Skip to main content
F
FeedbackCommunityMember
Inspiring
December 7, 2015
Open for Voting

P: Finger painting/drawing support for touch screen monitors. [2015]

  • December 7, 2015
  • 36 replies
  • 30339 views

Whaaaaaat.I'm finding it incredibly hard to believe that every graphics program supports using the brush and pen through touch screens EXCEPT for Photoshop, the Queen of them all. Am I really going to have to draw in GIMP?I'm well aware that touch screens aren't nearly as ideal as graphic tablets but really, GIMP even supports pressure sensitivity and Photoshop doesn't support anything?Please, please incorporate this feature, it should have come standard years ago.

    36 replies

    Show previous replies
    S
    sandro_f
    Participant
    January 2, 2018

    Hey y'all

    I've just bought a Surface Book 2, which has a touch screen. I've seen that for example Illustrator and InDesign have a very own touch workspace, while Photoshop CC 2018 (almost) doesn't support touch at all. Sure, I can zoom, click on tools and stuff, but shouldn't I be able to just draw with my finger? I don't have a pen, a stylus or whatever you want to call it. I'd just like to draw with my finger.

    Is there any way how I can achieve this?

    Thanks.

    Sandro

      Ahmad_Yousef-ggdwkA
      Ahmad_Yousef-ggdwkA
      Participating Frequently
      January 2, 2018

      Photoshop does not support Touch. It has supports for graphic tablets pens with wintab device drivers. It has support for mice and keyboards. No where do I see touch support documented in Photoshop manual. Here is a link to Photoshop manual search it for touch, http://helpx.adobe.com/pdf/photoshop_reference.pdf  The closest thing  I found to touch support is the following:

      Use the Rotate View tool

      You use the Rotate View tool to rotate the canvas non-destructively; it does not transform the image. Rotating the canvas can be useful for any

      number of reasons, including facilitating easier painting or drawing. (OpenGL is required.)

      You can also use rotate gestures on MacBook computers with multi-touch trackpads.

      1. In the toolbox, select the Rotate View tool . (If the tool isn’t visible, hold down the Hand tool.)

      2. Do any of the following:

      Drag in the image. A compass will indicate north in the image, regardless of the current canvas angle.

      In the options bar, enter degrees in the Rotation Angle field. Click or drag the circular Set Angle of Rotation control.

      3. To restore the canvas to the original angle, click Reset View.

      For a video on the Rotate View tool and other workspace tips, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid4001_ps. (Discussion of the Rotate View tool begins at the 5:10 mark.)

      Disable trackpad gestures (Mac OS)

      If you have a MacBook computer with a multi-touch trackpad, you can use the trackpad to flick, rotate, or zoom images. This functionality can

      greatly increase your efficiency, but you can disable it if inadvertent changes occur.

      1. Choose Photoshop > Preferences > Interface (Mac OS).

      2. In the General section, deselect Enable Gestures

      My Wacom Intuos 5 Touch device driver has some touch support for some Photoshop features.  I do not try to finger paint I use the Wacom pen for that.  I also do not get the strange finger paint in Photoshop when I use my finger to move the mouse cursor with the Wacom Intuos 5 touch support. Starting outside an image window or inside one,

      However if I add two finger support add tap to click I can finger paint and also use other tools.  However I'm not into finger paint so I do not configure Touch support that way for Photoshop.

      S
      sandro_f
      Participant
      January 2, 2018

      Okay, that's a bummer... Thanks anyway for your answer!

      A
      Alyssarose
      Known Participant
      November 11, 2017

      I have a Lenovo Yoga Laptop with Windows 10. When I touch with my fingers anywhere in photoshop it works except the canvas, meaning I can't draw anything. Is there a solution to this?

      for clarity I have a wacom tablet but I do not currently have it on me and I need to do a piece of artwork last minute, and it's very frustrating using the touchpad. I don't see why my touchscreen isn't compatible with photoshop, do I need some sort of stylus or something?

      JJMack
      Community Expert
      JJMackCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 12, 2017

      If  you mean you can not finger paint with your touch screen that is correct. Photoshop supports touch gestures not finger painting. You should be able to paint with a mouse  or touch pad  which have a left click button your finger lacks. Your Wacom will also work.

      Multi touch and single finger touch gestures though should work on canvas. Rotate,zoom. pan  scroll etc should work.

      Photoshop Touch capabilities and customizable workspaces

      JJMack
        A
        Alyssarose
        Known Participant
        November 12, 2017

        yes I used that, seems very ridiculous to me that adobe doesnt support touch screen ”painting” with a stylus or something when paint tool SAI supports it just fine. Thanks for answering

          F
          FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor
          Inspiring
          November 6, 2017
          Just updated to 2018 and found this issue to still not be resolved! this is crazy! I get that Adobe wants to simplify apps UI and I appreciate that, but please add an option in the preferences to control how touch input is interpreted. 

          I am using a Dell XPS 13 and find it frustrating that I cannot use my finger to rough in masks, etc.

          These features would be equally helpful in various other apps (lightroom, after effects, etc.)

          Please include in the next update!
          mittromag2191
          mittromag2191
          Participant
          April 18, 2017


          I recently bought Photoshop and fund that I could only zoom and rotate using the touchscreen built in to my PC (I have a Lenovo AIO 700 Series) and could only draw with the mouse. I feel this especially odd seeing how During my free trial of Illustrator, I found It had full touchscreen support. I would very much like it for the talented people at Adobe to do the same for Photoshop. 
            A
            Anonymous
            January 10, 2017

            I have seen multiple, different answers on how to use a touchscreen with Photoshop. I have the lastest version currently installed, CC 2017, I have a dell Windows 10 touchscreen pc, and a wacom drawing pen and tablet.

            People have said it is impossible to draw with fingers or a standard stylus. Some say there's a patch for it, and some say there is a way if you have a wacom, which I do. I cannot find an answer ANYWHERE. I'd love an answer, and asap please if possible!

            I can use my fingers to hit options, such as Edit, Select, Colors, different tools... And I can use the finger gestures such as zoom and pan. But how do I draw with the brushes, with my finger or a standard stylus? Please help me. I am an artist who would love a touchscreen drawing capability with my favorite program Photoshop.

            [Moved from non-technical Forum Lounge to specific Program forum... Mod]

            [Here is the list of all Adobe forums... https://forums.adobe.com/welcome]

              Chuck Uebele
              Community Expert
              Chuck UebeleCommunity Expert
              Community Expert
              January 10, 2017

              There are only a few finger gestures that work with Photoshop, which can be seen at this link:

              Photoshop Touch capabilities and customizable workspaces

              You can, like other apps, use fingers to press buttons, menu items, scroll bars, etc. You can't use fingers to paint. Various styli respond differently, some work, some don't. with my Microsoft Surface Pro 3, I have no problem painting with the stylus - is it as good as a Wacom, no, but it works.

                J
                J453
                Legend
                December 7, 2015

                Finger painting or drawing on the canvas is not currently supported. Hit the Upvote button at the top of the page.

                  D
                  defaultsxrvrkyq7k81
                  Participant
                  October 14, 2021

                  Hello, my pc is tactile but when i want to draw, it doesn't work... I can't draw with my finger. Someone know how to use touch function on photoshop cc 2021?

                  JJMack
                  Community Expert
                  JJMackCommunity Expert
                  Community Expert
                  October 14, 2021

                  Photoshop supports touch testers not finger painting.  Get a drawing tablet. Photoshop  brush engine has pen support

                  JJMack
                  Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
                  Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices