[ad_1]
The Apple Pencil can’t be used natively with Mac computers as the displays don’t have the touch support required, but there is a way to draw or sketch on an iPad using Apple’s stylus and duplicate the content on a Mac. The trick is to use one of Apple’s Continuity features to wirelessly share the Mac’s screen with an iPad. Quick sketches made with an Apple Pencil and iPad can also be inserted directly into Mac apps that accept images.
Apple provides two different ways to use an Apple Pencil with a Mac, and both require an iPad. For quick drawings to be inserted into a document, it may be easiest to use Continuity Sketch, a feature that lets the iPad be used independently to draw with an Apple Pencil or a finger. To use the feature, open a Mac document, note, or email, and then click on ‘File‘ in the Menu bar. Choose ‘Insert from iPad‘ and then select ‘Sketch.’ A blank canvas with familiar markup tools will appear on the iPad (provided it’s signed in to with the same Apple ID). Use the Apple Pencil (or finger) to write or sketch. Tap ‘Done‘ to close the drawing on iPad and insert it into the Mac document.
Sidecar Turns iPad Into A Secondary Display
For more advanced drawing, a Mac paint app or graphics design app can be used with another Continuity feature called Sidecar, which allows Mac owners to mirror their screen on an iPad or use it as a secondary display. Setup happens entirely on the Mac. To begin, click on the Apple menu and open ‘System Settings.‘ Scroll down and select ‘Displays.’ Click on the ‘+’ menu and select the iPad from the list. Once enabled, a screen mirroring button (two overlapping rectangles) will appear in the macOS menu bar. Alternatively, click on Control Center on Mac and select ‘Screen Mirroring‘ from the list.
Once the iPad is selected, click on the ‘Use as‘ menu and select a preferred screen mirroring option. The Mac screen will appear on the iPad, and users can now control their Mac’s interface by using Apple Pencil. Tapping anywhere on the iPad screen with Apple Pencil will function like the Mac’s cursor, letting users select menu commands, checkboxes, and files. Users can also turn on ‘Enable Double Tap For Apple Pencil‘ from the Mac menu that brings up drawing tools in some apps when the lower part of the Apple Pencil is double tapped.
Use Universal Control To Control iPad With A Mac
Another way to use Apple Pencil on a Mac is by enabling Universal Control. Like Sidecar, Universal Control allows a Mac and iPad to work together. However, while Sidecar just turns an iPad into a secondary monitor for a Mac, Universal Control allows Mac users to control the iPad with their trackpad and keyboard. To enable Universal Control on Mac, tap on the Apple icon in the menu, select ‘System Settings‘ and go to ‘Displays.’ Click on ‘Advanced‘ and choose ‘Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad.’ On the iPad, open Settings, tap ‘General‘ and then go to ‘AirPlay & Handoff.’ Enable the toggle next to ‘Cursor and Keyboard.’
Once Universal Control has been set up, unlock both devices and place them next to each other. Move the Mac’s pointer to the edge of the screen until it appears on the iPad as a dot, which represents a finger. Users can now use the Apple Pencil on their iPad and draw how they normally would with all of their favorite apps. Once someone finishes their artwork and wants to move it to their Mac, they can move their Mac’s mouse cursor over to the iPad, select the drawing, and drag it over to the Mac. The mouse and files flow seamlessly from iPad to Mac — creating a pretty magical workflow. Universal Control is available for devices running macOS Monterey and iPadOS 15 and later, and is a great addition for creatives looking to use their Apple Pencil and Mac to their fullest potential.
Future Macs Could Feature Apple Pencil Support
While using an Apple Pencil with a Mac currently involves including an iPad in the process, this could change in the future. An Apple patent discovered by Patently Apple imagines a future Mac computer with Apple Pencil support. The patent images show an Apple Pencil that is placed in a retainer just above the keyboard. The Apple Pencil can be removed and used as an input device, presumably for actions like sketching and note-taking, but the interesting additions come when it’s placed in its retainer. The patent shows how the docked Apple Pencil can function as a replacement for the Touch Bar. When docked, users will be able to rotate it like a scroll wheel on a mouse, making actions like scrolling or zooming possible.
More interestingly, the Apple Pencil can replace the top F-key row, with the keys illuminated on the body. The patent also lists haptic feedback, which means pressing an F-key on the Apple Pencil would be akin to pressing a key on the keyboard. Other images in the patent show the retainer being positioned at the side or bottom of the MacBook’s chassis, and a final option shows it magnetically attaching to the side, similar to how it can be stored on an iPad. While Apple hasn’t provided any indications of a touchscreen Mac so far, the Apple Pencil can provide several functionalities that could make this a possibility in the future.
Source: Apple 1, 2, Patently Apple
[ad_2]
Source link
