How to Make Apple Pencil Feel More Like Paper: Films and Tips

Apple sells “Apple Pencil Tips - 4 pack” for $19.00. According to Apple’s store page, the tips are compatible with Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (2nd generation), Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil (1st generation). A tip is a consumable part, replaced when it wears down.

Many people find that Apple Pencil slides on the screen and is hard to control when writing. Glass and a plastic tip have less friction than pen and paper. A study comparing tablet and paper also found that people write faster and larger on a screen. I wrote about that study in Can You Practise Handwriting on an iPad?

There are three broad ways to make the feel closer to paper: something on the screen, a different tip, and the way you write.

Option 1: a paper-like film

A film with a finely textured surface puts resistance on the tip and makes writing feel closer to paper.

The good. With more resistance, the tip stops more easily where a stroke should end, and lines run on less before a stop or a hook. The matte surface also makes reflections and fingerprints less visible.

The drawbacks. The texture scatters light, so the screen looks a little whiter and grainier. Fine lines and small text can look slightly soft. And with more resistance, it is sensible to expect the tip to wear faster than it does on bare glass.

Some films stay on permanently and some can be attached and removed as needed. If you also spend a lot of time watching videos or looking at photos, a removable one makes the balance with screen clarity easier to manage.

Option 2: a different tip

You can also add resistance from the tip side, without a film. Besides Apple’s own tips, other makers sell replacement tips in different materials and shapes, and covers that slip over the tip.

The advantage is that the screen looks the same. On the other hand, non-Apple tips are not ones Apple lists as compatible. Check each maker’s information on how the tip responds and whether it could scratch the screen.

If you stay with Apple’s tips, it is worth checking now and then that the end has not worn flat. A worn tip changes not only the feel but also how it meets the screen. To replace one, grip the tip and turn it to unscrew it, then screw the new one on. A loose tip can make the response unreliable, so tighten it firmly.

Option 3: adjust how you write

You can also change nothing and get used to it.

The study mentioned above notes that adults seem to adapt to the smoother surface quickly. One view is that you can practise on bare glass if you keep your writing slow, because slipping happens mostly when you write fast. Stop the pen for a moment at the end of a stroke. Carry a sweep all the way out. What matters on paper matters a little more on glass.

The 1TB and 2TB models of iPad Pro can be ordered with nano-texture display glass (iPad Pro tech specs). Apple describes it as glass etched at the nanometre level to scatter ambient light while keeping image quality and contrast. It is an option for reducing glare, and Apple does not describe it as a treatment for writing feel.

Balancing feel and clarity

Gain on one side means a small loss on the other.

For handwriting practice, clearly visible model lines also matter. When you trace, you are looking at thin model lines and guide lines as you write. If you add a film, check afterwards that the thin lines and dotted guides in your practice app are still easy to see.

What suits you depends on you. First, try writing slowly with nothing added. If the slipping still bothers you, try a removable film or a different tip. In that order, it is easy to go back.

Practising with StudyX Smartpaper Letters

StudyX Smartpaper Letters is a tracing app for iPhone and iPad. It works best with an iPad and Apple Pencil, but you can also write with a finger.

The score is a guide to how closely your lines overlap the model. If a film or a different tip means your lines stray outside the model less, the score may go up. After you change the feel, write the same character a few times and compare the score and the shape with before. That will tell you whether the change suits you.

In the app, the line may stop partway if your palm or another finger is touching the screen. If you tend to rest your palm on the screen, lift your hand slightly, or use something like a glove that covers the part of your hand that touches the screen.

It is a one-time purchase with no ads and no in-app purchases, and what you write is not sent anywhere.

For a first session, see Getting Started with StudyX Smartpaper Letters. For routines, see Tips for Practicing with StudyX Smartpaper Letters.