Add and edit drawings in Numbers on iPad
You can create drawings in your spreadsheet using Apple Pencil or your finger, then move or resize them.
Note: If you want to use your Apple Pencil for selecting objects and scrolling instead of drawing, tap , tap Apple Pencil, then turn on Select and Scroll. If your Apple Pencil supports it, you can turn on Double-Tap to Switch, then double-tap the lower part of Apple Pencil to turn Select and Scroll on and off.
Add a drawing
Do one of the following:
Use Apple Pencil: Start drawing anywhere in the spreadsheet.
Use your finger: Tap , tap , then tap Drawing.
Draw anywhere in the spreadsheet; you can do any of the following at any time:
Switch drawing tools: Tap any of the tools at the bottom of the screen. Tap the tool again to see more options.
Change colours: Tap the current colour at the bottom of the screen, then tap a new colour. Swipe left to see tools to fine-tune the colour.
Change the colour of part of your drawing: Tap the selection tool, then drag around a portion of the drawing to select it. Tap the current colour at the bottom of the screen, then tap a new one. Swipe left to see tools to fine-tune the colour.
Adjust the colour’s opacity: If you’re using the pen, pencil, crayon or fill tool, tap it, then drag the slider.
Adjust the stroke size (line thickness): If you’re using the pen, pencil, crayon or eraser, tap it, then tap a stroke size.
Fill an area with colour: Tap the fill tool, then tap the area. To draw a shape already filled with colour, tap the fill tool, then draw the shape.
Erase a stroke: Tap the eraser tool, tap it again, tap , then tap the stroke.
Duplicate part of your drawing: Tap the selection tool, drag around a portion of the drawing to select it, then tap Duplicate.
Scroll the spreadsheet: Swipe with two fingers; if you’re using Apple Pencil, swipe with one finger instead.
Tap Done.
Drag your drawing to move it. To resize it, tap it with a finger, then drag any blue dot. To edit a drawing, tap it with Apple Pencil or double-tap it with a finger.
Separate a drawing into parts
You can separate a drawing into individual objects that you can move, resize or delete separately.
Double-tap the drawing with a finger.
Tap the selection tool, then drag around the part of the drawing you want to separate.
Tap Separate.
You can repeat this process to separate a drawing into multiple objects.
Merge drawings
You can merge drawings so they stay together as a single object, which you can move and resize as a whole.
Touch and hold one object, then tap the other objects with another finger.
Tap Merge.
Animate a drawing
You can animate a drawing so that it appears in your spreadsheet as if it’s being drawn.
Tap to select the drawing you want to animate.
Tap , tap Drawing, then turn on Animate Drawing.
Do any of the following:
Adjust how long the animation plays: Drag the Duration slider.
Repeat the animation in a loop: Turn on Loop.
Preview the animation: Tap Play.
To play the animation in your spreadsheet, select the drawing, then tap Play Drawing.
Add a drawing description
You can add a description to any drawing in your spreadsheet. Drawing descriptions are read by assistive technology (for example, VoiceOver) when someone uses that technology to access your spreadsheet. Drawing descriptions aren’t visible anywhere in your spreadsheet.
Tap the drawing to select it, tap , then tap Drawing.
Tap Description, then tap in the text box and enter your text.
If you export your spreadsheet as a PDF, drawing descriptions are still readable by assistive technology. See Export to other file formats in Numbers on iPad.
To add descriptions to an image or video, see Add an image description or Add a video description.
Share or save a drawing
You can share or save any drawing as an image, and you can also save an animated drawing as a video.
In the spreadsheet, tap the drawing, then tap Share.
If the drawing is animated, tap Share as Image to share or save it as an image, or tap Share as Movie to share or save it as a video.
Do one of the following:
Share: Tap a method for sending the drawing.
Save: To save to Photos, tap Save Image or Save Video (if you want to save an animated drawing as a video). To save to Files, tap Save to Files.