By Appy Labs · Reviewed October 14, 2026
For manual drawing, open a photo in Photos, tap Edit, then open Markup. Choose a pen or pencil, pick a color and draw. For an automatically generated decorative edit, use an AI photo app such as Doodiva.
Draw it yourself with Markup
iPhone includes a manual drawing tool in Photos. It's a good choice for a precise arrow, a label, your own handwriting or a simple doodle.
- Open Photos and select your photo.
- Tap Edit, then the Markup button.
- Choose a pen, pencil or highlighter. Select the color and thickness.
- Draw with your finger. Use undo or the eraser to adjust your marks.
- Tap Done, then Done again to finish.
Controls may look different by iOS version. Apple's Markup instructions explain the current tools, including text, shapes and moving a drawing with the lasso.
Let AI suggest the doodles
Doodiva takes a different approach: the AI creates a decorated image from your selected photo. You choose a look and can give it context. You do not draw each line yourself.
- Open Doodiva and choose a photo from your library.
- Select an available style. Add context if you want to guide the mood or occasion.
- Agree to online AI processing and generate the edit.
- Compare with your original. Check faces, lettering and small details, then save or share the result.
Each successful generation uses one credit. See the current prices and available controls in the app.
Which method fits your photo?
| What you want | Markup | Doodiva |
|---|---|---|
| Exact wording and placement | You write and place it. | AI wording and placement vary. |
| Creative marks without drawing | You draw the marks. | AI generates the edit. |
| How you control the marks | Draw, erase or move your marks. | Choose a look; AI generates the image. No separate doodle layers. |
| Internet for generation | No AI generation step. | Required. |
| Cost | Built into iPhone. | Edits use credits. |
Give the edit some breathing room
Start with a clear subject and space around it. A crowded background can make added marks harder to read. Keep essential details away from the edges if you plan to crop the result for a post.
AI can reinterpret image details. Always compare the output with your original, particularly faces, hands, signs and captions. For exact text or a precise annotation, manual Markup is the more direct option.
Decorating a photo is different from turning it into a sketch
A sketch filter aims to redraw the image. A doodle edit adds a hand-drawn-style treatment to the photographed scene. Doodiva is designed for the latter, though generated results can still change details.
Explore Doodiva style previews →
Download for iPhone