The Tool Desk
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To fill a new shape in Goodnotes: choose the Shape Tool, open its color settings, enable Fill Color, choose a color and opacity, then draw a closed shape. To recolor an existing editable shape, select it with the Lasso Tool and choose Color from the Object Menu.
This is a shape-fill feature, not a universal paint-bucket command for every drawing, image or PDF.
Fill a new rectangle, circle or other shape
- Select the Shape Tool. Toolbar placement can vary between Goodnotes platforms and app versions.
- Choose a shape, such as a rectangle, circle, triangle or polygon.
- Open the Shape Tool’s color settings.
- Turn on Fill Color. This setting applies when you create a new closed shape.
- Set the fill opacity and choose a preset or custom color.
- Drag on the page to draw the shape. For most shapes, drag diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.
The outline (stroke) and interior (fill) are separate color settings. A shape can therefore have a contrasting border and interior. Goodnotes documents this workflow in its Shape Tool guide.
Fill a shape drawn freehand
You can have Goodnotes recognize a shape made with the Pen, Pencil or Highlighter:
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- Draw the outline in one continuous stroke.
- Close the outline clearly.
- Keep the stylus or pointer down briefly at the end of the stroke.
- Let Goodnotes correct and smooth the shape.
Recognition is intended for closed, recognizable shapes; an irregular open sketch may remain ordinary handwriting or ink. If recognition fails, redraw it with a clearly closed outline or use the dedicated Shape Tool. Configure the desired fill before drawing whenever the interface exposes that option.
Recolor an existing editable shape
- Select the Lasso Tool.
- Use its rectangular or freehand mode to surround only the target shape.
- Tap or click the selection.
- Choose Color in the Object Menu.
- Pick the replacement color.
This changes the color of an editable Goodnotes object, including its shape fill and outline where supported. Keep the lasso boundary tight: a large selection can include nearby writing or shapes. See Goodnotes’ Lasso instructions and object-editing guide.
Choose a custom fill color
In the selected tool’s color controls, Goodnotes documents several ways to choose a color:
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- 【Compatible with 2018-2026 iPad & iPad Pro】The stylus supports for iPad series 2018-2026 model: iPad Pro 13" (M4), iPad Pro 12.9"(3rd/4th/5th/6th), iPad Pro 11"(All Generations), iPad Air M4/M3/M2/5th/4th/3rd Gen, iPad 11th/10th/9th/8th/7th/6th, iPad Mini 7th/6th/5th Gen. Please confirm your devices before you place an order, another model is invalid
- 【Not compatible with models before 2018】The stylus doesn't support iPad pro 1st&2nd, iPad pro 10.5", iPad pro 9.7", iPad 1 to 5 Gen, iPad mini 1 to 4 Gen, iPad Air 1st/2nd Gen versions of iPad. Not Compatible With iPhone, Android, Microsoft devices.iPad 10gen cannt use magnetic attraction.
- 【Precise and Smooth】1.5mm pen tip can replace your finger to execute finer instructions, it easy to install and tear off the tips on your stylus pen without any tool. No lag/offset/breaking point！Compared with the ordinary stylus pen, it has higher sensitivity, more accurate signal, more comfortable hand. Not easy to break!【 Note 】The stylus pen no pressure-sensitive design.
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- 【Touch Switch & Fast Charging】Activate this stylus pen with a simple touch of the cap button. A quick 5-15 minute charge provides 15 hours of work time. Please note: Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPad for normal use, no pairing required.
- Preset swatches.
- Recently used colors or color history.
- A palette or color wheel.
- A HEX value for an exact color.
- An eyedropper or color picker, where available.
- An opacity control for a transparent or solid fill.
The control may appear in a different place on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android or Web. Look for the selected tool’s color settings and the Fill Color control rather than a specific toolbar position.
Keep the fill behind handwriting
An opaque shape can hide notes underneath it. Use one or more of these fixes:
- Lower the fill opacity before or after drawing.
- With the object selected, use the Object Menu’s ordering commands such as Send to Back or Bring to Front.
- Draw the filled shape first, then write over it.
- Use the Highlighter Tool when you need translucent shading rather than a solid geometric area.
Color existing handwriting
If “fill color” really means changing the color of handwriting, do not use the Shape Tool:
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- 🖊【Package Included】: 1 * smart stylus, 1 * type-c charging cable, 3 * replacement nibs, 1 * dust cover, 1 * silicone protective cover, 1 * user manual. Hastraith provides you with a 12-month manufacturer's warranty, if you have any questions about our products, please contact us. Note: If it does not work after turning on, please turn off the Bluetooth of the iPad.
