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Participant
May 17, 2019
Answered

Pressure sensitivity in Illustrator is grayed out for Calligraphic brushes on macOS Mojave

  • May 17, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 30795 views

I just got a Wacom Intuos Pro tablet, installed the drivers and started using both Illustrator and the drawing tablet. I was really excited about trying out pressure sensitivity with the brushes, but I can't get the option to work in Illustrator.

When I choose the brush tool, I double click on the picture of the brush size to open the "Calligraphic Brush Options" window. I watched several people activate this on YouTube videos by adjusting the size variation and then selecting "pressure" from the dropdown menu. However, when I open the menu, pressure and several other options appear on the list, but I am only actually able to choose between "fixed" or "random."

Is there another setting I have to adjust first in order to activate pressure sensitivity? I am completely new to using both drawing tablets and Ai. Please help.

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    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Anshul_Saini

    Or you install the beta version of Illustrator. This way I described above works for me on macOS Big Sur.


    Hi All, @crgrory @WillyBee @crgrory 

     

    We understand this is a long-standing issue, but it is resolved with update v26.2.1. Please update the app. This update fixes the issue of Wacom tablets not having pen pressure on macOS.

     

    However, if you are not using a Wacom tablet, then I would suggest you install both the Wacom driver & your tablet driver, which will help you get the pen pressure. This is a tested resolution/ workaround for Non-Wacom tablets, and we have confirmed this with multiple users. Let me know if it works for you.

     

    I hope this helps!

     

    Thanks & Regards,
    Anshul Saini

     

    #Marking it correct to highlight

    3 replies

    Participant
    October 9, 2024

    Enable the device in Illustrator preferences.

    Participant
    October 29, 2021

    Hey All,

     

    for anyone seeking for a solution.

    I am  on Macbook Air M1,Big Sur, Illustrator 26.  XP-Pen  Deco 01  v2. I tried all the guides listed in the comments none  of it worked.  The only thing that is working for me is using Wacom 6D Pens. This pens work with pressure sensitivity and i can modify them to my needs (change size,  rotation etc).  When I go into pen  settings it is set to pressure however when I  open list (Fixed, Random, Pressure ....) the  sensitivity  option is  still greyed out and ifI change it I cannot go back.

    Also I have to add the Wacom Pens whenever I start new file.

    So the penworks with  Illustrator it is just a bug in Illustrator  settings. 

    Please fixit Adobe.

     

    ignite_mike
    Inspiring
    November 26, 2021

    Thanks for this tip. That worked for me as a temporary workaround. I have since worked with Adobe to resolve the issue. For anyone looking to solve the problem on Illustrator 2022 (V26), I had to download and install Adobe Illustrator 2020. Here is their instructions:

     

    Once it has download then install it.
    Second steps is click on Apple icon>system preference>privacy and security>privacy>automation and checked the Illustrator there.
     Restart the machine and check it again. 
     
    I actually didn't even have to restart the machine, it just worked. Right after installing a window poped up telling me that Illustrator was requesting access to control the wacom tablet. I hit allow and boom! This fix enables Illustrator 2022 to function as it should with the Wacom Tablet. Hopefully they put out a patch soon that just resolved this within 2022, but for now this will fix it.
     
    The only catch here is that Illustartor 2020 no longer seems to be available from the Adobe website or from CC. I had to use a special link provided by the adobe tech. You may need to reach out to adobe to request access to Illustrator 2020.
     
    Hope that helps some of you. 
    sillyilyy
    Participant
    January 26, 2022

    Thank you!!! I spent 2 days looking at adobe and wacom forums for help and this fixed it! I wasnt able to find an Ai 2020 download link but i found a 2019 and once i installed it, it fixed Ai 2022 not showing up in the "automation" tab in system prefrences, restarted my imac and it worked!

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 17, 2019

    Which system is it?

    There are some additional remarks on installing the driver on the Wacom website. You have to allow the system control over the tablet.

    Participant
    May 17, 2019

    I have a Mac running "Mojavi" ios10.14.4

    Adobe Illustrator CC

    And Wacom Intuos Pro PTH660

    I think I remember allowing that option, but I will double check in control panel

    chanaart
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    July 22, 2019

    I actually have another issue cannot set up the pressure in Illustrator...did the following:

    Reinstalled Illustrator.

    Reinstalled drives.

    allowed Mac to control drivers...

    still mot working!

    Sent a not to Wacom...no answer....

    Have been using Wacom since 1988......