The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
To mark up an image without opening a full photo editor, select it in Finder, press Space bar to open Quick Look, click Markup, add your drawing or text, and click Done to save.
Quick Look is ideal for arrows, labels, circles, highlights, signatures, and quick handwritten notes. Duplicate the original first if you may need to revise the annotation later.
Mark up an image from Finder with Quick Look
- Open Finder and select the image.
- Press Space bar to open Quick Look.
- Click the Markup button.
- Choose a tool and annotate the image.
- Click Done to save the changes.
- Press Space bar again, or click the close button, to close Quick Look.
Apple documents this workflow in its guide to Quick Look on Mac and its guide to Markup tools.
Use Finder’s Quick Actions menu instead
You can open the same type of Markup window without first opening Quick Look:
#1 Best Overall
- Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR, battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
- Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
- What the Professionals Use: Wacom's industry leading pen technology and pen to paper feeling makes it the preferred drawing tablet of professional graphic designers
- Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
- Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life
- Select the image in Finder or on the desktop.
- Control-click it.
- Choose Quick Actions > Markup.
- Annotate the image, then click Done.
If Markup is not listed, the available Quick Actions may depend on the file type or enabled Finder extensions. Apple explains the available settings in its guide to Finder Quick Actions.
Draw freehand or create recognized shapes
Choose Draw, then drag across the image to make a freehand mark. On a Mac with a Force Touch trackpad, pressing more firmly can produce a heavier or darker line. This behavior is hardware-dependent; it is not available on every Mac.
Sketch is different from Draw. Use a single stroke to sketch a shape, and macOS may replace it with a cleaner standard shape. Use Draw when you want the mark to retain a more handwritten appearance.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Add text, arrows, boxes, and circles
The exact controls can vary by macOS version, file type, and context, but these are the common uses:
Rank #2
- Word-first 16K Pressure Levels: The upgraded stylus features 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports up to 60 degrees of tilt, delivering smoother lines and shading for a natural drawing experience. With no battery or charging needed, it operates like a real pen, making it easy for beginners to create effortlessly. This functionality helps novice artists develop their skills and explore their creativity without the intimidation of complex tools
- Designed for Beginners: This drawing pad desinged with 8 customizable shortcuts for both right and left-hand users, express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform
- Perfectly Adapted for Android: The XPPen Deco 01 V3 art tablet supports connections with Android devices running version 10.0 and above. It is recommended to download the XPPen Tools Android application, which adapts to your smartphone's screen aspect ratio, ensuring accurate mapping. It also supports mapping on Android screens with different aspect ratios in portrait mode
- Large Drawing Space, Bigger Bold Inspiration: This expansive drawing pad has10 x 6.25-inch helps you break through the limit between shortcut keys and drawing area
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The Deco 01 V3 offers USB-C to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C. This ensures easy connection to various devices, allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns. Whether using a laptop, tablet, or desktop, the Deco 01 V3 provides a seamless experience, making it an ideal choice for those just starting their digital art journey
| What you want to do | Markup tool |
|---|---|
| Write a typed label | Text |
| Draw a freehand note | Draw |
| Create a clean geometric shape | Sketch or Shapes |
| Add an arrow, rectangle, or circle | Shapes |
| Emphasize an area with a translucent band | Highlight |
| Enlarge a small detail visually | Zoom or loupe |
| Add a signature where supported | Sign |
Type on the image
Choose Text, click where the label should appear, and type. Drag the text box to reposition it. Depending on the available toolbar controls, you may also be able to adjust its font, size, color, alignment, or styling.
Text is useful for labels such as “Approved,” “Draft,” “Crop here,” or numbered callouts on a screenshot or photograph.
Add shapes and arrows
Choose Shapes, select a shape, and drag it into position. Blue handles resize it; some shapes also have green handles that change their geometry. Use arrows to point to a detail, rectangles to outline an area, and circles or ovals to draw attention to an object.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Highlight or magnify a detail
A Highlight shape emphasizes an area without relying on a hard outline. The Zoom or loupe shape enlarges part of the image, with handles for changing its size and magnification.
