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Participating Frequently
August 20, 2020

P: Pen Tablet & Windows Ink

  • August 20, 2020
  • 104 replies
  • 7149 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

Gixxxa75
Inspiring
September 9, 2020
21.2.3 Clone tool sample point does not move, same as previous version. That is using windows ink, I find version 20.0.10 works pretty well using windows ink, if that's any help.
chad.rolfs
Participating Frequently
September 9, 2020
Yes, PSUserConfig.txt (WinTab) should be functioning again in the update that was just released (21.2.3) - that is one of the things we fixed.

We are working with MS to deal with the popups but we don't own those and can't fix that - MS has to do it or at minimum provide a way to disable them.

Yes, we have a bug on the Clone/Healing brush source point not tracking with Win Ink.  If you use the PSUserConfig.txt workaround to enable WinTab and disable Win Ink via Wacom Settings > Calibrate, tracking should work. 
Known Participant
September 9, 2020
To clarify, I'm working off a Huion Kamvas 13 (2020 version), and while the pen actually tracks as it should, even after a complete uninstall and restart, I still don't have pen pressure control.
Participant
September 9, 2020
Just tested Photoshop 21.2.3 and if using WinINK and Wacom Intuos Tablet and Pen the Clone Brush tool and Healing Brush tool are still broken as in 21.2.2. The source (+) point is still stuck at the original sample location and does not move along with the brush as it should. Ok, so now we can use the old WinTAB/ PSUserConfig  again as a "fix" but I do not see this as an adequate long term solution for Windows users.

Known Participant
September 9, 2020
I still can't get pen pressure to work, even with 21.2.3 and the PSUserConfig file and Windows Ink off. What's going on?
Inspiring
September 9, 2020
What exactly DID you fix in this update. Would you mind clarify?

It seems that we now can use the product we pay for, Photoshop, like almost intended, because that you allow the little hack with the txt-file for wintab.

Two short examples. I still cant use crop tool. It freaks out as usual with WinInk.

The ctrl/shift/alt popups are still in the way for work. IF this is a system bug, because it IS a bug, and it cant be turned off in WinInk, WinINK should NOT be used in a professional work environment.

So, again, would you mind clarify WHAT you set out to fix with this update.

Food for thought, Adobe.
Inspiring
September 9, 2020
What exactly DID you fix in this update. Would you mind clarify?

It seems that we now can use the product we pay for, Photoshop, like almost intended, because that you allow the little hack with the txt-file for wintab.

Two short examples. I still cant use crop tool. It freaks out as usual with WinInk.

The ctrl/shift/alt popups are still in the way for work. IF this is a system bug, because it IS a bug, and it cant be turned off in WinInk, WinINK should NOT be used in a professional work environment.

So, again, would you mind clarify WHAT you set out to fix with this update.

Food for thought, Adobe.
donbarrum
Inspiring
September 9, 2020
WinTab is back, thank you! I will gladly switch to WinINK whenever it does what WinTab does in a better way. Currently I have not experienced anything that improves the experience while working on 21.2.2 Just getting rid of the ctrl alt and shift popups blocking your view of the brushpointer is worth keeping WinTab. Please don't break or remove WinTab again. 
Known Participant
September 9, 2020
Wow... please hire QA testers.

Broke dual brush resizing even with PsUserConfig. Same bug from 21.2.2.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/819hoi1xkt0jdwq/photoshop21.2.2brushresizebug.mp4?dl=0
mattstix
Known Participant
September 9, 2020
PSUserConfig.txt now works Windows 10 / Intuos Pro

Appreciate the fix but now PLEASE LEAVE IT ALONE!!!