# Point at things with the laser pointer

> Press Q (or click Laser) and drag on the canvas to leave a temporary trail that everyone sees and that fades after about a second, without adding anything to the canvas.

Category: Canvas
Web page: https://www.pactto.com/help/laser-pointer
All guides: https://www.pactto.com/help.md

## Use the laser pointer

The laser draws a short-lived trail so you can point at part of a video, image or document while you talk. Nothing is saved to the canvas.

1. Click **Laser** in the toolbar or press **Q**.
2. Drag on the canvas. The trail fades and disappears about a second after you let go.
3. The laser stays on until you pick another tool. Press **V** to go back to Select.

Other people in the room see your laser trail in your participant color.

### Who can use it

Everyone in the room, whatever their role, on a computer. The Laser button is hidden on phones and tablets.

Good to know:
- The laser works anywhere on the canvas, including in focus mode and while someone is spotlighting.
- To leave a mark that stays, use **Draw** (P) instead (see [draw-on-canvas](https://www.pactto.com/help/draw-on-canvas.md)).

## Related guides

- [What does each tool in the canvas toolbar do?](https://www.pactto.com/help/canvas-toolbar.md): The toolbar in the top bar of the room holds the canvas tools (Pan, Select, Laser, Comment, Draw, Text, shapes, Sticky note, Doc, Table, Board and Add asset), and each one has a single-key shortcut.
- [Draw freehand on the canvas](https://www.pactto.com/help/draw-on-canvas.md): Click Draw (P) in the toolbar, pick a color and pen thickness from the menu that opens, and draw on the canvas; press E for the eraser.
- [Present in a room](https://www.pactto.com/help/present.md): Add your assets, put them in a board, select the board and click the play button (Enter presentation mode); turn on Spotlight so everyone in the room follows your slides.
- [Zoom in, zoom out and move around the canvas](https://www.pactto.com/help/zoom-and-navigate.md): Use the Zoom - and Zoom + buttons, the zoom menu (click the percentage) or Shift + 1 to fit everything on screen, pan with the Pan tool (H), a trackpad or Space + drag, and use the minimap in the bottom-left corner to jump to any area.
- [See where other people are on the canvas](https://www.pactto.com/help/see-other-cursors.md): Each person in the room shows up on the canvas as a cursor with their photo (or initials) and first name, so you can see what they are pointing at in real time.