# How to draw on an Excel sheet while presenting on a Mac

Source: https://useoverlaid.app/guides/annotate-excel-mac

> Excel for Mac has a Draw tab with pens and a highlighter, but the ink becomes part of the workbook. To circle numbers during a meeting without changing the file, draw on the screen with an annotation app like Overlaid instead.

Walking someone through a spreadsheet is mostly pointing. This cell, that column, the total at the bottom.

Excel can draw, but it draws inside the file. That's useful when you want the marks saved, and awkward when you just want to point and move on.

## Excel's Draw tab (Included with Microsoft 365 and Office 2019 for Mac)

Pens and a highlighter on the Draw tab. The ink belongs to the sheet and is saved with the workbook.

1. Open the Draw tab. If you don't see it, add it from Excel's ribbon settings.
2. Pick a pen or the highlighter and draw on the sheet.
3. To hide ink without deleting it, use Ink > Hide Ink on the Review tab.

Good:
- Marks can be saved with the file
- Lasso Select works on ink only, so it won't grab shapes or pictures

Limits:
- Ink changes your workbook
- Easy to forget it's there when you send the file on

## Overlaid ($11.99 once, 7-day free trial)

Draws on the screen, not in the workbook, so there is nothing to clean up afterwards.

1. Open your sheet and press ⌃⌥D to start drawing.
2. Circle the cells you mean, or draw a ruler line along a column.
3. Turn on fading ink so marks disappear after a few seconds.
4. Press ⌃⌥D again to go back to clicking cells.

Good:
- Never touches the file
- Works the same in Numbers, Google Sheets and the browser
- Zoom in on small figures and keep drawing

Limits:
- Marks aren't saved with the workbook

## Tips

- **Decide whether the marks should be saved.** If you want them in the file, use the Draw tab. If it's just for the meeting, draw on the screen.
- **Zoom before you circle.** Tiny cells are hard to circle. Zoom the screen in first, then draw.
- **Hide ink before you send the file.** If you used the Draw tab, check the Review tab to hide or delete the ink first.

## Questions

### Can you draw in Excel on a Mac?

Yes, with the Draw tab in Microsoft 365 and Office 2019 for Mac. The ink is saved with the sheet.

### Does drawing with Overlaid change my spreadsheet?

No. It draws on the screen above the app, so the file is untouched.

### How do I hide ink in Excel?

Use Ink > Hide Ink on the Review tab. It hides the ink without deleting it.