Digital Touch & Handwriting In iOS 10 iMessage – A How To Guide

Digital Touch is something that allows you to send hand-drawn sketches, sensor-read Heartbeats, or haptic Taps and the feature debuted first on Apple Watch. And, with the release of iOS 10, these communication features will now be available on your iPhone/iPad as well. Whether you are using developer beta or a public one, you can try the feature and use it with iMessage for different purposes. Here we have detailed a few things that can be done with Digital Touch and handwriting in iOS 10 iMessage and exactly how you can do it.

Jump To Section:

• How To Send Sketches Using iMessage?
• How To Send Heartbeat Using iMessage?
• How To Send Taps Using iMessage?
• How To Add Digital Touch To Photos/Videos While Using iMessage?
• How To Send Handwriting In iOS 10 iMessage?
• Does Your Mac And Apple Watch Support Messages Containing Handwriting And Digital Touch?

How To Send Sketches Using iMessage?

Sketches are now available on iPhone/iPad with iOS 10 and they work pretty much the same as they do on Apple Watch. Here is how you can send sketches using iMessage.

1. Open Messages on your device
2. Tap Digital Touch option which appears as a heart having touch fingers. If you have started typing already, you won’t see it on your screen directly and will have to tap Show More on the left for revealing the option.
3. Now, tap on swatch that appears on left side for selecting different color
4. Long press the swatches for revealing custom color palettes
5. Now draw the sketch that you want on canvas area right in the center of the screen
6. Once you are done, tap on Send button

How To Send Heartbeat Using iMessage?

Even though the heartbeat sensors that are available on your Apple Watch aren’t yet present on iPhone/iPad, it is still possible for you to send the Heartbeats using iMessagein iOS 10. Here is how.

1. Open Messages on your device
2. Tap Digital Touch option which appears as a heart having touch fingers. If you have started typing already, you won’t see it on your screen directly and will have to tap Show More on the left for revealing the option.
3. Long press on canvas using two fingers

Keep the canvas pressed with your fingers for as long as you like, and as soon as you’ll release the fingers, it will send your Heartbeat.

How To Send Taps Using iMessage?

With Taps, Apple Watch users can have subtle communications with others as everything sent by you is received by others on the wrist. However, the latest iOS changes that and Taps can now be used a bit differently. Here is how you can send Taps using iMessage.

1. Open Messages on your device
2. Tap Digital Touch option which appears as a heart having touch fingers. If you have started typing already, you won’t see it on your screen directly and will have to tap Show More on the left for revealing the option.
3. Tap on Canvas

IOS VERSION CODENAMES – GET TO KNOW YOUR IOS BETTER

James Barret – May 15, 2017

It is a common practice for the tech manufacturers to name every version of their latest product release. They usually follow a special sequence for that and every new product release falls under that sequence. For instance, the names used by Intel – a popular brand that manufactures Integrated Circuits –based on different geographical locations.

Taps can be sent as often or as less frequently as you may like and you can choose any of your desired patterns as well.

How To Add Digital Touch To Photos/Videos While Using iMessage?

One unique thing that you can get on your iPhone/iPad is the ability of adding Sketch, Tap or Hearbeat to your photos/videos. Here is how to do that exactly.

1. Open Messages on your device
2. Tap Digital Touch option which appears as a heart having touch fingers. If you have started typing already, you won’t see it on your screen directly and will have to tap Show More on the left for revealing the option.
3. Now tap on Camera button that you can find towards left side of the screen
4. Towards bottom right side you’ll find Camera Switch that you can tap for switching between selfie and rear camera on your iPhone/iPad.
5. Now, tap on white-colored Camera Shutter at bottom left side of screen for capturing still photos. Alternately, you can tap on red-colored Video Shutter at bottom of the screen to begin recording a short video – 10 seconds at most.
6. Swipe the finger for Sketching, long press with two fingers for adding Heartbeat, or simply Tap using just one finger like you do normally.
7. Tap on Send button towards bottom right of the screen once you’re done.

How To Send Handwriting In iOS 10 iMessage?

Even though you can use Sketch for writing your messages in the Digital Touch, handwriting in iOS 10 iMessage allows you to type handwritten messages from your device. Here is how:

1. Open Messages on your device
2. Rotate your device to activate landscape mode which will, in turn, bring up handwriting canvas
3. Now tap some stock or a previously handwritten message that you had sent for sending/re-sending right away. Or simply use your finger to write new message
4. Tap Done
5. Now, add some text if you want to

6. Finally, tap on Send button

If you decide otherwise and don’t want to send handwritten message, it can be cancelled by tapping on X button towards the top right of the screen. You can also delete it with the help of backspace.

Does Your Mac And Apple Watch Support Messages Containing Handwriting And Digital Touch?

Of course, Yes! The Digital Touch that you send using your iOS 10 device can be received on the Apple Watch in same exact form as it was sent. However, when it comes to Mac, the graphics are rendered correctly but it is not good with haptics. As for Handwriting, it appears on both the devices.

Digital Touch and Handwriting in iOS 10 iMessage add a completely new touch to your iMessages. If you haven’t heard of the two before, get through this guide and become accustomed to what these two are all about.