[Performance] Fresco on iPad - Apple pencil throws out random dots and lines

Report · Nov 20, 2022

I have a problem in Fresco where my Apple pencil will sporadically throw out LOTS of random dots, random straight lines or extra curves in my lines. I have to stop and "undo" all the extra unwanted material. Sometimes this happens so much that it makes it hard to actually work, and I have a challenge controlling my lines with the extra little curves when that is happening.

I don't have this issue in Procreate, so it seems to be unique to Fresco.

Things I have tried:

Replacing my Apple pencil tip (worked to some degree one time when that really was the problem)
Restarting Fresco or my iPad (sometimes seems to help reduce the extra info for awhile!)

I am using a Paperlike screen protector if that's relevant (but no pencil tip covers).

This is my #1 complaint about Fresco. Otherwise, I love this app and primarily use the vector brushes for my illustration work. (I do also have this problem when I am sketching with the regular brushes too.)

Anybody else struggled with this? Any suggestions or fixes?

[Renamed by Mod]

Report · Nov 20, 2022

Did you try without the paperlike screen protector?

Report · Feb 12, 2023

I haven't tried this yet. I don't have any similar issues working in Procreate (at all!) however, so it seems like the issue is somehow with Fresco ... the challenge is also that the random dots come unexpectedly. I can have many work sessions without them, so it's a little hard to test it easily.

Report · Feb 16, 2023

I've seen some people complain about a similar issue with Procreate, turned out it was tied to their Paperlike

Report · Nov 21, 2022

Have you tried setting up the stylus settings with in Fresco itself? Perhaps the Apple pencil is set to be too sensitive and so in Fresco it is reading really sensitively, if that makes sens. Go to the Settings>App Setting and there you can try to adjust the stylus and see if that helps at all.

Report · Feb 12, 2023

Thank you, I will experiment with that. As I told the other commenter, the problem is very random and unpredictable so not immediately easy to test! I suppose I was hoping someone else on here would have had a similar problem and recognize what I'm desribing. Next time it happens I'm going to snag a screenshot so I can share that too. It's VERY random. Dots and sometimes straight lines get thrown ALL over the document.

Report · Feb 12, 2023

Are you resting your hand on the screen as well? Maybe you need one of those gloves?

Report · Feb 14, 2023

I have the same problem with my iPad. I'm wearing gloves, but it doesn't help.

Report · Feb 15, 2023

I do rest my hand on the screen but I have the settings set so that only the apple pencil should draw so that shouldn't really be an issue. And again, no problems in Procreate (or in Illustrator either!).

Zsolt -- you have this issue too!?!?! Is it just with Fresco? Just hearing that someone else has it feels like a start toward finding a solution. How do you address it? I generally just undo until the dots go away then restart my iPad and keep drawing. Restarting the iPad does seem to help somewhat, but since the dots are so random it's hard to know what's really helping.

I did manage to illustrate an entire book using Fresco, so clearly I'm making it work. But I also had to embrace imperfection in my line quality. I could never truly trust my line to track my Apple pencil perfectly -- even when there weren't random dots, there'd be weird squiggles thrown in that didn't relate to my hand motion at all. These somewhat go away with stabilizing but I have to turn it really high and then ... my drawing doesn't really look like what I want it to either!

Why do I keep using Fresco, you might ask? Especially when Procreate is so much more reliable? I do really love being able to do vector drawings that look like normal drawings. That's mainly what I do. And I love the seamless integration to Illustrator. So I stick with it, but I would LOVE to find a way to fix these glitches. That would make it incredibly amazing.

Report · Feb 15, 2023

I am sorry I have no solution for this problem yet, sometimes I restart the Fresco. I have Procreate too, but I better like the Fresco also, I dont know why, maybe it is closer to the natural drawing. I tried Procreate, maybe it has less issues, but the Frasco has better brushes, as pencil, watercolour brushes and of course the vector brushes are amazing as well.

Report · Apr 24, 2023

I'm new to Fresco and I'm using a generic stylus (with precion point tho) and I'm having similar problems. Gittered and dropped lines (vector brushes). I use a cloth under my hand to avoid multiple touches, but that didn't change anyting. I've seen improvement however, when I work slowly at a zoomed in view (so larger gestures). There are fewer inconsistencies with the lines. Unforntunately that means it's not as natural a drawing process as working on paper and requires patience on my part.

Report · Sep 22, 2023

i get this same thing but also on the surface pro. its so frustrating as i would love to keep using fresco but sometimes i wish they just kept adobe sketch and adobe draw.

