Last Friday , I note that we ’d be using occasional Fridays here at Mac Gems HQ to print , and answer to , reader feedback and hypnotism ( and even print a reader - written review now and then ) . I then proceeded to beg for such feedback from readers . OK , so I did n’t quite beg — I just asked courteously , and reader respond . Today I ’m responding back by require a look at a piece of software latterly recommended in the pages ofMacworldand some alternatives offered by readers .

In the May issue , in our “ Macworld Goody Bag ” feature of speech , Tom Penberthy recommend Panic ’s $ 13Desktasticthusly :

Although this was n’t officially a Mac Gem — it did n’t appear in a Mac Gems colum — it ’s for certain the type of app I ’d cover on Mac Gems . And Mac Gems readers react with suggestions for alternatives . One reader ( who did n’t react to my petition to employ his name , so I ’ll leave it out ) wrote :

Scriboard can make your drawn line into an arrow ( press out ALT before removing your pen tip from the pad of paper ) – which works surprisingly well ! utile during your Keynote ( or PowerPoint ) presentation . Scriboard lets you assign a focus hotkey that works to gain focus and ESC gives concentrate back to the previous app ! Fundamental for the presentation .

So ; Scriboard for introduction and Desktastic for fooling around . Kinda . 🙂

That ’s some serious feedback ! Chalk up one vote for MacMax ’s $ 20Scriboard . On the other hand , another anonymous reader recommended , without as extended a review , Snowmint ’s $ 20Ultimate Pen .

So which is well ? I downloaded all three and give them a effective trying out . And as Mr. Reader , above , noted , it depend .

DesktasticBy default , Desktastic have you draw on the Desktop . ( In the penchant dialog , you prefer to draw either above or below Desktop icon — if you draw above them , you ca n’t dawn on them without conceal Desktastic ; if you draw below them , you need to press a user - defined F - headstone to start drawing . ) However , regardless of this setting , snap the second toolbar push from the bottom ( they ’re unluckily unlabelled ) or press the F - Francis Scott Key lets you draw on top of active program windows . Using the toolbar , you’re able to “ scribble ” with an onscreen penitentiary ( this is much easy if you have a drawing tablet ) ; eccentric text ; and stamp an image ( the default option is an arrow range of a function , but you’re able to opt your own ) . extra toolbar options let you wipe off using an onscreen eraser ; choose the heaviness and dark of your “ pen ” ; and pick out the color of your “ ink . ” The last toolbar clitoris clears the screen of your handywork . At any time you may store your onscreen work as a PNG epitome file cabinet or print it — only your Desktastic workplace shows ; the background will be blank . Desktastic fully supports drawing tablets , including pressure sensitiveness , and mechanically saves your work when you stop . And contrary to the reader report above , it seems to work fine for multiple windows . Oh , and it ’s the flashy ( $ 13 vs. $ 20 for the others ) .

Ultimate PenUltimate Pen , by nonpayment , draws in its own app bed . In other words , when Ultimate Pen is the active applications programme , you may draw on the screen ; when Ultimate Pen is in the background , so are your onscreen scribbles . This makes it a piece less likely that you ’ll draw when you did n’t mean to , as you have to specifically switch to Ultimate Pen to start drawing . On the other hand , this means that to switchoutof Ultimate Pen — to halt drawing — you need to switch to a different program , either via Command+Tab or the Dock ( which is why Ultimate Pen does n’t guide over the Dock ) . It also leads to some puzzling demeanor : Since Ultimate Pen ’s “ window ” is the entire screen , it ’s easy to accidentally press this bed , bringing Ultimate Pen to the front , when you think you ’re snap on a window in another program . As a result , I recommend using the Dock or Command+Tab to switch between practical program when Ultimate Pen is operate in this way . ( Alternatively , you may shift to Click - Through manner , which actuate normal OS cristal window behavior . )

Like Desktastic , Ultimate Pen features disembowel , typewriting , and efface tools . It also features a colour well that let you quickly tack between canonic color ( or choose a usance people of color ) . But you’re able to also disembowel empty or fulfil rectangle and ovals , as well as lines with or without arrow . Finally , you’re able to use a selection pavilion to choose , and then move , any section of the Ultimate Pen covert . ( Unlike Desktastic , Ultimate Pen ’s tool palette features tooltips , so you’re able to figure out what a peter does by pointing to it with the cursor . ) Ultimate Pen also supports draw tablets , save to an image single file , and automatically saves your work when you quit . However , it also rent you copy your work to the clipboard and lets you glue icon to your “ draw and quarter ” stratum from the clipboard . you could also show / hide your Ultimate Pen influence via a hotkey .

ScriboardScriboard ’s most obvious advantage over Desktastic and Ultimate Pen is its energizing / defusing : You make for Scriboard ( and thus its markings ) to the front by clicking the minimized Scriboard creature palette ( which is always onscreen ) or by pressing a exploiter - defined keyboard shortcut ; you get out Scriboard by press the escape Florida key . I detect this feeler to be the easiest to use , as it did n’t run to accidentally withdraw when I was trying to use a different software program . Scriboard ’s draftsmanship tool include the received free line , straight blood line , empty rectangle , empty oval , empty rectangle with rotund corners , and text . ( Some tool have hide features ; for example , by holding the option Francis Scott Key down , you’re able to add an arrow to the end of a line , or draw rectangles from center out instead of niche - to - corner . ) you’re able to also switch between four user - define colors , and adjust the thickness and opacity of the blood line . And the textual matter tool in Scriboard is easier to take , as schoolbook is surrounded by a “ highlight ” backdrop . ( On the other hand , this desktop can obscure whatever is behind it ; gratefully , you’re able to customise the colors and opaqueness . ) Finally , Scriboard has encompassing keyboard shortcuts ; in fact , some features need that you apply the keyboard .

Scriboard is also quite flexile in how it can plow your drawings ; however , you call for to learn the manual to avoid “ lose ” them . It turns out that if you just press the safety valve key to release draft mode , your drawings are wipe off . You need to press Shift - escape to exit and hold open , or press Option+escape to exit and save up , keep your draught visible onscreen . This flexibleness makes Scriboard great for annotating presentations or onscreen demonstration , but it requires that you call up to urge on the good escape primal compounding .

you could also save up your Scriboard drafting , and open keep drawings , but the procedure is confusing . The down - arrow on the toolbar mean “ Save ” and the up - arrow means “ Open , ” but to economize to disk or open a redeem file , you need to hold down the Shift key as you click the buttons .

Whew ! So what ’s my verdict ? I think our truehearted reader is correct that Scriboard is a better choice for enhancing presentations — it ’s designed to be activated speedily , to allow you comment what ’s on the cover , and then get out of the style . Desktastic and Ultimate Pen , on the other hand , provide feature that make them more appropriate for originative endeavors , jotting down note , and random scribbling . Between the two , I found Desktastic to be sluttish to use , but Ultimate Pen has more drawing tools and feature .

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