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rhrth
rhrth
Known Participant
May 5, 2017
Question

Eraser function doesn't work properly with my Wacom Tablet

  • May 5, 2017
  • 6 replies
  • 21758 views

Hi everyone.

I've been struggling with an issue now for a couple of months and I'm really annoyed at not being able to work as I have for the past 10 years using tablets and Photoshop.

I typically map the eraser function to the bottom side button on my pen for the Wacom Intuos Pro Medium. That's how I've been erasing for many years and how I love painting – I have the brush tool, paint some, and then when I want to erase I just hold in the eraser button and then release.

Here's the problem: When I hold in the eraser button, and erase one or more times, it immediately reverts back to the brush tool even if I still have the eraser button pushed down and haven't released it! This didn't happen during all my years using Photoshop and Wacom tablets. I didn't tamper with it either. I've tried previous Photoshop versions, other drivers for the Wacom tablet, and nothing (I've tried it all!) seems to work.

Here's a video of the issue:

The Wacom diagnostics say the Wacom tablet works perfectly fine, and I've had intensive customer replies through Wacom support, and in the end they told me I probably should turn to Adobe...

What do you guys think? What can I do? Reformat the entire computer? Time Machine?

Macbook Pro 2014 Retina

El Capital 10.11.6

Wacom Intuos Pro Medium

Photoshop CC 2017

This topic has been closed for replies.

6 replies

G
genoVidev
Participant
May 31, 2021

Make sure that is checked. It works for me.

    Z
    Zachary Pariah
    Participant
    November 22, 2017

    I've had a similar situation for months now, my eraser side wasn't working and I couldn't figure out how to fix it. I actually found a solution when looking for how to turn off the press and hold to right click option.

    Now by "eraser button" I assume you mean the black bulb-like thing on the opposite side of the pen to the side with the nib. I've never once held it down to erase and that might be problem number 1. I'm not sure about the wacom intuos pro, but I don't think the eraser is much of a button rather than a sensor, at least not any more. When I hold the eraser down on my wacom intuos pen and touch (the older version}, it still registers as pen because the pen side is the one touching the tablet. If it ever used to work more like a button, they may have changed it in the recent driver update, or maybe in a photoshop update. So first try flipping the pen as if it were an actual pencil, with the graphite on one side and eraser on the other if you aren't already.

    If you are and the eraser still isn't working, go to your control panel and search up Pen and Touch. I'm using windows 10 so mine may not look the same.

    Now open it, find the checkbox for "use top of the pen to erase ink".

    If the box is checked, uncheck it, click apply, then check it again and apply it again. After doing this my eraser side was working like a charm. It wouldn't select the "eraser" tool in the toolbar, but it was still erasing with whatever settings I had selected for the eraser tool.

    I hope this helped!

    S
    Steve K Walker
    Inspiring
    May 8, 2017

    I see you have deleted all the files that go with the tablet - but did you uninstall it ?

    Uninstall definitely produces a different result.

    I installed the new driver and it fixed my Eraser issue.

    But then I had the problem of Photoshop specific preferences being ignored.

    So I uninstalled the driver (through the Wacom Tablet Utility), restarted the Mac, then re-installed the latest driver and restarted again.

    This has fixed everything.

    So if you didn't uninstall I would suggest trying that - just in case you didn't !
    And apologies if I'm just repeating what you actually did do - I'm just picking on you saying you deleted files (which isn't the same as uninstalling).

      rhrth
      rhrthAuthor
      Known Participant
      May 8, 2017

      Thanks for all your answers, but yes, I did reinstall everything – or in detail: uninstall, delete all the files, and install a fresh driver. Tried it with several ones. I mean I can try again, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I really don't understand what's causing this very strange issue.

      Thanks.

      W.

      S
      Steve K Walker
      Inspiring
      May 8, 2017

      Very puzzling. Sorry, if I may, one or two more suggestions - I'm just as curious now as to why it won't work.

      1. If you change the lower button function to something like Pressure Hold does that work (or is the problem strictly with the Erase function) ?
      2. Have you tried setting the Function to be for Photoshop only - as per my screenshots - where All Other is set to Disabled (or whatever) and Photoshop is set to Erase ?

        S
        Steve K Walker
        Inspiring
        May 7, 2017

        I see there is a newer driver (although my Wacom Desktop Centre said I was up-to-date) 6.3.21-8.

        So I installed it and now the Erase Function in PS works as expected.

        I see you have installed many drivers but maybe try uninstalling the Wacom Driver completely using the Wacom Tablet Utility and reinstalling (or have you tried that) ?

        I also tried setting up Photoshop specific button assignments but I see Photoshop ignores those completely - and I'm not sure why.

        rhrth
        rhrthAuthor
        Known Participant
        May 7, 2017

        Hey, yeah I've reinstalled pretty much everything imaginable. Even deleted all the files that go with the tablet and Photoshop to have completely fresh installs.

        It seems it's something with Photoshop, because the tablet is working as expected. If I hold the button in, it never releases even if I "paint" with it.

        W.

        S
        Steve K Walker
        Inspiring
        May 6, 2017

        Out of curiosity I'm trying to replicate this. But how on earth do you set the lower Wacom button to become an Erase Tool ?
        If I set it to Erase it simply ignores the function.

        Peru Bob
        Community Expert
        Peru BobCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 5, 2017

        Can you try different versions of the Wacom driver?

        rhrth
        rhrthAuthor
        Known Participant
        May 6, 2017

        Hi Peru Bob!

        Yes, as I wrote in the post, I've really tried everything I can think of. I've tried about 5 or 6 different drivers, including the absolute newest one that hasn't been released to the public yet, through the help of the Wacom support. I've tried different versions of Photoshop as well by uninstalling and reinstalling.

        Thanks...

        Walid

        rhrth
        rhrthAuthor
        Known Participant
        May 6, 2017

        This is how I have it. Right click on the top button and Erase on the bottom button.

        Cheers,
        W.

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