Sketch Field is a field type in Fulcrum that allows users to sketch directly within the app as part of their regular data collection. Each sketch field has a blank canvas by default but can be customized with specific base images (backgrounds).
Example use cases:
Inspections: Mark up an outline of an asset to highlight defects.
Utilities: Draw the flow of the pipes through a manhole or the height of attachments on a utility pole.
Environmental: Sketch rough site layouts for biological surveys, e.g., marking patches of trees and rivers.
Video Demonstration
Add Sketch Fields to your apps
Sketch is a field that can be added to your apps. Here are the steps to configure it in an app. You will need to start in the app editor for the app that you wish to use Sketch Field with.
Add 1 or more sketch fields to your form. To do this, either click on ‘Sketch’ within the fields section or drag and drop the Sketch field into the layout area.
Configure the field settings & upload backgrounds.
Adding backgrounds is optional. Leave it blank to give your field users a blank canvas to sketch on.
Once you upload backgrounds, they will appear in the Backgrounds modal. Here you can view, search for, and delete backgrounds from the field.
Save the app.
All sketch backgrounds are included in the sync process, like reference files, so they are ready to use when needed. To improve sync performance, limit the size and number of sketch backgrounds to only what's necessary.
Using Sketch Field on the mobile app
Mobile app users must be on Fulcrum version 2602.3.0 or later to use Sketch Field.
Sketch fields will be part of the app structure. Sketches can be added as part of the normal data collection flow. Here are the steps:
Create a new record or edit an existing record.
Tap the Sketch icon from the record editor.
If there is more than one background option for the field, select the one you want to use.
Markup the background. Save your sketch by tapping Done.
iOS Sketch Experience:
Upgrade your OS to iOS 26 for the best sketching experience. On an older OS, not all of the sketch tools will be available.
Pro Tip! Tap and hold at the end of drawing a line or shape to automatically straighten any imperfections. This feature works only on iOS 26. On older OS versions, it's not available.
Android Sketch Experience:
Notes and Limits:
You can select an existing sketch to add additional markups, but you cannot erase markups that have already been saved.
You can add additional sketches to the same field.
You can use the media_capture_enabled property with the SETFORMATTRIBUTES data event to disable or enable sketch fields programmatically.
Sketches are not included when using the Importer and Exporter. However, Sketches can be included when exporting using the Data Downloader.
Limits on backgrounds! The following restrictions on background images are in place to prevent performance issues.
Each background image can be up to 25 MB in size and up to 4,096 pixels in both width and height.
If a background image is uploaded that is larger than 4,096 pixels in either dimension, it will automatically be downsized to 4,096 pixels in the largest dimension.
Only image file types are supported.
Each sketch field can have up to 1,000 background files, totaling up to 500 MB. To improve sync performance, limit the size and number of sketch backgrounds to only what's necessary.