Alternative to the old Windows Sketchpad app?

[Mnky313]

So I'm trying to find an alternative to the built in Sketchpad app that came with windows 10 until 1809 (this:)

Problem is they removed it if favour of Microsoft Whiteboard requires a microsoft account to use at all...

I'm looking for a simple drawing app that has support for the surface pen (and eraser).
Problem is every app I find either doesn't support the pen/eraser or has the most needlessly overcomplicated interface and 12,000 (/s) different pen types etc.
I literally just want something I can draw on occasionally to make notes of something or keep score for a card game....

Alternatively if someone know how I could try and transfer the old sketchpad app from 1809 to modern versions of windows. But I doubt it'll work properly as I think it's part of the ink workspace app.

[minibois]

Well I wanted to recommend the program Mischief, but looking for a link to the program online I found out it has been discontinued 2 years

Mischief was basically exactly like Whiteboard, with no advanced pen settings, just open the program and you get a black canvas.

 

There are tons of other programs for drawing - such as Autodesk Sketchbook and Krita - but for just a quick sketch they probably are a bit too involved.

I'd almost say MS Paint is once again the way to go... If you want to sketch over a screenshot, Snip & Sketch (not to be confused with Snipping Tool) would be a good option. It can be triggered using Windows+Shift+S (or PrintScreen can be rebound to that program in Settings).

[Mnky313]

11 minutes ago, minibois said:

Well I wanted to recommend the program Mischief, but looking for a link to the program online I found out it has been discontinued 2 years

Mischief was basically exactly like Whiteboard, with no advanced pen settings, just open the program and you get a black canvas.

 

There are tons of other programs for drawing - such as Autodesk Sketchbook and Krita - but for just a quick sketch they probably are a bit too involved.

I'd almost say MS Paint is once again the way to go... If you want to sketch over a screenshot, Snip & Sketch (not to be confused with Snipping Tool) would be a good option. It can be triggered using Windows+Shift+S (or PrintScreen can be rebound to that program in Settings).

Yeah, I found an installer for mischief but it doesn't appear to work with the pen (at least for me on Windows 11).
It clearly detects the pen as flipping it around switches to eraser/pen input but attempting to draw does nothing..... which is a shame because it looks like what I am looking for.

As for autodesk/Krita, yeah. I tried autodesk sketchbook but it's a little overcomplicated.

I removed the built in snip & sketch app (not the actual snipping, just the editor) because I never used it. 

I'm going to see if I can track down a newer version of Mischief and try and get it to work.
Nvm, apparently the installer I found was the newest one ː(

Edited October 27, 2021 by Mnky313
stop replacing it with emojis damnit

[minibois]

3 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

Yeah, I found an installer for mischief but it doesn't appear to work with the pen (at least for me on Windows 11).
It clearly detects the pen as flipping it around switches to eraser/pen input but attempting to draw does nothing..... which is a shame because it looks like what I am looking for.

As for autodesk/Krita, yeah. I tried autodesk sketchbook but it's a little overcomplicated.

I removed the built in snip & sketch app (not the actual snipping, just the editor) because I never used it. 

I'm going to see if I can track down a newer version of Mischief and try and get it to work.

It's a real shame they didn't just release Mischief as open-source, instead removing it entirely. I can't say I'd recommend an installer from not the original source though.

Looking at alternatives of Mischief, nothing really springs to mind for 'easy simple drawing program': https://alternativeto.net/software/mischief/

Same for looking for programs with an infinite canvas: https://alternativeto.net/feature/infinite-canvas/?license=free&platform=windows

 

It feels a little bit different, but the OneNote drawing engine looks pretty similar to WhiteBoard and being a Microsoft product, I feel like it has a good chance working (fully) with the Surface pen (including its eraser). So OneNote might be something worth checking out