VellumDocs
Open app
Getting started
  • Introduction
  • Quick start
  • Projects & uploads
  • The editor interface
Canvas & navigation
  • Pan & zoom
  • Pages & navigation
  • Views: page, scroll & grid
  • Split screen
  • Grid & snapping
  • Document night mode
  • Smart guides
  • Typed input while drawing
Drawing tools
  • Tools overview
  • Select
  • Polyline
  • Polygon
  • Rectangle
  • Circle & ellipse
  • Revision cloud
  • Callout
  • Text
  • Pen
  • Highlight
  • Image
Advanced tools
  • Offset
  • Text select
  • Object extractor
  • Vector screenshot
  • Region fill
Editing & geometry
  • Selecting & transforming
  • Arcs, beziers & segments
  • Geometry operations
  • Copy, paste & nudge
  • Right-click menu
  • Undo & redo
Library, signatures & layers
  • Library
  • Signatures
  • PDF layers
Properties & styling
  • Properties panel
  • Stroke & linetype
  • Fill, hatch & patterns
  • Text properties
  • Layers
  • Defaults
Measure & scale
  • Drawing scale
  • Measure tool
  • Area tool
  • Units & precision
Collaboration
  • Sharing & roles
  • Live presence
  • Comments
  • Follow camera
Exporting
  • Export overview
  • Export PDF
  • Export DXF
  • Export PNG
Assistant
  • Vellum Assistant
  • Connect your Claude
Settings & reference
  • Preferences
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Feature search (⌘K)
  • Modal pill (quick edits)
  • Automation API
  • Open-source licenses

Pen tool

Freehand drawing.

The Pen tool (P) captures freehand strokes — useful for quick sketches and handwritten notes.

  • Press P, then click and drag to draw a stroke.
  • Release to finish the stroke; start again to add another.
  • Adjust stroke width and color in the Properties panel.
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