StaffPad is designed for two platforms: iPad with Apple Pencil, and Windows tablet devices that support ink and touch.
Pen and Pencil
Throughout this help guide, you may find we use the terms "Pen" and "Pencil" interchangeably, except for when there is a clear and important interaction difference between platforms.
- Pen:
- The Windows Ink pen or the Apple Pencil.
- Draw:
- Draw strokes using the pen in a normal fashion, by placing the pen tip anywhere on the screen and writing normally. Note that you can rest your hand on the screen naturally while drawing.
- Drag:
- Place the pen on a specific item (like a note or handle) and drag the pen across the screen.
- Right-click button:
- For Windows pens, this button is usually on the barrel of the pen itself.
- Erase:
-
For Windows Ink Pens like the Surface Pen, Flip the pen over and press down to erase using the dedicated eraser tip. On some other Windows Ink pens, there is an additional eraser button on the side of the pen. If your pen doesn’t have an eraser, go to StaffPad’s Settings and switch on Eraser icon.
For Apple Pencil, press a bit harder to erase. You don't need to push a lot - just increase the force slightly until the pencil flips into an eraser. This works as a switch, so you do not need to keep pressure on the Pencil as you erase. Lift the pen to cancel eraser mode. Don't press too hard! Pressure erase is incredibly quick to use; but if you want a UI toggle, you can toggle the "Show Eraser in Toolbar" toggle in the StaffPad Settings. If you have a 2nd Generation Apple Pencil, you can also now double tap the Pencil itself to trigger the Eraser mode (unless you have "double tap Pencil 2 for lasso select" enabled in the settings to).
- Touch or tap:
- Touch the screen with one finger (actually your nose, knuckle, a sausage or pinky toe will all work too, but will be less convenient).
- Double-tap:
- Two touches in rapid succession with your finger (or other appendage).
- Long-press:
- Touch and hold your finger on the screen for about half a second, then release your finger.
- Swipe:
- The normal tablet gesture of moving your finger across the screen to scroll through a document.
- Pinch-to-zoom:
- The normal tablet gesture of placing two fingers on the screen and shortening or widening the distance between them to zoom in or out, respectively.
General Rules
- Use the pen to write or edit the music itself.
- Use touch to navigate, select bars and interact with the app
- Long-touch to trigger a context menu