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Participating Frequently
August 20, 2020

P: Pen Tablet & Windows Ink

  • August 20, 2020
  • 104 replies
  • 7026 views

Hello everybody.

With the latest Photoshop update (21.2.2), the fix we had  to get the pressure sensitivity back with the PSUserConfig.txt fix is no longer working.

This fix was necessary to work properly with a Pen Stylus on Windows, without using the Windows Ink features.

We are used to turn of  Windows Ink systematicaly when using a Pen Tablet because it causes a lot of issues. (Wacom and other brands)

 

Why Windows Ink is not suitable 

Windows Ink ON :

 

1-There is a 1 second delay with every new clic and drag before the cursor catches up with the stylus. It happens when dragging a window, using a slider to adjust a value (in photoshop or any other app), resizing a layer, and even when drawing. So the begining of each new stroke will freeze for 1 sec before catching up to the movement of the stylus. You can imagine the hell it can be when hatching, or doing fast repetitive movements/adjustements.

 

2-Certain applications, like Chrome for exemple, don't respond to the stylus for certain things. You can't move the chrome window around at all when windows ink is enabled. You can't drag and drop email in your inbox from one tab to another, some clics and double clics aren't registered at all ...etc.

 

3-Windows Pen & Stylus fonctionnalites are working against a fluid use of a Stylus. Especially the infamous "Press and hold" setting, that needs to be disabled systematically if you don't want this "mouse freezing blue circle of death" to appear each time you stop moving your hand for more than half of a second. (I suspect this functionnality to be responsible for the lag before each new stroke, even when you have it turned off)

 

4-Just while typing this post, I've discoverd a new issue. With Windows Ink enabled, it is impossible to select text by dragging over it with the stylus. I had to drop it and use my mouse each time I wanted to edit a sentence.

 

 Windows Ink OFF:

 

1-Everything works perfectly.

2-Pressure sensitivity in Photoshop is gone, and need to be reactivated with PSUserConfig.

 

These are all the reasons (I can think of right now) why we have no choice but to disable Windows Ink, and use the WinTab alternative to get the pressure sensitivity back in Photoshop.

 

I hope you now understand why enabling Windows Ink is not a solution.

We had a solution, please do not take it away from us.

I'm assuming that everyone would love to use regular settings, and not to have to tamper with this kind of work around, but unfortunatly that is not possible.

 

Again, using WinTab is not a choice, it is essential for any serious workflow.

 

I'm currently paying for the full Adobe suite, and not being able to work properly is a big issue right now. Not knowing when this will be resolved is very worrisome.

 

PS: "Windows Ink" or "Pen and Touch" drivers on Windows, are currently pushing for touch and tablet functionnalities. These are cumbersome and unfit for any professional Stylus use.

104 replies

chad.rolfs
Community Manager
Community Manager
November 19, 2020

@Seth_Anton Yep, we're fixing this. 

AxelMatt
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 19, 2020
My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 8 - PureRAW 5 - Topaz Photo
SoyMarianoMarin
Participant
November 19, 2020

Da constantes problemas, también actualiza el soft de tu pen table, que puede ser incompatible. revisa los ultimos driver

Yo desinstalaría adobe, completamente 

Seth A
Participating Frequently
November 19, 2020

nice update, how is possible to paint now with Zero reference...

donbarrum
Inspiring
November 19, 2020

@Seth_Anton I have noticed this as well, so much brush and tablet problems these days, more with every update... 😞

Seth A
Participating Frequently
November 19, 2020

Since 22.0.1 update, brush Hardness opacity indicator ( red preview)  when you click right mouse + Alt is not working anymore. 

Is this discontinued on new update? its really important to have a preview when changing brush hardness. 

Participant
October 28, 2020

@907637_barrum Yes I check it, but didn't work, also I notice that windows ink  affect when I try to use "Alt + pen click" to manipulate the size of the brush inside liquify tool window, that shortcut doesn't work.

Wazza999
Inspiring
October 24, 2020

Exactly! I'm not holding my breath either 😒

donbarrum
Inspiring
October 24, 2020

yes me too, so I guess you have to choose between a rock and a hard place. No scrubbing or ctlr/shift overlays. I don't expect a fix from adobe anything soon, because this has been reported earlier. 

Wazza999
Inspiring
October 24, 2020

The PSUserConfig file solves the pen pressure problem but creates another one - when making a selection with the lasso tool, you can't temporarily activate the hand tool by holding spacebar in order to move the image and further your selection. Been having this common issue for ages now over various new updates.