What Is Digital Note-Taking?

Are you aware of the latest development in how to handle your notes? There is something called digital note-taking in PDF annotation apps such as GoodNotes. Let’s take a look at a new way to decrease random paper notes in favour of storing them in one place, with access via iCloud!

In This Post

I will cover the following in this blog post:

1. Defining Digital Note-Taking
   1. Text With A Stylus
   2. Text With A Keyboard
   3. Powerful Annotation Apps
   4. Defining Digital Planning
2. The Apple Pencil
   1. Comparing Apple Pencil Generations
   2. 2nd Generation Apple Pencil
   3. 1st Generation Apple Pencil
   4. Other Pencil Stuff
3. Ratio Of The iPad Screen
4. The GoodNotes App
   1. Why GoodNotes?
   2. Digital Notebooks, Notebook Covers And Stickers
   3. Hyperlinks
5. Wrapping Up

1. Digital Note-Taking

What is digital note-taking? Note-taking in my opinion includes quick scribbles on pieces of paper, keeping a calendar with a notes section, taking lecture notes in school or at university, and much more.

Digital note-taking happens when the notes are in electronic form. They can be produced on a tablet like the iPad, and therefore often accessible through a cloud service like iCloud on additional devices.

To make notes you can use either a stylus, which is an electronic pen, or the built-in keyboard of your device, alternatively an external one paired via bluetooth.

1.1 Text With A Stylus

On Apple devices, to create a digital version of your own handwriting, this means using either their own Apple Pencil, about which you can read more below, or a generic stylus.

The reason for Apple styluses being so expensive is their pressure sensitivity. This allows you to write in a calligraphic way, with some parts of a stroke wider and others thinner. If you have no use for such a functionality and do not plan to create artworks, you can explore more affordable styluses by other manufacturers.

1.2 Text With A Keyboard

To create text with a keyboard you can activate the built-in option or connect an external keyboard via bluetooth, alternatively use another solution. Using an external alternative when attending a lecture may be faster, but many in the digital note-taking community prefer handwriting to maximise learning.

The few times I type on a keyboard away from home, I bring with me my wireless iMac keyboard and connect it via bluetooth to my iPad. This could be an option if you don’t enjoy the iPad covers with built-in keyboard.

1.3 Powerful Annotation Apps

You can create documents in native notes apps such as Notes by Apple. Dedicated annotation apps however bring powerful features otherwise not available to you in your organising, journalling and other tasks.

The GoodNotes app, which is my preference since a couple of years back, allows you to use the app on an iPhone and a desktop/laptop computer as well with one licence. Synchronisation happens via iCloud and that is where files are stored, whether the app is active elsewhere or not.

1.4 Defining Digital Planning

Before moving on, let’s bring up digital planning, which you may have stumbled upon as well. In my view, it is a sub-category of digital note-taking.

Planning refers to using a planner, a calendar with sections for project management on mini scale if you will. You can keep track of meals, celebrations, the cleaning schedule, exams, medical appointments, and much more.

Digital planning simply adds the digital dimension to it, but as a concept note-taking is wider with its quick notes, lecture notes etc.

2. The Apple Pencil

2.1 Comparing Apple Pencil Generations

Before buying an Apple Pencil you must find out which of the two generations available will be compatible with your particular iPad model. In this case “higher number, more features, better purchase” is not applicable, but there is a right pairing and a wrong pairing to make.

2.2 2nd Generation Apple Pencil

The 2nd generation alternative works with iPad Pro and Air only. This Apple Pencil has no cap that comes off and it has a flattened shape. Charging happens through magnetism by attaching the stylus to the side of an iPad.

On photos featuring artists and graphic designers you frequently see this version in combination with a large iPad intended for professional use. However, the smaller iPads of today pack a lot of punch for much less money, so it may be unnecessary for your needs to make these investments.

2.3 1st Generation Apple Pencil

If you have a basic iPad model like I do, you will pair it with a 1st generation Apple Pencil, which has a removable cap for charging the stylus. For a quick boost, place the exposed head in the iPad (where you normally charge the iPad itself), and for a longer charging, attach the stylus via its middle piece to a usb charger and then electricity source.

