Fun with MSN Messenger: Handwriting

July 16th, 2006

One little known feature of MSN Messenger (or Windows Live Messenger) is the handwriting features. I believe this feature was first introduced to Tablet PC users with MSN Messenger 6 requiring a patch to enable it for normal desktop PC users. In MSN Messenger 7, all users with Windows XP and the required libraries for Ink should be able to use it.

Below the message box in MSN Messenger, you’ll probably have two tabs - the first one allows you to create handwritten messages.

WLM Handwrite

You may find it actually quite hard (and slow) to write legibly using your mouse. Consider getting an optical mouse or if you’ve got tons of cash, using a tablet can really make it a lot easier. However, you should be able to get a pretty decent drawing using a normal optical mouse.

You’ll probably want to drag the drawing area so it’s a little bigger - use the grippy above the drawing box.

Editing and Adding to Drawings 

Another great thing about handwriting is that it is sent as a vector of strokes. This is dead cool as you could drag someone’s drawing from the conversation into your drawing box and then remove certain parts of it. You could deface other people’s drawings and messages by drawing crosses and sqibbles all over it which is good fun.

Defacement 

Another nice thing you could do with this is to draw together. If you want a quick and simple game of Tic-Tac-Toe, the first person draws a 3×3 grid and makes their first turn. The other person then drags that drawing and drops it onto their handwriting box, adding their own move and so on.

You could also collaborate with someone to draw a piece of art over MSN Messenger, each taking it in turns to add something to the drawing. This can create some really interesting pieces of art especially as you don’t know what the other person will draw.

As an added bonus, you can scroll up the window and see how the piece of art progressed from the start to the finish. And if someone defaces the drawing, you can always return to an older version.

When your drawing is finished, copy it and paste it into an image editor and save it as a GIF/JPEG image for publication. 

If you use Messenger Plus! Live and chat logging, it’ll automatically save a JPEG of every single ink message you send or recieve. You could load this into a GIF animator and create a nice slideshow showing the progression of your art piece.

Related Posts

  1. Windows Live Messenger Review
  2. Handwriting Analysis
  3. Keyboard Usage
  4. Back to Messenger 7.5
  5. The Google Homepage from Memory

45 Responses to “Fun with MSN Messenger: Handwriting”

  1. # Opheron 16 Jul 2006 at 10:43 pm

    :O You stole my crap writing.

    :) 

  2. # Neondragonon 17 Jul 2006 at 1:29 pm

    You might as well just use Yahoo Messenger to draw things instead of messing around with this.

     

  3. # Jameson 21 Jul 2006 at 12:41 am

    hey - i have windows live messenger - but cannot use the handwriting tool - is there anything i can download to be able to use this?

  4. # Khloon 21 Jul 2006 at 9:15 am

    Hi,

    If your using 2000/XP/Server, to the best of my knowledge it should work. If it doesn’t, try downloading and installing the Windows Journal Viewer.  

  5. # Arnabon 31 Jul 2006 at 11:46 am

    hi buddy thanks

  6. # Williamon 02 Aug 2006 at 4:49 pm

    It won’t work with me

    Cos I don’t have a legal version of XP! BOO! 

  7. # Td15hotmail Co Ukon 04 Aug 2006 at 10:55 pm

    Hey the above link did nothin  an i still cant use the handwriting tab for wlm 8.0…any ideas???

  8. # Carleeon 13 Aug 2006 at 11:05 am

    hey i know wat u guys meen holy crap wat a waste of time lol

  9. # Jeromeon 14 Aug 2006 at 4:05 pm

    i have msn but i dont know why, i cant use the handwriting feature. it made me so angry after having to install service pack 3 and some other kind of stuff you recommended. please help me

  10. # Molzyon 18 Aug 2006 at 1:00 pm

    hi peepz wots yo prob tlk to me wots ur addi n wot ur asl plz tlk to mi am 13 f n frm england see yo l8az mwahhhhh

    hi to mi boi ky xxxx n hi to mi cuz sandwish

  11. # Sharnion 18 Aug 2006 at 1:02 pm

    iiiiiii mi names sharni n az cums frm da uk tlk to me a want ya addies ppl tra cyaz mwahxxxxxxxxxxxx

  12. # Molzyon 18 Aug 2006 at 1:05 pm

    hi mi sxcs plz add mi molz13@hotmail.co.uk ta bi tlk to mi but am not tlkin if yaz a perve bixxx

  13. # Jamieon 19 Aug 2006 at 8:20 pm

    i down loaded everything possible to get the handwritting to work including the journal thingys. but i still can get it to work i have xp and i went to the thing it said i had the lastest hardware and i down loaded all the extras…seeems like its just something to take up space but if anyone can tell me how to work it i would be very muh obliged.

    thanx!

  14. # Desert Roseon 23 Aug 2006 at 5:18 am

    for all of you who want to enable the handwriting feature, just download and install Windows Journal Viewer. But if you can’t download it because of Validation thing, just email me and i’ll send you the file.