Rank #3
- Customize Your Workflow: The 6 customizable press keys on Huion H640P drawing tablet for pc let you assign your most-used commands—like undo, zoom, brush switch, or save—so you can keep your hands on the tablet and your mind on the art. Whether you're a digital painter switching brushes, or a comic artist zooming in and out, these keys keep your workflow smooth and uninterrupted. Plus, the Huion driver lets you save different shortcut profiles for different apps, so you never have to reconfigure when switching software.
- Professional Pen Performance: Huion H640P drawing pad for computer comes with the battery-free PW100 stylus that's always ready when inspiration strikes. With 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, every light sketch, or bold stroke responds naturally to your hand—just like a real pen. The 5080 LPI resolution and 233 PPS report rate deliver lag-free, precise strokes, so you can draw confidently without second-guessing your cursor. The pen side buttons help you switch between pen and eraser instantly.
- Compact and Portable: Huion H640P computer graphics tablet features a compact, ultra-portable design at just 0.3 inches thin and 0.61 lbs light, so it slides easily into your backpack—perfect for sketching in coffee shops, taking notes in class, or editing on the go between home and studio. The 6x4 inch active area offers enough room for natural pen movements while fitting comfortably on crowded desks, or lecture hall seats.
- Stable Compatibility: Huion H640P graphic drawing tablet works seamlessly with Mac, Windows, Linux PCs, and Android smartphones/tablets (OS version 6.0 or later). Left-handed friendly, and you just need to flip the tablet and adjust the settings in the driver. Please note: H640P does NOT support iPhone/iPad.
- Move Beyond the Mouse: Huion Inspiroy H640P is a pen tablet that replaces your mouse for more natural, precise control. Freehand draw, take notes, or even play OSU—everything you do with a mouse, you can do better with a pen. The precise tip makes it ideal for detailed photo editing, graphic design, or signing PDF. Meanwhile, the ergonomic pen grip helps you avoid the strain that comes from hours of using a mouse.
The loupe is an annotation, not a resolution upgrade. It makes an existing detail appear larger for explanation or presentation; it cannot recover detail that is missing from the original image.
Save safely: duplicate the original first
Before marking up an important image, select it in Finder and press Command-D, or choose File > Duplicate if that option is available. Rename the copy something clear, such as photo-marked-up.jpg, and annotate the copy.
Clicking Done commits the Markup work. Do not assume that Quick Look always creates a separate file or offers the same replacement choices available in some video-trimming workflows.
Apple warns that changes made through Quick Look or Quick Actions cannot be undone after the window is closed. Apple’s Preview image-annotation guidance also says that annotations on a saved image cannot be edited, moved, or deleted later. Keeping an untouched original is therefore the safest workflow.
Rank #4
- PLEASE NOTE：XPPen Artist13.3 Pro drawing tablet Need to connect with computer,you need to use it with your computer or laptop, the 3 in 1 cable is included
- Drawing Tablet with Screen: Tilt Function- XPPen Artist 13.3 Pro supports up to 60 degrees of tilt function, so now you don't need to adjust the brush direction in the software again and again. Simply tilt to add shading to your creation and enjoy smoother and more natural transitions between lines and strokes
- Graphics Tablets: High Color Gamut- The 13.3 inch fully-laminated FHD Display pairs a superb color accuracy of 88% NTSC (Adobe RGB≧91%，sRGB≧123%) with a 178-degree viewing angle and delivers rich colors, vivid images, and dazzling details in a wider view. Your creative world is now as powerful as it is colorful
- Drawing Pad: One is enough- The sleek Red Dial on the display is expertly designed with creators in mind, its strategic placement allows for natural drawing postures. With just one wheel, you can effortlessly zoom in and out, adjust brush sizes, and flip the canvas—all tailored to suit the habits of everyday artists. The 8 customizable shortcut keys allow you to personalize your setup, streamlining your workflow and enhancing creative efficiency
- Universal Compatibility & Software Support：supports Windows 7 (or later), Mac OS X 10.10 (or later), Chrome OS 88 (or later), and Linux systems. Fully compatible with major creative software including Photoshop, Illustrator, SAI, and Blender 3D. Register your device to access additional programs like ArtRage 5 and openCanvas for expanded creative possibilities.
