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User Guide

If this is your first time using Dabbleboard, we suggest viewing the Tour.

Account Setup

No signup is needed to use Dabbleboard. But signing up allows you to save drawings in your personal library. Also, to take advantage of Pro features, you'll need to sign up for a Pro account.
  1. New plan signup: Visit our Pricing & Signup page and choose a free or paid plan.
  2. Join Pro group: If you're the group admin, visit the Account page, copy the group link, and send it to whoever you want to join the group. If you want to be a member of this group, simply click this link.
  3. Change settings: Visit the Account page to change your password, update your email address, etc. Pro users can also upload their logo, change their plan, or change their billing info.

Drawing

Drawing with Dabbleboard is easy and fast. Note that some keyboard shortcuts described below may not work in all browsers.
  1. Draw basic shapes: Just draw. Dabbleboard will automatically detect basic shapes like straight & curved lines, rectangles, circles, diamonds, and triangles. Make sure the Freehand button is not selected.
  2. Draw freehand: Select the Freehand button to draw anything you like. You can still move and resize objects just like any other shapes.
  3. Enter text: Just click anywhere and start typing.
  4. Insert image: Click the Insert Image button. To insert an image from a URL, enter the URL and click the Insert From URL button. Or click the Insert From Computer button to select an image from your computer. You can move and resize embedded images just like any other shapes.
  5. Insert document: Click the Insert Document button and select a file from your computer to upload. All users you've shared the drawing with will see the same page at the same time, so you can easily do presentations.
  6. Change arrowhead mode: When the Arrowhead button is selected, straight and curved lines will have arrowheads at their ends.
  7. Change text size or line thickness: Select one of 3 line thicknesses or text sizes. You may also make a selection and then click one of these buttons to change these attributes of objects in your selection.
  8. Change text or line color: Select one of the various colors. You may also make a selection and then click one of these buttons to change the color of objects in your selection.
  9. Select objects: Click on any object to select it, or to deselect it if it's already selected. To select all objects in a rectangular area, click in any empty space on the canvas to reveal the Select Area button. Click this button to make your selection.
  10. Move selection: Click and drag the button at the top-left corner of the selection to move the selection. Alternatively, use the keyboard's arrow keys.
  11. Resize selection: Click and drag the button at the bottom-right corner of the selection to resize or scale the selection.
  12. Delete selection: Click the button at the bottom-left of the selection to delete the selection. Alternatively, use the keyboard's Delete key.
  13. Replicate selection: Click the button at the top-right of the selection to replicate the selection, and drag the new objects to their destination. It's copy+paste in one easy step.
  14. Group/Ungroup: Select two or more objects and then click the Group button to group them together; the group now behaves like a single object. Select a group and click the Ungroup button to ungroup the selection.
  15. Modify text: Select a text object and click within it to reveal the cursor and modify text.
  16. Modify curvature: To modify the curvature of curved lines, click and drag the green dot in the middle of the line.
  17. Download: To download or export the drawing in the PNG file format, click the Download button and then choose a folder to save in. You can then view or edit the image in your favorite image viewing/editing software, or embed it in your documents.
  18. Undo/Redo: Click the Undo button or type CTRL+Z (CMD+Z on a Mac) to undo the last operation. Click the Redo button or type CTRL+Y (CMD+Y on a Mac) to redo the last operation that was undone. Dabbleboard supports unlimited Undo and Redo.
  19. Rename drawing: The default name of a drawing includes the date and time when it was created. To change the name, click the Rename link next to the name.

Library

The library allows you to not only save drawings and open them later, but also easily reuse previously-made drawings in the current drawing. All changes to the library are saved.
  1. Create new drawing: Click the New button to move the current drawing to the library, and create a new drawing on the canvas.
  2. Add to library: Click and drag the selection to the library pane on the left.
  3. Replicate from library: Click and drag the drawing from the library pane on the left to the drawing canvas.
  4. Change library page: If you have many drawings in your library, the drawings will be arranged in multiple pages. Click the up and down buttons (at the top and bottom of the library pane) to change the library page.
  5. Reorder drawings: Click and drag the drawing in the library pane up or down to change its position. If your library consists of multiple pages, you can drag drawings to different pages as well.
  6. Switch drawings: Double-click a drawing in the library pane to make it swap places with the current drawing on the canvas.
  7. Delete drawing: Click the "X" next to a drawing in the library pane to permanently delete it.
  8. Add from public library: Visit the Public Library, and click the Copy button next to any drawing to add it to your own library..

Sharing & Chat

Your drawing is private by default, and can only be viewed and edited by you and people you specifically share with. The people you share with can view or edit the drawing at any time. If you all log in at the same time, you can see each other's changes instantly and collaborate in real-time.
  1. Share: Click the Share+Chat button to open the Share panel. Click Copy to copy the link to your clipboard. You can then paste the link in an email or IM conversation to invite others to access your drawing.
  2. Open shared drawing: To open a drawing that has been shared with you by email, find the email in your Inbox and click the link in the email. If you can't find the email in your Inbox, check your Junk Mail or Spam folder. You don't need to be logged in to view the drawing, but if you are you can take advantage of your library.
  3. Switch to shared drawing: After opening a drawing that has been shared with you, you can switch to one of the drawings in your library by double-clicking it. To switch back to the shared drawing, click the Switch to shared drawing link.
  4. Make public: Click the Make Public button on the Share Panel. Your drawing can then be viewed and copied by anyone by visiting the Public Library.
  5. Make private: If you made your drawing public, click the Make Private button to make the drawing private again.
  6. Chat: See who all are attending the meeting at the same time and send them messages. Click the Voice+Video Chat button to enjoy video chat through Tokbox. We recommend using a headset for the best voice chat experience.