Report · Nov 14, 2023

I noticed that it was only happening when my iPad was plugged in, charging. Doesn't happen when I unplug it. Weird I know but it really seems to be the case for me at least!

Report · Dec 03, 2023

I'm having the same issue where it generates like a fractal line shooting across the screen. It happens with and without a screen protector and I'm running 12.9 iPad Pro with lots of memory. The kicker is that you cannot undo the phantom stroke. The intended stroke is removed but the fractal remains. Looks like it's back to ProCreate.

Report · Jan 11, 2024

Same problems here. It's very frustrating because there doesn't seem to be a clear cause. It happens sporadically whether its a new or loaded file, plugged in or not, etc. I've heard that sometimes the iPad prefers to be touching a surface when drawing. However putting it flat on my hand or table top doesn't seem to work either. Usually Procreate operates free of these issues, but tonight I had it happen on Procreate too! Perhaps I need to replace my pencil tip and/or switch some settings. I would love to know what others do to solve this. It really worsens my experience of working digitally.

Report · Jan 12, 2024

Hello @studiomoop,

Sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind sharing some more details, like the exact version of the OS/Fresco, your iPad model, details about your workflow, and a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/4b51fa2), so we can investigate this further?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

Report · Jan 12, 2024

I can’t get it to happen again of course but pulled the iPad Pro specs and
Fresco settings. The main issue is that UNDO does not remove the errant
lines that get generated

Report · Jan 12, 2024

Hi @Troy22087968f7as,

Thanks for reaching out. If the issue occurs again, please try to capture a screen recording of the problem along with the following details:

The specific actions you were performing when the issue happened.
The iPad Pro specifications & generation.
Are you using Apple pencil 1 or 2 or using your fingers?

Additionally, if you have a file that consistently triggers this problem, share that file with us. This information will help us investigate the issue more effectively. Thank you for your cooperation.

Best,

Anshul Saini

Report · Sep 09, 2024

I have this same issue!

With specifically Fresco, and I also use Paperlike. I do not tend to use other drawing programs on iPad so I can't say for sure it doesn't happen in others. I most often draw without the iPad being plugged in, and it's definitely happened both while plugged in and not plugged in.

My iPad is an iPad Pro 11 inch 2nd generation, on iPad OS 17.6.1 (up to date as of now), Fresco is version 5.7.4.

Attached is a video of what happens. (It's a fresco time lapse so it's sped up). It creates tons of dots while I'm drawing, sometimes when my pen is firmly against the screen and sometimes right before or after a stroke when my pen is hovering above the screen. The random lines are less often but so happen. I'm using a glove while drawing so it doesn't pick up my palm. This dots happens even if my gloved hand isn't even touching the screen, so that doesn't seem to be the issue.

Report · Sep 09, 2024

Hello @craeveyard,

I am sorry to hear about your experience. Kindly allow me some time to check this with the team.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance. We'd be happy to help.

Thanks,
Anubhav

Report · Sep 22, 2024

Just wanted to update: I removed the Paperlike and am still experiencing this issue, in Photoshop and Fresco. It's likely an iPad or Apple Pencil issue rather than an Adobe issue, I imagine?

Report · Sep 22, 2024

This was happening to me too but I noticed it only happened when I had it plugged in, charging. Never does it when unplugged. 🤷‍:female_sign:

Report · Nov 13, 2024

This is happening to me too. Has been happening for a while and is inconsistent between drawing files in Fresco. I have paperlike on my screen but I sit next to another designer with same generation Ipad (4th Gen Ipad Pro) and he does not have a screen film and has the exact same issue. Again, has only been in 2024 that we've noticed it. Very frustrating as we spend a sizeable portion of our day rendering on Fresco. We have edited the pen sensitivity settings and still have the issue. Adobe needs to get this right if they want professional designers to continue using this product.

For what it's worth we typically work in 24x36 or 30x42 format at 175-190 dpi. As architects we need this level of resolution but I wonder if we're pushing the limit of what Fresco can manage. Apple probably wants us to buy the new M4 Ipad Pro so sabatoging our devices. Wouldn't be suprised.

Report · Nov 25, 2024

Hello @TIPTON337660322f8w,

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind confirming if this happens with all brushes, and the version of the OS/Fresco, so I can check it with the team?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

Report · Nov 26, 2024

Hello @TIPTON337660322f8w,

One of our team members has noticed that random dots or lines appear when his pencil tip is a bit eroded. Would it be possible for them to try another tip on their Apple Pencil to see if it helps?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav