Google Keep goes beyond your basic note-taking app for shopping lists. Yes, it's still simple for your impromptu use, but there's a nifty feature that lets you create richer notes. Do you use Google Keep's drawing canvas? If not, let's take a look.
Drawing in Google Keep notes
The drawing canvas in Google Keep helps you create visual notes. You can create and edit drawings, handwritten notes, combine text and sketches, or annotate images in a single Keep note. This is a huge help for visual note takers - you can capture ideas visually and explain concepts with rough sketches instead of writing it down.
This feature is available on both the web and mobile versions of Google Keep.
Create drawing notes in Google Keep
Like everything else on Google Keep, taking visual notes with Sketch is easy. The screenshot below is from Google Keep on the desktop.
Click on the new note icon with drawing (a small canvas with a pencil).
A dedicated drawing canvas will appear with some drawing options at the top. By default, you start drawing with the Pen tool by clicking and dragging on the canvas.
Use drawing tools and color palettes to fine-tune your sketches.
Select (select whatever you draw)
Eraser pen (for fine lines)
Markers (for thicker lines)
highlighter pen
Grid (for square, dotted or linear grids)
To exit, select the back arrow and preview.
As with any other note, you can use the "Keep" option at the bottom of the note to add reminders or collaborators, add any additional information, copy it to a Google Doc, and more.
Click Close .
Creating drawing notes is almost the same on Google Keep for Android and iOS. You can find the New Drawing Note icon at the bottom of the screen. Select it and start sketching with your finger.
Note: You can exit at any time without using the back arrow. Like any other note, Keep automatically saves and syncs your drawings to your other devices. Empty drawings will be discarded.
Add a drawing to an existing note
You can also add drawings to existing text annotations.
Open the annotation and click the three vertical dots (more) icon to open the menu. Select Add Drawing to open the canvas as before.
Any sketch you create on the canvas now will appear on top of the text annotation. You can add multiple sketches to the same note and they will appear as panels next to each other.
Tip: This is a quick way to create a rough storyboard for a presentation or creative project.
Annotate existing image annotations with drawings
You can also use the drawing pen as a temporary annotation tool for images uploaded on Keep.
Open a note with an image. Then click on the image in the note. On desktop and mobile apps, the image will reappear in a dark lightbox with the pen tool in the upper right corner.
Draw on the image. To remove the drawing from the image, click the eraser and select Clear Page .
Combine Google Keep with your drawing skills
Drawing tools offer some possibilities for fun and creative everyday use. Here are a few ways I use the tool:
Create a quick mind map or flow chart to explain decisions.
Explain directions to strangers (not everyone has Google Maps!)
Drawing a rough shape as a memory aid for a new word I just encountered.
Draw bar or line charts using grid options (for example, square grid) for quick data visualization.
Use a grid to evenly space elements to visualize any type of layout.
Share them for collaborative projects or brainstorming sessions.
Play a quick game of battleships with the help of a grid.
Visually organize my thoughts on a project or trip.
Google Keep's drawing tools aren't a full-blown drawing app, but they do give you a convenient way to add sketches and handwriting to your notes.