- Select the Lasso Tool.
- In Lasso settings, ensure Handwriting is enabled.
- Circle or frame the handwriting.
- Open the Object Menu and choose Color.
- Choose the new ink color.
The Color command appears only when the selected content is editable Goodnotes content.
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Goodnotes can place annotations over a PDF, but the Lasso Tool does not generally turn the PDF’s native text, graphics or scanned artwork into editable Goodnotes objects. Scanned handwriting and flattened or re-imported PDF annotations may also be unavailable for native editing. Goodnotes explains these limits in its documentation on scanned handwriting and PDF selections.
For a non-editable target, choose the least destructive workaround:
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- 【For iPad 2018-2026】No need to connect to Bluetooth.This ipad pencil is compatible with Apple iPad 2018-2026. This Pencil for iPad 11th/ 10th/ 9th/ 8th/ 7th/ 6th; iPad Pro M5/ M4/ 12.9 inch/ 11 inch; iPad Mini 5th/ 6th/ 7th; iPad Air M4 /M3 /M2 /5th /4th /3rd; New iPad Pro 2024 11 inch &13 inch (M4, M5); New iPad Air 2024 11 inch &13 inch (M2, M3). Not compatible with iPad Pro 12.9 inch(2th/ 1st), iPad Pro 10.5/9.7 inch(4th/ 3rd/ 2nd/ 1st), iPad 5th/ 4th / 3rd/ 2nd / 1st, iPad air 2nd/ 1st, iPad Mini 4th /3rd/ 2nd/ 1st.And it's easy to use! Double-click the top touch control to turn it on.This iPad pen is magnetically adsorbed and can be attached to the iPad when not in use.
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- Place a translucent filled Goodnotes shape over the area.
- Use the Highlighter Tool for emphasis.
- Crop or screenshot content when you need a separate image object; Goodnotes supports inserting and cropping images as described in its image guide.
- Edit the source image or PDF in an application that supports raster flood-fill, selections, masks and layers, then import the result.
There is no universally documented Goodnotes paint-bucket workflow that fills arbitrary enclosed regions of a scanned illustration or imported PDF with one tap.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose the right coloring method
| Tool | Best for | Permanent appearance | Can you edit it later? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape Tool with Fill Color | Clean geometric areas and diagrams | Yes | Yes, when it remains a native editable object |
| Pen, Pencil or Highlighter | Freehand marks, shading and emphasis | Yes | Usually, as a Goodnotes annotation |
| Tape Tool | Hiding answers for later reveal | Visually, inside Goodnotes | Yes, inside Goodnotes |
| External image editor | Detailed artwork, scans and true flood-fill work | Depends on the imported result | Usually as an image, not as separate Goodnotes vectors |
The Tape Tool is concealment rather than coloring: tap the tape to reveal what is underneath. Its appearance remains in an exported PDF, but the reveal interaction does not. See Goodnotes’ Tape Tool documentation.
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Why Fill Color is missing
You selected the wrong tool
Pen, Pencil and Highlighter settings do not present the Shape Tool’s Fill Color control. Select the Shape Tool and open its settings.
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You are editing an existing object
For an existing native shape, use Lasso, select the object and choose Color instead of looking for a new-shape fill switch.
The shape is open or was not recognized
Close the outline, hold at the end of a one-stroke drawing, or redraw it with the Shape Tool.
The target is a PDF, scan or image
Native PDF page content and scanned marks may not be selectable as Goodnotes annotations. Overlay a native shape, use a highlighter, or edit the source externally.
The toolbar is compact
Tap the selected tool again or open its settings to expose color controls; exact placement differs by platform and version.
Lasso shows only “Screenshot”
This can mean the relevant object type is disabled in Lasso settings or that you are trying to select PDF page content. Enable the needed categories, especially Handwriting, and retry.
Nearby content is selected
Use a smaller lasso that touches only the intended object. Then deselect and try again if surrounding writing was included.
Quick Recap
Quick checklist
- Is the target a native Goodnotes object?
- Is the outline closed?
- Did you enable Fill Color before drawing the new shape?
- For recoloring, did you use Lasso and then Color?
- Are the relevant Lasso categories enabled?
- Is the fill too transparent to see?
- Is another object covering it, or does it need to be sent backward?
- Are you attempting to edit the PDF or image itself rather than a Goodnotes annotation?
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