Introducing the new HUD

The latest feature introduced in Draw on Screen is a Heads-Up Display, a radial interface that appears directly around your cursor.

The wheel is activated by either right-click or middle-click.

Once activated, the HUD wheel allows for instant access to seven primary drawing tools arranged in a circular menu.

The tools included in the HUD wheel are:

• Pen
• Spotlight
• Box
• Line
• Laser
• Eraser
• History reset

Instead of navigating through the toolbar, users simply click the tool they want inside the wheel and continue working immediately.

This design significantly improves speed and reduces interruptions during presentations.

Another plus is the fact that you don't need to remember any shortcuts, reducing the learning curve to zero.

Why a HUD wheel improves workflow

Traditional annotation tools require users to move the cursor to the position of the toolbar to change tools.

That small delay can interrupt the flow of a presentation.

A HUD wheel interface solves this problem by placing tools directly around the cursor.

Benefits include:

• Faster tool switching

Tools are only a short cursor movement away.

• Less screen clutter

The HUD wheel appears only when needed then fades away.

• Improved focus

Presenters can switch tools without breaking their explanation.

• More natural interaction

Radial menus are easier to use during live explanations.

This makes the feature particularly valuable for:

• Teachers explaining diagrams
• Developers reviewing code
• Trainers creating tutorials
• Presenters highlighting information

The 7 core tools in the HUD wheel

Let's look at the tools available in the new HUD wheel interface.

1. The pen tool

The Pen tool allows freehand drawing directly on the screen.

This is the most commonly used tool for:

• Underlining text
• Circling elements
• Sketching ideas
• Explaining diagrams

The pen tool supports customization such as:

• Thickness
• Color
• Stroke color
• Pen thinning

2. The spotlight tool

The Spotlight tool helps guide viewer attention to a specific area of the screen.

This is extremely useful during:

• Presentations
• Software demos
• Lectures
• Tutorials

The spotlight tool supports customization such as:

• Spotlight color
• Corner radius

Instead of drawing constantly, you can simply highlight the area you want viewers to focus on.

3. The box tool

The Box tool allows you to draw rectangles around elements on the screen.

This is commonly used to:

• Highlight UI elements
• Emphasize important text
• Point out interface components
• Explain layouts

The box tool supports customization such as:

• Fill color
• Border color
• Stroke color
• Border thickness
• Corner radius

Boxes help viewers clearly see the element you are referencing.

4. The line tool

The Line tool is useful when you want to draw straight lines between elements.

This is helpful for:

• Flow explanations
• Diagrams
• Comparisons
• Pointing to exact areas

The line tool supports customization such as:

• Color
• Stroke color
• Thickness

Straight lines make explanations more precise than freehand drawing.

5. The laser tool

The Laser tool simulates the behavior of a presentation laser.

It allows you to move the cursor across the screen while leaving a temporary visual trail.

This tool is particularly useful for:

• Guiding viewers during presentations
• Highlighting elements without permanent drawings
• Pointing to moving elements

The laser tool supports customization such as:

• Color
• Thickness
• Thinning
• Fading speed

Laser effects are often used in live presentations to direct audience attention without cluttering the screen.

6. The eraser tool

The Eraser removes drawings from the screen quickly.

When explaining ideas visually, presenters often draw multiple annotations.

The eraser makes it easy to:

• Clean the screen
• Remove mistakes
• Reset annotations

This ensures your presentation remains clear and uncluttered.

7. The History reset tool

This tools clears the screen and erases the history with one simple click so you get a clean slate without manually erasing each annotation and drawing.

Additional features beyond the HUD wheel

While the HUD wheel focuses on the most commonly used tools, Draw on Screen includes several other powerful features.

These tools make the application useful for professional presentations and content creation.

Draw on Screen includes more powerful tools beyond the HUD.

1. Built-in webcam overlay

One feature available in the software is a built-in webcam overlay.

This allows presenters to show themselves on screen while annotating content.

The camera overlay is especially useful for:

• Online courses
• Tutorial videos
• Educational content
• Webinars

Seeing the presenter can make explanations feel more personal and engaging.

2. Instant text annotations

Adding text during explanations is extremely useful.

This allows presenters to quickly:

• Label diagrams
• Write short explanations
• Add notes
• Highlight keywords

Instead of switching to another tool or editor, the text appears instantly.

3. Scroll-based zoom

Another helpful feature is zoom activation using the mouse scroll.

Zooming makes it easier to focus on:

• Small details
• Complex interfaces
• Code snippets
• Diagrams

Instead of changing windows or adjusting settings, presenters can zoom quickly while explaining.

4. History controls

You can navigate through history states with either keyboard shortcuts or with a smart mouse if you have one.

Deep customization for every tool

One of the strengths of Draw on Screen is its extensive tool customization.

Each tool supports multiple adjustable settings.

Users can configure parameters such as:

• Drawing size
• Colors
• Stroke style
• Animation speed
• Pointer effects
• Border radius

Customization allows users to tailor the software to their workflow.

This makes the software flexible and suitable for many different professions.

Best use cases for Draw on Screen

Because it works as a drawing overlay on top of any application, Draw on Screen can be used in many scenarios.

Online teaching

Teachers can annotate slides, diagrams, or documents during lessons.

This helps students follow explanations visually.

Tutorial videos

Content creators can draw directly on the screen while recording tutorials.

This improves clarity when explaining software or workflows.

Software Demonstrations

Developers and product teams can highlight interface elements during demos.

Boxes, lines, and laser pointers help guide the viewer's attention.

Business Presentations

In meetings or remote presentations, annotation tools make explanations clearer.

Presenters can quickly highlight charts, data, or slides.

Why the HUD wheel is a big improvement

The new HUD wheel changes how quickly users interact with the application.

Instead of navigating to the toolbar and searching for the desired tool, users can simply activate the wheel and select the tool instantly.

The result is:

• Smoother explanations
• Faster workflow
• Better presentations

Small interface improvements like this can dramatically improve productivity.

Final thoughts

Screen annotation tools are becoming essential for communication in digital environments.

Whether you are teaching, presenting, recording tutorials, or reviewing designs, visual explanations help people understand ideas faster.

The new HUD wheel in Draw on Screen makes annotation faster, simpler, and more intuitive.

With instant tool access, customizable drawing options, text insertion, zoom functionality, and camera integration, the software continues to evolve into a powerful tool for presenters and educators.

If you frequently explain ideas on your screen, this new feature can significantly improve your workflow.