GoodNotes Pen Settings That Work

Why Pen Settings Matter

Ever opened GoodNotes, stared at the pen settings, and thought, "Where do I even start?" You’re not alone. For me, nailing the right pen setup turned my messy digital notes into something I actually *want* to look at—and use. It’s not just about making things pretty (though that’s a bonus); it’s about efficiency, readability, and making the app work for *your* style. Let’s dive into the pen settings that changed my note-taking game, from the type of pen to the tiniest details like hex codes.

The Pen Type: Ball Pen Reigns Supreme

First up: the pen itself. I’ve tried every option—fountain pens, brush pens, pencils, even the calligraphy tool—but the ball pen? It’s my ride-or-die. Why? Because it writes *exactly* like my real-life pen. No weird pressure sensitivity that makes lines thicker when I press too hard, no blobs of "ink" that smudge. Fountain pens are great for fancy titles (they have that sleek, ink-flow look that adds flair to headers), and brush pens are perfect for hand-lettered quotes, but for daily notes? Ball pen all the way. It’s consistent, quick, and makes my handwriting look way neater than it does on paper. I once tried switching back to a brush pen for a week, and my notes felt clunky and slow. Trust me, once you go ball pen, you’ll wonder why you ever used anything else.

Pen Thickness: Less Is More (But Not Too Less)

Now, let’s talk thickness. This is where most people get overwhelmed—there are *so* many options, from 0.1mm to 2.0mm. But here’s my secret: I stick to three sizes, and they cover *everything*. For the main body of my notes, 0.4mm is perfect. It’s thin enough to fit lots of text in a small space but thick enough that I don’t have to squint to read it. Subheadings? 0.6mm. It makes them stand out without being too bold. And titles? 1.0mm. Bold, eye-catching, and impossible to miss when I’m flipping through pages. I used to mess with 0.2mm (way too thin—my letters looked like spider legs) and 0.8mm (too clunky for long paragraphs), but these three? They’re my sweet spot. Pro tip: If you’re not sure where to start, 0.5mm is the "Goldilocks" of pen sizes—not too thin, not too thick. It works for almost any note-taking scenario, from quick jottings to detailed diagrams.

Colors: Hex Codes Are Your Best Friend

Gone are the days of boring black and blue. Now, my notes are a rainbow of soft pastels—and it’s all thanks to hex codes. I stumbled on a Pinterest folder full of "aesthetic note colors" a year ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I save my favorite hex codes in a notes app (yes, I’m that organized) so I can quickly plug them into GoodNotes. My go-tos? Soft pinks like #FFA9BA, muted greens like #DBE098, and calm blues like #ABCDDE. They’re easy on the eyes but still make different sections pop. And here’s a trick: use the same hex codes for your highlighters! It keeps your notes looking cohesive, like a professional designer put them together. If you’re not into hex codes, the color wheel in GoodNotes works too—just slide the opacity down a bit so the color isn’t too bright. Oh, and if you want to match a color from a photo, sticker, or even another app? Use the eyedropper tool. It’s a game-changer for keeping your palette consistent. I once spent 10 minutes matching a sticker’s pink to my pen color, and it made my notes look *so* put-together.

Highlighters: Size Matters (And So Does Shade)

Speaking of highlighters—don’t sleep on them. I used to only use them for key terms, but now I use different sizes for different jobs. The 3.0mm size is my workhorse: I use it to underline important sentences in my notes, like definitions or formulas. 4.0mm? Perfect for highlighting headers so they stand out from the body text. And 7.0mm? That’s my "I need to remember this for the exam" size. I drag it down the side of the page next to big concepts, so when I’m cramming, I can spot them in two seconds. Pro tip: Stick to light, pastel highlighters—they won’t bleed into the text or make it hard to read. My favorite? #FFBADD (a soft pink) and #B2E1FF (a light blue). They add color without being overwhelming. I once tried a neon yellow highlighter, and it made my notes look like a construction zone—never again.

Fonts & The Text Tool: Scribble Is a Lifesaver

While I love writing by hand, the text tool is a must for long quotes, lists, or when my hand gets tired. That’s where fonts come in. My go-to font is a handwritten one called Angelacopycat—it looks like my actual handwriting, but neater (no smudges or crooked letters!). I found it a year ago (can’t remember where, oops) and it’s been in every note since. If you want to use custom fonts, iFont is the way to go—just download the font, import it into GoodNotes, and boom. But here’s the real game-changer: scribble. If you don’t know, scribble lets you write with your Apple Pencil in the text box, and it converts your handwriting to text *instantly*. It’s a lifesaver when I’m in a hurry—my handwriting gets messy, but scribble cleans it up. To turn it on: go to Settings, select Apple Pencil, enable Scribble, and test it out. I once wrote a 500-word paragraph in 2 minutes using scribble—way faster than typing with the on-screen keyboard. Just make sure to tap the text icon in GoodNotes first to activate it—otherwise, it won’t work. Trust me, once you start using scribble, you’ll never go back.

Paper Templates: White, Dark, or Grid? Yes.

The paper template you use can make or break your notes. For casual notes and doodles, I swear by white squared paper. The grid keeps my writing straight (no more slanted sentences!) and the white background makes my colors pop. But if I’m feeling fancy, I switch to dark paper. Why? Because pastels look *amazing* on dark backgrounds. My highlighters and pens stand out more, and it’s easier on my eyes when I’m studying at night. GoodNotes has tons of templates—lined, dotted, blank, even graph paper for math notes—so experiment until you find one that fits your style. I keep a few templates saved: one for class notes (white squared), one for to-do lists (lined), and one for brainstorming (blank, so I can draw mind maps without limits). Pro tip: If you can’t find the perfect template, make your own! GoodNotes lets you upload custom paper, so you can use a photo of your favorite physical notebook or a design you made in Canva.

Extra Tips: Stickers, Line Spacing, and Backup

A few extra things that make a big difference: organizing stickers. I love decorating my notes with stickers, but they used to be all over the place—stuck in random notebooks or lost in my camera roll. Now, I import them into the elements folder and organize them by theme—"study quotes," "cute animals," "headers." It makes it easy to find what I need in two seconds. Also, adjust your line spacing. I use 21pt for my text—it gives my notes room to breathe, so they don’t look cramped. And if you’re using a digital planner, keep your text size small (24pt works for me) so everything fits on the page. Oh, and don’t forget to back up your notes! I sync mine to iCloud, so even if my iPad dies or I accidentally delete a notebook, my notes are safe. It’s a small step, but it’s saved me more than once—like the time I spilled coffee on my iPad (don’t ask) and didn’t lose a single note.

At the end of the day, GoodNotes is all about making your life easier—and your notes prettier. These pen settings aren’t rules—they’re a starting point. Play around, try new colors, and find what works for *you*. Maybe you’ll love fountain pens for body text, or neon highlighters, or blank paper. That’s the best part—GoodNotes adapts to *your* style. So go open the app, tweak those settings, and start taking notes that make you smile. Your future self will thank you. ✨