Popular sketching app Paper by FiftyThree received a major update today, expanding support to the iPhone and adding a range of new features to expand its idea-capturing capabilities. With the new update, Paper builds on its sketching and diagramming tools with support for text, images, lists, and more.

Today's update is Paper's biggest revamp since it launched in 2012, and the company's goal is to turn it into the ultimate mixed media note-taking and idea-aggregating app for better productivity. It's now possible to add images, photos, and text to Paper, and text can be customized with simple swipes. You're also able to pick up text snippets and move them around on the screen with a finger, and entire lists can be built with a swipe.

paperbyfiftythree
With image support, Paper users can take a photo directly within the Paper app and then annotate it using the built-in drawing tools. Ideas created in Paper can be shared with friends by email and through a range of social media networks. Here's a full list of the features, new and old, in Paper:

Text, Photos, and Sketching--Each note has the option to take a photo, type a note, or sketch out your idea.

Swipe to Style--A ground-breaking new feature that lets you create fast lists, bullet points, or headlines with a simple swipe of your finger.

Photo Spotlight--A new filter that lets you easily spotlight the area in photos and screenshots that you want to call attention to.

Sketch--All the power of Paper's award-winning tools to write, sketch, diagram, and graph are now in your pocket.

Diagram--Paper recognizes and corrects shapes drawn, making it easy to create presentation-ready shapes for charts, diagrams, flows, and more.

Grid View--grid view means text, photos, and sketches live together in a grid that shows you everything at once and can be rearranged into presentations, outlines, or storyboards.

Spaces--Organize your ideas into separate Spaces that you can name and customize with a cover image. Make as many Spaces as you want.

Universal App--Paper is a universal app that works across iPads and iPhones that run iOS8+.

Pencil--Connect Pencil, FiftyThree's award-winning Bluetooth stylus, for a faster and more natural way to sketch out your ideas.

All of the new features are available on both the iPad and the iPhone, and the existing Paper app is now universal to allow it to work with all of Apple's mobile devices.

Paper by FiftyThree can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

Mac Fly (film) Avatar
135 months ago
Two-finger circular undo. Their app itself. Color-mixing. Color-palette. How they did lists and bullet-points in this app. How you close drawing books. They are truly great designers and very innovative. Apple should acquire them and bundle the Paper drawing app into iOS by default. Imagine also when you choose to draw in Notes it pops you temporarily into a Paper view as you complete your drawing. That'd be awesome. They're so talented it'd be great to keep their apps exclusive to Apple and bring that talent in-house. My favourite iPad app.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michaelgtrusa Avatar
134 months ago
I can't wait to see this on the iPad pro.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lazyrighteye Avatar
134 months ago
Yes, it is obvious. I just don't get, what you're trying to say here.

My post was not particularly against the guys at 53, - I actually love their paper app and also like their pencil...
But now, after the announcement of that another fruity pencil, - it automatically degrades to a crayon.

Anyways, I really looking forward for the 53' paper app to support apple pencil. In my opinion, it would be a wonderful combination!
Sorry. I simply meant there is this cool Apple offering that only works with iPad Pro. Wish it worked with other iDevices.
All good. As you were.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
airpods color prototypes

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
top stories 2025 12 27

Top Stories: iPhone Fold Mockup, Where's the New Apple TV?, and More

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:00 am PST by
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from MacRumors! News in the Apple world has unsurprisingly been relatively slow over the past week, but Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone managed to make its way back into the news, while we also shared updates on current and future Apple TV news. iOS 26.3 will be bringing some new features, particularly for users in the EU, so we'll look for additional...