  15. # Vikkion 27 Aug 2006 at 5:06 pm

    Plz plz can you send it to me.

    k thanx.

  16. # Ruchion 28 Aug 2006 at 12:34 pm

    Hi can u plz e-mail it to me too? Cheers

  17. # Jordan Scotton 28 Aug 2006 at 8:55 pm

    yes can u send me the thing so i can use handwriting tool in msn messenger live plz m8 thx jordan scott

  18. # Dhwanion 30 Aug 2006 at 12:58 pm

    hey! sorry but ive got msn 8.0 and i cant get the handwritting tool to work. I really want the H.T, cuz its cool, but i seriously dont no how!!

  19. # Lildayon 30 Aug 2006 at 7:42 pm

    i cant use the handwrite thing.

     

    am i the only person with genuine windows XP?

  20. # Hugoswimmeron 30 Aug 2006 at 8:43 pm

    send it to me please! Thanks!!!

  21. # Osamaon 31 Aug 2006 at 2:05 am

    hiiiiiiii so good

  22. # Sayemon 02 Sep 2006 at 1:23 pm

    i love the handwriting idea its coool…

  23. # Martin Clarkon 02 Sep 2006 at 5:54 pm
    msn messenger live plus:
                                      how do i download the handwriting tab for msn messenger live plus? becouse ive downloaded it many of times but it just has now worked for me so could you do the great pleasure in telling me how i can download it start to use it?          
  24. # Joshon 04 Sep 2006 at 8:32 pm

    ii dont know how too down load hand writing can u help mi

     

  25. # Vikashon 06 Sep 2006 at 1:11 am

    can you send me the handwriting tool too my handwriting does work thanks man…

  26. # Pppon 07 Sep 2006 at 2:05 am

    i really need help downloading the handwritting feature but i dunno how plz help me

  27. # Joshon 08 Sep 2006 at 4:42 pm

    plz tell moi how ya get handwrite feature pleeeeeeeeeeez

  28. # Jessicaon 09 Sep 2006 at 2:40 am

    THIS IS FUNN!!!!

  29. # Jessicaon 09 Sep 2006 at 2:42 am

    hi cow blog~ this is a really cool experience for messenger!! thanks for inventing it!~!

  30. # Nellyon 10 Sep 2006 at 1:15 pm

    erm.. cann yoo send me the little dot so i can change the coluar of my rittin plzz..x…x..x

  31. # Rachel Perkinson 10 Sep 2006 at 6:38 pm

    i love bayram 4 ever and always XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

  32. # Polengg (Pauline)on 14 Sep 2006 at 2:27 pm

    I want a handwriting at msn messenger! How do ii download ?

  33. # Namanon 15 Sep 2006 at 5:02 am

    i downloaded d live messenger but still could not acess the handwriting tab and i want to download it .so please help!

     

  34. # Jason 17 Sep 2006 at 9:35 pm

    were can i download this tool from because i have windows messanger and i cant seem to find it anywere on the net! plz sum 1 help me i realy want to use it!

  35. # Hitenon 26 Sep 2006 at 1:36 pm

    were can i download this tool from because i have windows messanger and i cant seem to find it anywere on the net! plz sum 1 help me i realy want to use it!

  36. # Julieon 27 Sep 2006 at 7:57 am

    i  ave windows live messenger but i cant handrite messages. i tried 2 download it but the website just had advertisements, can u plz send me the feature?

     thanx

     

  37. # Joshon 28 Sep 2006 at 4:27 am

    i dont have the feature how do i get it????

     

     

     

    plz help me,

                       josh

  38. # Jessicaon 22 Mar 2008 at 4:03 pm

    I have windows live messenger and i have windows xp, but mi handwriting tool does not work ( I WANT DA HANDWRITING TOOOLLLLLLLLLL)

  39. # samon 02 Apr 2008 at 9:38 pm

    i am rele confused all my mates have handwriting n i dont and i dont know how to get it it says i need to update or install sumthing:/ can u help me please i have windows live messenger
    fankkyuuhh

  40. # prestonon 12 Apr 2008 at 2:30 pm

    hello i know how you have window plus msn download it then it work

  41. # d_chimpon 23 Apr 2008 at 1:29 am

    Once you have installed Windows Journal Viewer 1.5 (several posted links above) you need to go onto the settings on Messenger and enable the handwritting icon thing…does that help?

  42. # Marieon 04 May 2008 at 1:22 am

    why wont it work? i downloaded all the neccesary things but it STILL WONT WORK :@

  43. # kieranon 08 May 2008 at 3:37 pm

    I DONT KNOW HOW TO GET THE HAND WRITING SO CAN YOU PLZ PLZ HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ :S

  44. # cazzaiion 28 May 2008 at 1:41 pm

    I installed Microsoft Journal Veiwer but it still doesnt work. It worked on my old computer and i didnt have to install anything. Its soooo unfair :(

  45. # chrison 01 Jul 2008 at 10:56 pm

    I also downloaded the Journal Viewer on a legit version of XP pro and still no luck. I Think msn8 might be a bit buggy!

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