Samsung PenUp adds new stylus tricks to your Galaxy phone, if it support an S Pen

Samsung’s PenUp app is getting a useful creative upgrade for Galaxy users, especially those who use the S Pen for casual digital art. For those unaware, PenUp is Samsung’s app for sketching and coloring templates. It works with touch input, but the latest update should be most useful on Galaxy phones and tablets with S Pen support.

The latest PenUp update, version 3.9.22.23, adds 53 new brushes through the “Download more brushes” option. It also adds Dual brush, a new tool that lets two strokes work together for layered effects.

What new drawing tools does PenUp add?

Brush controls have been cleaned up as well. Users can now tap a brush twice from the selection screen to open individual settings. The updated menu separates unrelated controls and shows a live preview, which should make it easier to adjust a brush before using it on the canvas.

Samsung has also made it easier to pick up a drawing on another device. The new Export Draft and Import Draft options save work as a “.penup” file, with layers and key settings preserved. There is also Samsung account sync for users who switch between devices.

What else is new for PenUp users?

Editing gets a small boost with Auto Select in the Lasso selection tool, which can automatically pick out objects in a drawing. PenUp now also supports automatic landscape rotation, as long as Auto Rotate is enabled on the Galaxy device.

While the update is clearly aimed at people who draw with an S Pen, PenUp is not limited to stylus-supported devices. The app also has a Finger Drawing mode, which lets users draw directly with touch input. That works fine for coloring templates, quick tracing, rough sketches, or casual doodles, but it is not as precise as using an S Pen.