Markup Tools

One of the most powerful and engaging features of DDS GP is the ability to draw directly on any illustration while showing it to a patient. This allows you to personalize each demonstration in real time, thus highlighting specific problem areas, clarifying proposed treatments, and emphasizing what’s most relevant to the individual. Patients often become more attentive and responsive when they see you mark up an image specifically for them.

Markup Tools appear as a set of five icons in the toolbar whenever you enter a Module. Drawing is always active in these Modules, and you can begin immediately by using your finger or an Apple Pencil to draw directly on the screen. You can switch colors at any time to represent different treatment phases, concerns, or educational points. To change colors, tap the color selector in the toolbar and choose your desired pencil or highlighter color. If you prefer a softer approach, tap the pencil icon to switch to the highlighter tool. This tool uses a semi-transparent, thicker line that’s ideal for drawing attention to areas without obscuring the image beneath.

If you make a mistake or want to revise your drawing, use the eraser tool to remove part of your markings just as you would with a pencil. For more precise adjustments, the undo button (a backward arrow) steps back one drawing item at a time, and you can tap it multiple times to remove recent edits in reverse order. If you’d like to erase everything at once, tap the “X” icon. This will instantly clear all annotations from the screen, but be aware that this action cannot be undone.

To save your drawing, tap the “Add to Snapshots” button, represented by a filmstrip with plus icon. This captures the current illustration, complete with any custom markup drawings, and saves it to the Snapshots section of the app. It’s like a screenshot, but saved directly within DDS GP for future use. A brief confirmation message will appear when the Snapshot has been successfully added. Saving annotated illustrations is a great way to maintain continuity in patient care. For instance, you can revisit the exact same marked-up image in a future consultation, or include it in printed or emailed Treatment Plans. For details on how to access or manage your saved drawings, refer to the Snapshots section of these instructions.