Using a drawing tablet for live annotations during recording
A stylus and drawing tablet let you circle, underline, and point at specific things live during a recording, which genuinely helps direct attention — until it’s used constantly, at which point it becomes visual noise that’s harder to follow than no annotation at all.
What live annotation genuinely solves
A mouse cursor pointing vaguely near something is a weak visual cue. A quick circle drawn directly around the specific element you’re discussing, or an underline beneath the exact text that matters, removes ambiguity about what a viewer should be looking at — genuinely useful the moment there’s real risk of a viewer looking at the wrong part of a busy screen.
The overuse problem, specifically
Annotating every single thing you mention, rather than reserving it for moments of genuine visual ambiguity, trains a viewer to expect constant visual noise rather than treating each annotation as meaningful — the technique loses its actual value (directing attention to something specific) the moment it’s applied indiscriminately to everything.
Practice the specific gesture before recording, not during
Circling something cleanly with a stylus, without a shaky or overly large gesture, takes some practice if you’re not used to it — a few practice run-throughs of your planned annotations before the actual recording prevents the visibly hesitant, messy annotations that undermine the clarity they’re meant to add.
Color and thickness matter more than people expect
A thin, low-contrast annotation color against a busy background is hard to see, while an overly thick or bright one can dominate the frame more than the content it’s meant to highlight. Testing your annotation tool’s color and thickness against your actual recording background, rather than assuming the default settings work universally, avoids both extremes.
When a static callout beats live drawing
For something that needs to stay visible for a while, rather than a quick momentary point, a static text callout or arrow (added in editing rather than drawn live) is often clearer than trying to hold a live-drawn annotation in frame for an extended period, which usually looks like exactly what it is: someone trying to keep a hand-drawn mark from disappearing.
The actual test for whether an annotation is earning its place
Before adding one, ask whether a viewer would genuinely struggle to identify what you’re referring to without it — if the answer is no, because your narration already makes it clear, or the element in question is the only thing on screen that could reasonably be meant, skip the annotation. Reserve the technique for genuine ambiguity, not habit.
Frequently asked questions
Is a drawing tablet necessary for annotating a screen recording?
No — many recorders support basic on-screen drawing with just a mouse, though a stylus does make smoother, more precise annotations easier for anyone doing this regularly.
How much annotation is too much in a tutorial recording?
If you’re circling or marking nearly everything you mention, it’s likely too much — reserve live annotation for moments of genuine visual ambiguity rather than applying it as a constant habit.
Should I use live-drawn annotations or add callouts in editing instead?
Live drawing suits quick, momentary emphasis during natural narration. Static callouts added in editing work better for anything that needs to stay visible for an extended period.
Related reading: Recording a tutorial when narration isn’t your first language · Making a screen recording actually accessible · Screenpresso review