Rnote

Draw with a pressure-sensitive stylus, move or resize strokes and import PDF or image files to annotate. Flexible page layouts include an infinite canvas, with export options such as PDF and SVG.

For detailed editing of SVG paths and vector illustrations, explore Inkscape alongside Rnote’s note-taking tools.

When it is useful

Rnote is a useful fit for a lecture diagram, a handwritten explanation beside a document or a visual plan that grows as ideas develop. Its vector-based strokes and selection tools let you rearrange parts of a sketch instead of starting again. Choose the canvas layout for the destination: an open canvas suits brainstorming, while defined page dimensions make more sense if the notes will eventually be printed or shared as a paginated document.

A practical way to get started

For a first project, import a short PDF or image and add a few handwritten comments. Test pen pressure and button behaviour with your own tablet, then move or resize a selection. Save the editable .rnote document and export a separate copy in the format your reader needs. Open that export outside Rnote to check page boundaries, legibility and whether the intended content is included.

What to consider before choosing

The native file and the exported document serve different purposes: one preserves the working project, while the other is for distribution. Keep both when the notes matter, and back up the original before upgrading because the project warns that its file format can change. Rnote suits drawing and annotation; choosing it for a complex illustration or a document with extensive typesetting needs may create unnecessary work.