Its shape is rounded, which causes the stylus to roll on any non-horizontal surface.

This is an expensive electronic device, so my recommendation is to invest in a small kit of 3D-printed accessory bits:

• A pencil grip to put around at least the lower half of the stylus: to create friction when writing, and to prevent some rolling when placed on a table
• A cap cover: to allow the cap to dangle from the stylus once removed for charging so the cap does not get lost
• A strap for the charger bit: to attach it to the end of a charger cord so it does not get lost

I got my set on Amazon back in the day but they may be sold elsewhere now, too.

2.4 Other Pencil Stuff

Some people find that the tip of their Apple Pencil glides. There are covers available now that create some friction when the stylus is in use.

Also note that this piece comes off, so if you feel the connection breaking between stylus and iPad screen, try gently screwing the tip tighter.

If you decide against a tip cover, you could instead buy a screen cover to increase friction in addition to its other perks. A very popular choice among artists, designers and the like is Paperlike, which supposedly even decreases reflection and thereby makes it easier to read or watch the screen outdoors.

3. Ratio Of The iPad Screen

What is screen ratio, you might ask? It is the ratio between screen width and height. The screen of the largest iPad Pro on the market is 2048 px wide by 2732 px tall, which creates a 1:1,33398 ratio.

This approximate same ratio is to be found on for example iPad 6, which is my own tablet at the moment. Newer basic iPads tend to have the same ratio as 6, but iPad mini, iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro are different.

If you import printable PDF files of A4 or US Letter size to GoodNotes, there will be gaps between screen edges and the edges of the file. Likewise, digital PDF files will most likely vary, unless they have been created for the specific screen size.

I create PDF files intended to be used digitally in for example annotation apps such as GoodNotes in the ratio 2048 px by 2732 px (or the reverse if the file has landscape rotation). This serves people with both the smaller and largest budgets.

4. The GoodNotes App

4.1 Why GoodNotes?

GoodNotes is one of many annotation apps and the first one I heard of in 2019 when stumbling upon hyperlinked planners. Its user interface is pleasant in my opinion, and since it syncs to the iPhone and iMac via iCloud without extra cost, I haven’t found a reason to test competing apps beyond looking at screenshots available from them.

4.2 Digital Notebooks, Notebook Covers And Stickers

In addition to annotations, you can attach digital stickers to your files. They literally are stickers, but with the bonus that you can resize them, move them around or remove them.

You can group your notes in notebooks by using GoodNotes page templates or imported PDF pages.

To customise these notebooks (or calendars for that matter) even further, you can import digital notebook covers. These are PDF files usually and the nice thing is that you are able to change a cover to suit your changing moods, celebrate seasonal changes, or show the contents of a specific notebook by adding a themed cover to it. Many covers have “labels” onto which you can write the content or name of your notebook.

4.3 Hyperlinks

Hyperlinks are oh so good. In the context of annotation apps they are internal links to allow swift jumping between pages.

You find hyperlinks in calendars typically, but they also bring your digital note-taking to a whole new level when added to the sidebar where notebook dividers have been placed. Imagine a notebook with twelve dividers, one for each month to sort your home-maintenance schedules, mood trackers or craft projects chronologically.

Note that these hyperlinks do not work when in editing mode. You have to exit editing mode and use hyperlinks in viewing mode only. It is an extra step, but many digital planners made today can grow past 1000 pages, so you can imagine trying to scroll efficiently through that amount without hyperlinks. In the end, a digital calendar or planner can speed up your work considerably thanks to its many strategically placed hyperlinks.

5. Wrapping Up

I hope this walk-through was useful to you! If you are tired of scattered paper notes and single-use printed pages, digital note-taking is worth giving a shot.

I know many in Europe haven’t heard of digital note-taking yet, so this is an attempt to bring decluttered and paper-saving techniques to others. During my lectures in business school a few years ago I was the only one to take notes in this way. Globally, however, GoodNotes is a household name, so check out their hashtag on Instagram for stunning lecture notes, planner pages, etc.

If you have thoughts or questions to share, please use the comment section below!

 

Photo credit: Crystal Y.