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Draw on your screen during a live stream or recording

Annotating while you stream usually means juggling a mouse. With PadCanvas the pen is in your hand, and your marks land on the Mac screen your stream is capturing.

By Ibrahim Sowunmi · Updated

Quick answer

Capture the whole display that PadCanvas draws on, using a display capture in OBS or a full-screen recording, then draw from your iPad or iPhone. A window capture records only that app, so it can leave your drawing out. Fading ink keeps the screen clean between marks.

OBS and other streaming apps

  1. In OBS or a similar app, add a display capture of the screen you draw on.
  2. In PadCanvas on the Mac, choose the same display.
  3. Connect your iPad or iPhone and draw. Your marks are part of the captured screen.

A window or app capture shows only that window, without the drawing layer on top.

Recording a tutorial

Record the whole screen with macOS (Shift-Command-5, then Record Entire Screen) or your screen recorder, and draw as you explain. Turn on fading ink so marks clear themselves, or tap Clear between steps.

Drawing and critiques on stream

An iPad and Apple Pencil make a natural pen for drawing over references, renders and code while you stream. See PadCanvas for artists.

PadCanvas companion on an iPad over USB, showing a website on the Mac with a purple box around a button, an arrow, the note “Make this clearer” and red underlines.
The iPad companion over USB: live view of the Mac, with marks drawn in the companion and shown on the Mac.

Two apps and Screen Recording

Your streaming app needs macOS Screen Recording permission to capture the display. PadCanvas only needs it for Live view, which shows the Mac’s screen on your device; you can draw without it.

Questions

Will my drawing show in OBS?

Yes, with a display capture of the screen PadCanvas draws on. A window capture shows only that window.

Can I draw with Apple Pencil while streaming?

Yes. Use an iPad with Apple Pencil as the pen; the marks appear on the Mac screen your stream captures.

Does PadCanvas send my stream anywhere?

No. PadCanvas draws on the Mac and talks to your iPad or iPhone over USB, Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth. Your streaming app captures the screen as usual.

Can viewers draw too?

Only people you allow on your Mac, on the same Wi‑Fi. PadCanvas isn’t an online whiteboard for an audience.

Try it on your own screen

Seven days free, then £4.99 a year. PadCanvas for iPhone and iPad is included (UK App Store).

Download for Mac

Requires an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later) with macOS 14 or later, and an iPhone or iPad with iOS or iPadOS 16 or later. Apple Pencil works on compatible iPads.

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