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Participating Frequently
August 20, 2020

P: Pen Tablet & Windows Ink

  • August 20, 2020
  • 104 replies
  • 7205 views

Hello everybody.

With the latest Photoshop update (21.2.2), the fix we had  to get the pressure sensitivity back with the PSUserConfig.txt fix is no longer working.

This fix was necessary to work properly with a Pen Stylus on Windows, without using the Windows Ink features.

We are used to turn of  Windows Ink systematicaly when using a Pen Tablet because it causes a lot of issues. (Wacom and other brands)

 

Why Windows Ink is not suitable 

Windows Ink ON :

 

1-There is a 1 second delay with every new clic and drag before the cursor catches up with the stylus. It happens when dragging a window, using a slider to adjust a value (in photoshop or any other app), resizing a layer, and even when drawing. So the begining of each new stroke will freeze for 1 sec before catching up to the movement of the stylus. You can imagine the hell it can be when hatching, or doing fast repetitive movements/adjustements.

 

2-Certain applications, like Chrome for exemple, don't respond to the stylus for certain things. You can't move the chrome window around at all when windows ink is enabled. You can't drag and drop email in your inbox from one tab to another, some clics and double clics aren't registered at all ...etc.

 

3-Windows Pen & Stylus fonctionnalites are working against a fluid use of a Stylus. Especially the infamous "Press and hold" setting, that needs to be disabled systematically if you don't want this "mouse freezing blue circle of death" to appear each time you stop moving your hand for more than half of a second. (I suspect this functionnality to be responsible for the lag before each new stroke, even when you have it turned off)

 

4-Just while typing this post, I've discoverd a new issue. With Windows Ink enabled, it is impossible to select text by dragging over it with the stylus. I had to drop it and use my mouse each time I wanted to edit a sentence.

 

 Windows Ink OFF:

 

1-Everything works perfectly.

2-Pressure sensitivity in Photoshop is gone, and need to be reactivated with PSUserConfig.

 

These are all the reasons (I can think of right now) why we have no choice but to disable Windows Ink, and use the WinTab alternative to get the pressure sensitivity back in Photoshop.

 

I hope you now understand why enabling Windows Ink is not a solution.

We had a solution, please do not take it away from us.

I'm assuming that everyone would love to use regular settings, and not to have to tamper with this kind of work around, but unfortunatly that is not possible.

 

Again, using WinTab is not a choice, it is essential for any serious workflow.

 

I'm currently paying for the full Adobe suite, and not being able to work properly is a big issue right now. Not knowing when this will be resolved is very worrisome.

 

PS: "Windows Ink" or "Pen and Touch" drivers on Windows, are currently pushing for touch and tablet functionnalities. These are cumbersome and unfit for any professional Stylus use.

104 replies

donbarrum
Inspiring
October 24, 2020

Are you sure the txt doc is placed correctly and the content of it is written as it should be and you restarted photoshop? Just checking before I try to suggest anything else

Participant
October 24, 2020

Thanks for you reply, I have 21.2.3. without the PSUserConfig.txt and pressure works. I tryed the .txt fix on 2021 as you mentioned but didn't work, then I activated again windows ink and pressure is back. now I get Alt, Ctrl, Shift pop ups.

Participating Frequently
October 24, 2020

That is good to know, thanks.

donbarrum
Inspiring
October 24, 2020

@ascary_lazos 
I just tested WinTab works fine! But you need to move the UserPrefs.txt into the new settings folder created by Photoshop CC 2021. It's not moved automatically. 

AxelMatt
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 24, 2020

Do you have create a PSUserConfig.txt in the appropriate folder for PhotoShop 2021? 

After I have installed the new version the pen pressure doesn't work. After I copied the PSUserConfig.txt from the older version it worked again.

My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 8 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI
Participant
October 23, 2020

I just install Photoshop 2021 (ver 22.0.0) have the no pressure issue again, even if windows ink is active or not. I will stick to 21.2.3.

Inspiring
October 23, 2020

Been looking for a fix all night for this. Ended up here. Just throwing in my complaint to the hat that this has not been fixed yet, how unprofessional it is, and how I guess I'm unsubscribing from Adobe until they get it together. 

AxelMatt
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 6, 2020

Yes. The pen pressure functionality is working since 21.2.2

My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 8 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI
Seth A
Participating Frequently
October 5, 2020

did new update ( 21.2.4) fixed Wacom/Windows ink/pressure sensitivity issue? 

i am still on 21.2.1 with PSUserConfig.txt working.

thanks

 

 

chad.rolfs
Participating Frequently
October 5, 2020

Yep, fix is coming in the next update, coming very soon.  Apologies for the delays and ongoing issues.