Fingerpaint for Linux

Draw using your laptop's touchpad

Overview

Fingerpaint is a drawing tool made for Linux users who want to create art using their laptop’s touchpad.

Instead of needing a mouse or a special drawing tablet, you can use your laptop’s built-in touchpad to draw directly on the screen.

This app fits well with users who prefer a simple way to make 2D and raster graphics without extra hardware.

One key feature of Fingerpaint is that it works with both X11 and Wayland display servers.

This means it is compatible with many Linux setups.

However, its Wayland support is currently limited to the Gnome desktop environment, so if you use another Wayland-based desktop, it might not work as expected.

During drawing, the touchpad will not move the cursor, but an external mouse will keep working if you need it.

A few things to keep in mind: the drawing stops if you press any key or click the touchpad, which might stop your work unexpectedly if you’re not careful.

Also, because your touchpad cannot control the cursor while drawing, you need to rely on an external mouse or keyboard for navigation during that time.

In summary, Fingerpaint is a useful and straightforward tool for Linux users who want to sketch or paint using their laptop’s touchpad.

It works best on systems using X11 or the Gnome desktop on Wayland, and it keeps external mouse input available while drawing.

This tool fits well with users looking for safe, touchpad-based drawing software without complicated setup.

Pros

  • Allows drawing directly using the laptop's touchpad.
  • Supports both X11 and Wayland (Gnome) display servers.
  • External mice remain functional while drawing.

Cons

  • Touchpad cannot control the cursor during drawing.
  • Wayland support is limited to Gnome desktop environment.
  • Drawing ends when any key is pressed or the touchpad is clicked, which may interrupt workflow.

Software details

Platform
Linux
Free license
Yes
Project license
GPL-2.0
Mobile friendly
No
Bug tracker
https://github.com/Wazzaps/fingerpaint/issues

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