Working with SMART Ink

The SMART Podium interactive pen display comes with SMART Notebook or SMART Meeting Pro software.

SeeInstalling SMART software

Both feature SMART ink, which enables you to use the cordless pen or your finger to add notes or drawings to presentations on the touch screen.

By default, SMART Ink starts when you first log on to your computer. However, if SMART Ink isn’t set up to start automatically, you can start it manually.

SeeStarting SMART Ink manually

After SMART Ink starts, you can open the SMART Ink dynamic toolbar and use it to write and draw, convert handwriting to text, take screen captures and use favorites.

Notes 

  • If you start SMART Ink manually but your computer isn’t connected to a SMART interactive product, a notification appears.

  • Although the dynamic toolbar works with the desktop and all applications, some of its options vary from application to application.

If SMART Ink isn’t set up to start automatically, you can use the following procedure start it manually.

Windows computers only

To start SMART Ink manually in Windows

  1. In Windows 7, select StartAll ProgramsSMART TechnologiesSMART Ink.

    OR

    In Windows 8.1, go to the Apps screen, and then scroll to and select SMART TechnologiesSMART Ink.

    OR

    In Windows 10, select StartAll apps, and then scroll to and select SMART TechnologiesSMART Ink.

Mac computers only

To start SMART Ink manually in OS X operating system software

  1. In Finder, go to ApplicationsSMART Technologies and double-click SMART Ink.

The dynamic toolbar, shown below, appears when SMART Ink starts. Opening the dynamic toolbar in full mode lets you access additional features that enhance the notes and drawings you create in digital ink.

Although the dynamic toolbar works with the desktop and all applications, some of the options it presents vary from application to application.

If the dynamic toolbar is covering something you want to see, drag it to a different part of the screen.

To open the dynamic toolbar in full mode

  1. Tap the dynamic toolbar to open it in full mode.

    Note 

    The toolbar minimizes after 10 seconds of non-use. You can also minimize the toolbar at any time by tapping its center.

To move and dock the dynamic toolbar

  1. You can move the dynamic toolbar to the left or right edge of the screen and dock it there by dragging it to that edge. You can also tap the docking button in the top-right corner of the dynamic toolbar.

You can use the SMART Ink Settings window to change a number of settings for SMART Ink, including:

  • General settings

  • Dynamic toolbar settings

  • Microsoft Office settings

Note 

If you’re using SMART Ink on Windows, you can also use the SMART Ink Settings window to troubleshoot common issues.

For more information about accessing and changing SMART Ink Settings, see the Changing SMART Ink 5 settings support site page.

SMART Ink includes plug-ins that enable you to use the software with Microsoft Office applications.

Note 

This section applies to Windows only.

Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint have their own ink tools which you can enable in SMART Ink Settings. For more information, see the Changing SMART Ink 5 settings support site page.

This table compares Microsoft’s ink tools and SMART Ink:

Category

Microsoft’s ink tools

SMART Ink

Purpose

Reviewing or making changes to a document

Highlighting important notes or drawing attention to content in a document

Capturing ink

Ink is inserted directly into a document

Ink is captured in a transparent layer over a document

Saving ink

The inserted ink is saved with the document

Take a screen capture and save it using SMART software

You can write or draw in PDF files using the following tools:

  • SMART Ink plugin for Adobe Acrobat Reader (Windows only)

  • SMART Ink Document Viewer

With Adobe Acrobat Reader and the SMART Ink plugin, you can write, draw and erase digital ink in PDF files. The SMART Ink plugin inserts digital ink in the PDF file as Adobe Acrobat Reader comments.

For more information on using the features of SMART Ink with Adobe Acrobat Reader, see the Using the SMART Ink 5 plugin for Adobe Acrobat Reader support site page.

For more information about using the features and configuration options available in SMART Ink, refer to the SMART Product Drivers and Ink support site pages.

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