Apple Pencil tips you should know to get the most out of your iPad

The Apple Pencil is a great tool that, with a series of new features in iPadOS 14, is more useful than ever, and even if you don’t have the latest device, you’ll be happy to know that it is also compatible with every iPad model out there.

Hence, with the first-generation Apple Pencil being available for the iPad, iPad Mini, and last-generation iPad Air, and the second-generation Pencil offering compatibility with iPad Pros and the latest-gen iPad Air.

But if you’re interested in getting the most out of your Apple Pencil, here are all the tips and tricks you need to get started with Apple’s stylus.

1. Pairing and charging the Apple Pencil

Pairing the Apple Pencil with your iPad is quite easy, though how you do so will depend on the model you have. You’ll see, if you have the first-generation Apple Pencil, which is the completely circular model that works with the entry-level iPad and the iPad Mini, you’ll pair the Pencil by taking off the end cap of the Pencil and plugging it into your iPad’s Lightning port.

On the other hand, if you have the second-generation Apple Pencil, which works with the iPad Pro and 2020 iPad Air, you’ll pair the device by magnetically attaching it to the right-hand edge of your iPad. In addition, the way you pair them happens to be how you charge the device by either plugging it into your iPad or magnetically attaching it as well.

2. Changing tools

With the help of Apple’s stylus, we assure you that changing tools will be a piece of cake. Let’s see some shortcuts to help you do so. Although the most obvious way to change tools is simply to select the tool you want from the Apple Pencil tool set, which you can find below:

• Scribble tool
• Pen tool
• Highlighter tool
• Pencil tool
• Eraser tool
• Selector tool
• Ruler tool

Then, if you’re drawing and want to change quickly to the eraser, just double-tap your pencil (as long as you have the second-generation model), and if you want to switch back to the tool you were using before, double-tap again to do so.

3. Drawing straight lines

It should be noted that the Apple Pencil has a wide variety of different modes, but without a doubt, the favorite of many users (especially those who want to draw geometrically perfect lines) is the straight lines feature.

To find it, you have to access the pencil’s tool set. There, you’ll notice a ruler tool at the end. Tap on that and the ruler (which you can move around and rotate to where you want it) will appear on the display. Now, just select the tool you want to draw with and use it to draw a line along the side of the ruler, and it should automatically straighten out.

4. Changing the double-tap function

If you want your second-gen Apple Pencil to do something other than activate the eraser, you can change its double-tap function. Don’t know how? No worries, just head to the Settings app, then scroll down to Apple Pencil. You’ll then be presented with the different options for the double-tap function, which include the following:

• Switch between the current tool and eraser
• Switch between the current tool and the last used
• Show color palette
• Off

5. Shading with the Apple Pencil

This stylus is recognized for being a pretty versatile tool, and it’s built to look and feel like a normal pencil. In fact, you can use the Apple Pencil to shade by simply tilting the pen. By doing that, you can color a wider surface than you otherwise would be able to by just writing.

6. Using Scribble

Specifically designed for those users who aren’t inclined to use the pen as an artist’s tool. Actually, in their new iPadOS 14 Apple bet on new features aiming to make the Apple Pencil even more useful.

In this case, Scribble essentially allows you to handwrite anywhere where you would otherwise type. Thus, it is a handy feature that you don’t really have to do anything to activate. You just need to pick up your pencil and start writing. Also, you can find it easily in the Notes apps. Scribble works in any text field in the iPad OS, including in Safari, in search boxes, and so on.

7. Tracing onto the iPad

Possibly the newest way to bring together the physical and digital worlds! As you’ll see, you can trace onto the iPad too, as long as the paper you’re tracing from isn’t too thick. Simply place the paper you want to trace onto the iPad, and with your Apple Pencil, trace over the drawing, and it will automatically be digitally represented on your iPad.

8. Drawing perfect shapes

Turn your wobbly drawings into perfect shapes! Another new feature in this device is that the operating system now recognizes shapes as you draw them, even if you’re not a good illustrator. To do this, simply draw the shape, and then at the end, keep your pencil held down for a split second, and it will convert to a perfect shape. Believe us, no one will know.

9. Replacing the Apple Pencil’s tip

Accidents happen, don’t they? If you accidentally damage your Apple Pencil’s tip, or it gets worn down, you can actually replace it by unscrewing it from the main body of the pen. You can now buy four-packs of Apple Pencil tips for $19 from Apple, but there are also third-party tip replacements on Amazon for about half the price, so don’t you worry if this is your case.

Therefore, if you have recently bought an Apple Pencil, you already know what you need to do to get the most out of it, have fun!