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philippev98610928
Participating Frequently
August 20, 2020

P: Pen Tablet & Windows Ink

  • August 20, 2020
  • 104 replies
  • 7168 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

    Show previous replies
    chad.rolfs
    chad.rolfs
    Participating Frequently
    September 1, 2020
    @JJMack, we're pursuing all of those. 
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    September 1, 2020
    Having this issue feels like being incredibly thirsty stranded in an ocean.

    With me the issue is even with having the PsUserConfig, it shows i have pen pressure (seen in the stroke) but the actual stroke doesn't have it. WinInk is unbearable to work with.


    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    August 31, 2020
    Another problem few people mentionedi, Wacom has a special stylus called the Art Pen, which can detect pen nib rolling. Very useful for adjusting brush direction quickly when painting in photoshop.
    But for whatever reason the rotation is registered in photoshop only when windows ink is enabled. Really hope Adobe can provide some form of help too in reguarding to this problem, so the rotation can register without windows ink.
    W
    www.joeripeeters.com
    Known Participant
    August 31, 2020
    21.2.2 is causing lot's of problems on both my wacom intuos pro as my XP-pen deco pro. Also did a roll-back to version 21.2.1. Not a big deal but what I don't understand Adobe keeps offering the update when it's full of bugs that are extremely important to be able to work.  

    mattstix
    mattstix
    Known Participant
    August 30, 2020
    Wouldn't hold breath. The Wacom UK website can't even put the right product images next to the right type of replacement nibs. I spent a day emailing them just to get the right ones.

    Let alone sort drivers etc. out
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    August 30, 2020
    Since the update I've been using Windows Ink and it was not ideal, my workflow got considerable worse, but I was managing it. But since 4 days ago I'm facing a new problem, now from time to time Photoshop won't make brush strokes at all. I have to close the program and open again, and sometimes, I have to restart my computer. My workflow is now ruined, this whole situation is getting unbearable....
    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 30, 2020
    Is Adobe going to fix WinTab support, try to get Microsoft to improve  INK  so it is not intrusive and performs well.  Or work with Tablet makers to develop a new improved API for Windows and Mac
    JJMack
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    August 30, 2020
    Just wanted to say I have all the same problems.  I had been using PSUserConfig to force my PC to use WinTab, but breaking that workaround has forced Windows Ink, and the host of problems that come with it.
    Spirited_Ray15B9
    Spirited_Ray15B9
    Known Participant
    August 29, 2020
    Hello Chad,

    Thank you for getting us an answer.
    I looking forward to an actual solution to this issue.
    I have never had as many problems with Photoshop as I have had in the last 3 updates.
    Possibly Adobe needs a larger testing base before rolling out updates?
    E
    Erik--H
    Known Participant
    August 29, 2020
    I've now run into a scrubby zoom and alt+rmb lag with my new Huion Kamvas 22 Plus. The lag disappears with Windows Ink on, but using Windows Ink is arguably more frustrating than the 1 second lag I get with Windows Ink disabled.

    I wasn't running into the scrubby zoom/alt RMB lag on my Wacom Cintiq 16 oddly enough, but I was running into all of the other issues associated with Windows Ink Alt, Ctrl, Shift silly tool tips, among most things listed in this thread.

    I ended up reverting to 21.2.1 and using the PSUserConfig which fixed the issues with my Wacom devices. 

    Now it seems I'm encountering an entirely new set of problems with my Huion Kamvas 22 and Photoshop. It's pretty much brought my work to a screeching halt and sucked my life force.

    I'm now trying to decide which is the lesser of two evils, Windows Ink or the 1 second lag when scrubby zooming and alt+RMB, which I do obsessively. Let the good times roll....
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