Quick answer
🖊️ Want to customize your Apple Pencil Pro squeeze gesture? The squeeze gesture can be mapped to mouse buttons or custom keyboard shortcuts in Astropad Studio. Access Magic Gestures through the sidebar to set up your preferred action.
💡 Key customization options:
Mouse buttons: Map to Right Mouse Button for context menus
Keyboard shortcuts: Assign any keystroke (like G for Paint Bucket)
Per-app settings: Different squeeze actions for different applications
Quick access: Easy setup through Astropad Studio sidebar
✨ Apple Pencil Pro Features
The Apple Pencil Pro introduced several new features that Astropad Studio supports:
Squeeze Gesture: Pressure-sensitive squeeze for custom actions
Barrel Roll: Rotation-sensitive tool control
Haptic Feedback: Tactile response for better user experience
Find My Support: Locate your Apple Pencil when misplaced
💡 Focus: This guide covers customizing the Squeeze Gesture specifically.
Customization Setup
📱 Step 1: Open Astropad Studio Sidebar
📱 Step 1: Open Astropad Studio Sidebar
Get started with gesture customization:
Launch Astropad Studio: Start the app and connect your devices
Open art program: Launch your preferred creative application
Access sidebar: Tap the red circle on your iPad to open the sidebar
🎯 Step 2: Access Magic Gestures
🎯 Step 2: Access Magic Gestures
Two ways to reach Magic Gestures settings:
Method 1 - Direct Access:
Tap "Magic Gestures" under Per App Settings in the sidebar
Method 2 - Through Workspace:
Tap the red Workspace button at the top of the sidebar
Tap "Edit Workspace"
Scroll to bottom of the list
Select "Magic Gestures"
⚙️ Step 3: Edit the Squeeze Gesture
⚙️ Step 3: Edit the Squeeze Gesture
Configure your squeeze action:
Find Apple Pencil Gestures section: Scroll to locate this section
Tap on "Squeeze": Select the squeeze gesture option
Choose action type: Select from available customization options
Customization Options
🖱️ Mouse Button Mapping
🖱️ Mouse Button Mapping
Right Mouse Button (Popular Choice):
Best for: Context menus and secondary actions
Common use: Accessing tool options and menus quickly
Universal: Works across most creative applications
Other mouse buttons:
Middle mouse button for specialized functions
Custom mouse button assignments
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcut Assignment
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcut Assignment
Custom keystroke examples:
G: Paint Bucket tool (common in many apps)
B: Brush tool
E: Eraser tool
Ctrl+Z: Undo command
Any combination: Create custom shortcuts for your workflow
How to assign:
Tap "Shortcuts" in the squeeze gesture settings
Enter keystroke: Input your desired keyboard shortcut
Save setting: Confirm your custom assignment
🎨 Per-App Customization
Why use per-app settings:
Different workflows: Each app may benefit from different squeeze actions
Tool variations: Apps have different tool shortcuts and functions
Optimized experience: Tailor squeeze gesture to specific app features
Setting up per-app:
Access through Per App Settings: Use the sidebar's per-app section
Switch between apps: Different squeeze actions for Photoshop vs Illustrator
Save configurations: Each app remembers its squeeze gesture setting
💡 Popular Squeeze Gesture Applications
🖌️ For digital artists
🖌️ For digital artists
Right-click menus: Quick access to brush options and settings
Tool switching: Rapid switching between brush and eraser
Undo/Redo: Quick mistake correction
✂️ For designers
✂️ For designers
Selection tools: Fast access to marquee or lasso tools
Layer operations: Quick layer creation or duplication
Transform tools: Access to scale, rotate, or move functions
📝 For note-takers
📝 For note-takers
Text tools: Switch between pen and text input
Highlighting: Quick access to highlighter tools
Page navigation: Move between pages or sections
Troubleshooting
🔧 Common Issues
Squeeze gesture not working:
Check connection: Ensure Apple Pencil Pro is properly paired
Verify settings: Confirm squeeze gesture is enabled in Magic Gestures
App compatibility: Some apps may have limited squeeze gesture support
Sensitivity issues:
Pressure adjustment: Try different squeeze pressures
Re-pair pencil: Disconnect and reconnect Apple Pencil Pro
Restart app: Close and reopen Astropad Studio
💡 Optimization Tips
For best results:
Test different actions: Try various shortcuts to find what works best
Per-app setup: Configure different squeeze actions for different applications
Practice consistency: Use the same squeeze pressure for reliable activation
Combine with other gestures: Use squeeze alongside other Apple Pencil Pro features
❓ Need More Help?
If you're having trouble setting up the squeeze gesture, contact our support team with details about your setup and the specific issues you're experiencing.