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Surface Pro 3 Pen / stylus doesn't work well in Illustrator, works fine in Photoshop

Forum|Forum|11 years ago
December 2, 2014
10 replies
25056 views

Good day,

I've had CC on a Surface Pro 3 for two months now and I've been trying to troubleshoot the erratic behavior of using the Surface Pen in Illustrator. I've checked the batteries (there's multiple batteries in the pen), making sure they're installed correctly. I've gone into the Win 8.1 settings and checked the pen to be sure it's operating properly. It works well in all other apps; draws well in Photoshop, Fresh Paint, One Note, etc.

When using the brush tool with the pen in Illustrator, I'm only able to draw every other line. Sometimes it's once every third or fourth line. I need to tremendously slow down in order for Illustrator to recognize I'd like to draw, and even then, I'm not guaranteed that a line will draw. This issue isn't isolated to the brush tool. Nearly any action with the pen on the canvas haphazardly occurs (selections, join tool, etc.). It's beyond frustrating!

Is anyone else experiencing poor Surface Pen performance in Illustrator? If no, I suppose I have a hardware issue, but it's suspiciously an app problem, seeing how the pen works great throughout the rest of my apps.

Thanks for reading,

Brent

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Raghuveer_Singh

Has there been any update on this? I only have this issue in Illustrator and it's very frustrating since I have to use it for class.

Hi All,

Thanks to Monika Gause for the whole day extended support. Illustrator team really appreciate this.

Monika removed (un-installed) the N-trig Wintab x64 application/driver from the system and the issue got re-solved.

We would love to hear from all the people who are facing this issue that what happens when they follow the above step.

With Best Regards,

Raghuveer

D

dugm22

Participant

I have the same issue going on, however, I don't have N-Trig installed.

Any suggestions?

DrTc

Inspiring

New update makes Illustrator unusable with surface pen, it doesn't register almost at all. Plus it asks for new GPU drivers and disables GPU acceleration (which was enabled before update) although they are the latest...

Raghuveer_Singh

Community Manager

Hi Evan,

Which drivers are you using for the surface pen ? Also please do send us the AISniffer file saved at AI preferences folder.

Please mail to ShareWithAI@adobe.com about the issue you are facing with above details.

With Best Regards,

Raghuveer Singh

Illustrator Team

DrTc

Inspiring

Hello there,

the display adapter properties states driver version: 10.18.15.4256 17/07/2015 and any online update action returns the notice that the latest diver is already installed.

Is the GPU sniffer file the AppPrefs.xml?

restarted and it started responding, not something super bt Ok now..

R

ryan_am

Participant

‌I'm having this exact issue with Illustrator 2015, except I'm using the original Surface Pro 1 with Windows 10.

I've updated to the latest Wacom Feelit Driver but I still have the issue where Illustrator randomly recognizes only some strokes made with the brush tool. The pen works perfectly in other software so im confident it's not a hardware issue. This problem persists in the Touch and other Illustrator workspaces. I am able to create strokes on the art board every time using touch or the mouse but the Illustrator tools become unstable when I use the pen.

Please help! I can't uninstall the N-Trig driver because my machine uses Wacom. Thank you!

brad.magnus

Known Participant

Thanks for asking! I finally got this figured out today!

A

Anonymous

Removing n-trig driver does not totally solve the problem.

1. The pen doesn't work in Flash CC, with or without the driver

2. In Illustrator without the driver, when you try to draw a quick short line, it becomes a dot instead.

VonFronkenstone

Participant

uninstalling the n-trig driver worked for me.

Love my Surface Pro 3, hope to see more Adobe Touch versions, especially for After Effects, it's pretty impossible to use as is.

AtuarraM

Participant

How do you uninstall the n-trig wintab driver? I went to device manafer and didnt see it??

Surface Pro 3 i7

Windows 10

Intell HD Graphics 5000

K

kahardin

Participant

N-Trig Wintab Drivers show up in the "Uninstall or Change a Program" system window. Depending on how you are viewing your control panel you can use Control Panel > Uninstall a program. If you have small icons on, you can use Control Panel > Programs and Features.

You should see N-Trig Wintab x64 in that list and be able to uninstall it should you choose to do so.

JustHarms

Participant

Same issue here. The pen has serious trouble registering making Illustrator unusable.

Raghuveer_Singh

Community Manager

Hi All,

Can you please let us know that this issue is also there in the classic UI or not ?

Please change the work-space using the Illustrator menu Window >> Workspace >> Web/Automation/Layout

If possible can you please share the video of the issue with ShareWithAI@adobe.com

Thanks & Regards,

Raghuveer Singh

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Yes, it's present in the classic layout. I used the "basic" workspace ("Grundlagen" in my German version) and painted using the blob brush resp. the eraser tool. Had to draw some lines up to 5 times until Illustrator made a mark on the artboard.

I know how to make videos on the Mac - but which tool would be best on the Surface Pro?