Can you edit the annotations later?
While the Markup window is still open, the interface may provide undo or adjustment controls depending on the tool and macOS version. After you close the Quick Look or Quick Actions window, Apple says the changes cannot be undone from that workflow.
If future editing matters, keep the original and a separate marked-up copy. For annotations that should remain more document-like, Apple recommends converting the annotated image to a PDF. If you need independently editable layers, repeated revisions, precise selections, or non-destructive editing, use a dedicated image editor instead.
What to do if the Markup button is missing
- Confirm that you selected an image rather than a folder, unsupported item, or unusual file type.
- Press Space bar again after selecting the file.
- Try Control-click > Quick Actions > Markup.
- If Quick Actions is missing, check Finder > Settings > Extensions, or use Quick Actions > Customize where available.
- Open the image in Preview and choose View > Show Markup Toolbar.
- If the file is on iCloud Drive, a network location, or a restricted folder, make a local copy and try that copy.
Tool availability varies by file type and context. Do not expect image Markup tools to work the same way on video; Quick Look can provide video controls, but that is a different workflow.
Use an iPhone or iPad for handwriting
If drawing with a trackpad is uncomfortable, Continuity Markup can let you annotate from a nearby iPhone or iPad, including with Apple Pencil on a compatible iPad.
Best Value
- Battery-Free Pen: StarG640 drawing tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
- Ideal for Online Education: XPPen G640 graphics tablet is designed for digital drawing, painting, sketching, E-signatures, online teaching, remote work, photo editing, it's compatible with Microsoft Office apps like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Zoom, Xsplit etc. Works perfect than a mouse, visually present your handwritten notes, signatures precisely
- Compact and Portable: The G640 art tablet is only 2 mm thick, it's as slim as all primary level graphic tablets, allowing you to carry it with you on the go
- Chromebook Supported: XPPen G640 digital drawing tablet is ready to work seamlessly with Chromebook devices now, so you can create information-rich content and collaborate with teachers and classmates on Google Jamboard’s whiteboard; Take notes quickly and conveniently with Google Keep, and effortlessly sketch diagrams with the Google Canvas
- Multipurpose Use: Designed for playing OSU! Game, digital drawing, painting, sketch, sign documents digitally, this writing tablet also compatible with Microsoft Office programs like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and more. Create mind-maps, draw diagrams or take notes as replacement for mouse
- Open the image in Quick Look and click Markup, or choose Finder’s Quick Actions > Markup.
- Click the Annotate button in the Markup toolbar.
- Select the nearby iPhone or iPad.
- Draw or write on the device.
- Tap Done on the iPhone or iPad.
- Click Done on the Mac to save.
Apple says the Mac and iPhone or iPad should have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, use the same Apple Account, and be within approximately 30 feet (10 meters). Compatibility is version- and hardware-dependent; Apple’s current requirements are listed in its Continuity Markup guide. Apple’s compatibility guidance lists macOS Catalina 10.15 or later and iOS or iPadOS 13 or later as a baseline for the feature.
Quick Look, Preview, or Photos?
| Use | Best choice |
|---|---|
| One quick arrow, label, circle, or handwritten note | Finder and Quick Look |
| Cropping, resizing, rotating, selecting, or creating a PDF | Preview |
| Editing a picture already stored in your Photos library | Photos |
| Layers, repeated revisions, batch work, or non-destructive editing | Dedicated image editor |
In Photos, open the picture, choose Edit > Extensions > Markup. Photos is a better fit when the image already belongs to a Photos-based workflow, while Preview provides a larger and more deliberate workspace for image and PDF tasks. See Apple’s Photos Markup guide for its available tools.
What happens with multiple images?
Quick Look can browse multiple selected items using arrow keys or navigation arrows. That does not mean one Markup operation will automatically apply the same annotations to every selected image. Annotate each file separately unless you are using a different batch-processing workflow.
The practical answer
For a fast annotation, Finder’s Quick Look is the shortest route: select the image, press Space bar, choose Markup, make the changes, and click Done. Use Preview when you need more control, Continuity Markup when handwriting is easier on an iPad, and a duplicate whenever the original image matters.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
