Techniques for ink modes are described. According to various embodiments, different ink modes are supported, such as a permanent ink mode, a transient ink mode, a shape recognition mode, a text recognition mode, a selection mode, a command mode, an ink note mode, an ink for emphasis mode, and so forth. For instance, embodiments support a permanent ink mode where ink applied to a document becomes part of primary content of the document. A transient ink mode is also supported in which ink applied to a document is processed according to transient ink mode behaviors. According to various embodiments, a visual affordance of a particular active ink mode is presented on a document with which a user is interacting. Further, different ink modes each are associated with different respective visual affordances.