Teaching aids and Document Annotation tools ｜5 Free & Useful Screen Annotation Apps Easily handwrite and annotate on the touch monitor
2022/05/04 ｜By G Editor
When browsing documents or web pages on your laptops, do you often want to mark or highlight the points of them? It is easy to annotate PDF files, but on other software, the process is much more complicated.
You may often take screenshots on smartphones, drawing notes and then sending them to friends or posting on social media. Windows/Mac also has similar on-screen annotation software, allowing users to draw/write on the screen in real time. With a sensitive, flat-laying touchscreen, you can smoothly draw and write notes on the touch screen and save the screenshot as your personal mind map.
In this article, we share five free and easy-to-use screen annotation (screen pen) software that has been tested. Whether you are looking for personal information or teaching as a professional, the intuitive operation of the touch monitor can make you even more powerful.
gInk
Download URL: https://github.com/geovens/gInk
gInk is a well-known open-source software with small and concise program, good handwriting and snipping functions. gInk supports Windows and multi-screen environment well. Although there are no graphic tools, such as square, line, triangle, you may set and choose up to 10 color pens. The 《mouse》function is very useful, allowing you to quickly switch between gInk annotation and background software. Overall, the smooth and convenient gInk meets most of the requirements for screen annotation.
Click 
to save the screen annotation, and the screenshot will be saved in picture/gInk folder.
ppInk
Download URL: https://github.com/pubpub-zz/ppInk
Modified from the source code of gInk, ppInk is indeed more superior. ppInk completes the tools of square, line, circle, typewriter, magnifying glass that gInk lacks, and adds many new functions, such as quickly marking ①②③④⑤ numbers, customizing commonly used smiley/crying face stamps. Lasso tool can select and move multiple annotation objects at once. The ppInk covers almost every possible screen annotation tool.
＊Note: Right-click the downloaded ppInk.exe and select run as administrator.
IPEVO Annotator
Download URL: https://www.ipevo.com/software/annotator#download
IPEVO Annotator is a powerful screen annotation software. In addition to all kinds of brushes, graphics and stamps, IPEVO Annotator also includes adjustable rulers, protractors, magnifiers, searchlights and other interesting tools. As an auxiliary software for video teaching, IPEVO also comes with an electronic whiteboard that can be used as a virtual whiteboard. The functions of snapshot and screen recording are also included. IPEVO supports both Windows & Mac systems and becomes one of the few free screen annotation software for Mac systems.
pointofix
Download URL: https://www.pointofix.de/
pointofix has a long history of being a popular free screen annotation software. Pointofix is not fancy, but has all the features you need such as multi-colour brushes, graphics, typewriters, magnifier, etc. The simplicity makes it a popular choice for novices. However, pointofix lacks the function to switch between screenshot and background software. Once annotated, all annotations must be deleted to return to the original app (e.g. Chrome), which is the downside of this software. To avoid this drawback, you can set pointofix to always freeze the first or second screen and keep the other screen free-running.
Epic Pen
Download URL: https://epicpen.com/
Epic Pen's interface is very similar to IPEVO Annotator, but the free version of Epic Pen does not provide tools such as graphics, typewriter and whiteboard. Compared with IPEVO Annotator, Epic pen free version seems too simple. The Epic Pen is easy to use, and provides a variety of options for users to customize their habits. If you don't care about budget, Epic Pen is still a powerful screen annotation software after upgrade.
Use Screen Annotation App on a Touch Monitor
The editor's favourites are gInk and IPEVO Annotator. It's good enough to create a personal mind map with its simple interface and smooth writing. For online teaching, IPEVO Annotator is recommended, as there are more additional tools to choose from, allowing the teacher to state clearly and in detail on screen.
Example❶
Annotation for reading
Example❷
Design Proofing
Example❸
Draw a route on Google map
＊Note: If you find interruptions when writing text on the touch screen, please enter the OSD setting of Gechic M505T/ T1 touch monitor to adjust the touch sensitivity.
