Apple’s iPhone offers a built-in tool called Markup that allows users to draw on photos directly in the Photos app, adding notes, highlights, or creative touches.
To access Markup, users need to follow a series of steps. First, they should tap the Photos app from their Home screen. Then, they need to find the photo they want to edit and tap it to open. After that, they should tap the Edit button, represented by three sliders, at the bottom of the screen.
The Markup icon, depicted as a pen tip in a circle, is located at the top right corner of the screen. Tapping this icon opens the Markup tool. Users can then select a drawing tool such as a pencil, pen, crayon, highlighter, or brush by swiping left or right to view more options.
To customize their drawing, users can tap the color palette, represented by a dot in a rainbow circle, and choose a color. They can also tap the selected tool again to adjust the line thickness and drag the opacity slider as needed. With their chosen tool and settings, users can drag their finger across the photo to draw freehand.
For more precise drawing, the ruler tool can be used. By tapping the ruler tool, users can position or rotate it with two fingers and then draw along its edge to create a straight line. Tapping the ruler again hides it. Additionally, the selection tool, represented by a striped stylus, allows users to draw around a part of their drawing and then drag it to move. The edit menu can be used to change the color, duplicate, or delete the selected part.
Users can also insert additional elements into their photo by tapping the + button. This allows them to add text, a signature, shapes, stickers, an image description, or a loupe magnifier. Once they have completed their edits, they can tap the blue checkmark to save their changes and then tap Done to leave the Edit menu.
If needed, users can undo their changes later by reopening the photo, tapping Edit, choosing Revert, and confirming Revert to Original. A pro tip for using Markup is to utilize the ruler tool with two fingers to quickly rotate it for diagonal lines, enabling precise geometry.
Markup enhances the functionality of the Photos app by allowing users to annotate images without leaving the app. This makes it easy to highlight important details, correct mistakes, or add personal notes before sharing photos. The quick edits enabled by Markup improve communication, enhance accessibility with features like image descriptions, and unlock creative possibilities for everyday photos.
