bamboo Paper is a lightweight app that delivers a true paper feel while writing. Not only is it great for notetaking and journaling — you can add your own photos to a page — it can also be used to sketch or draw thanks to a custom color palette and a collection of tools beyond just a pen.

Need something more suited for artistic ambition? I've been using Leonardo, which is now available straight from the Microsoft Store, for some time and I appreciate the simple UI that scales to any size display and the overall collection of tools. Whether you want to sketch something rough or go for a full work of art, you shouldn't have any problems. The infinite canvas is ideal for letting your artwork flow, and while it's still in its beta stage you can save $40 off off the full price.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Doodle away

Solid alternatives to the Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen

Draw Manga

The Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen are great styli for the hardware that support them, but what if you didn't take to Microsoft's official pens and want an alternative? We rounded up some options to get you started.