Impression Pads

Impression pads let you see what a spectator is drawing in real-time. The drawings are mirrored to your PeekSmith 3, Bond, or MrCard device, allowing you to secretly see exactly what theyโ€™re writing or sketching.

Tip for Bond users: You can remove the watch strap and palm or hide the Bond device for easier viewing during performance.

Compatible Impression Pads

These impression pads are compatible with the PeekSmith App:

  • Mindbuster
  • Oracle Board
  • Telepathy Pad
  • Oblivious / Academy
  • IARVEL pads (all models)
  • Pitata Board
  • Bamboo Slate/Spark

Connecting Your Impression Pad

To use an impression pad with the PeekSmith app:

  1. Open Settings in the PeekSmith app
  2. Go to Impression Boards section
  3. Find your board in the list of supported boards
  4. Tap โ€œList Devicesโ€ next to your board
  5. Follow the connection process โ€” Each board has its own connection method. Follow the specific instructions for your board.

Important: Most impression pads can only connect to one app at a time. Make sure your board is not connected to another app before connecting it to PeekSmith.

Auto Connect (Optional)

You can enable Auto connect boards in the settings. When enabled, PeekSmith will automatically connect to any supported impression pad nearby. This is convenient if you use your board regularly.

Calibrating Your Impression Pad

Most boards support calibration to set up their active sensor area.

  • You donโ€™t need to calibrate right away โ€” the default settings work fine for most users.
  • To calibrate later, tap the Calibrate button next to your connected board in Settings โ†’ Impression Boards.

Calibration helps ensure the drawing area matches your expectations and improves accuracy.

Testing Your Connection

Once your board is connected, test that it works properly:

  1. Use the Doodle screen โ€” Go to Screens and select Doodle. Draw something on your pad and it will appear on your PeekSmith.
  2. Use the Black Screen โ€” This is the best option for testing. The Black Screen displays drawings clearly without distractions.

Draw a few lines or shapes to confirm the connection is working and the tracking is accurate.

Additional Settings

Check the other Impression Board settings below the list of boards:

  • Connection indicator โ€” Shows when a board is connected
  • Autostart on connect โ€” Automatically loads the drawing screen when a board connects
  • Other display options โ€” Most settings are straightforward and self-explanatory

Adjust these based on your performance needs.

Text Recognition

PeekSmith can recognize handwritten text from impression pads and convert it to readable text. This is perfect for mentalism routines where spectators write words or names.

For complete instructions, see our Text Recognition guide.