P: Photoshop iPad - Brush Strokes Don't Appear Until I Lift Apple Pencil (Type-C)

[Shire23]

• Device: iPad Air (5th Gen) running iPadOS 17.2.
• Stylus: Apple Pencil (USB-C) - A3085
• Photoshop for iPad version: 5.4 (20231204.515)

When using my Apple Pencil in the Photoshop for iPad app, my brush strokes do not show up on the screen until I lift my Apple Pencil off of the screen.  When using my finger, my brush strokes show up as I make them.  Of course this makes the creative process difficult because you can't see where your brush stroke has been unless you lift your pencil off of the screen.

I have completed the following troubleshooting steps:

• Tried this with my wife's Apple Pencil (same model) on her iPad (10th Gen) and hers does the same thing.
• Unpaired and repaired my Apple Pencil
• Restarted my iPad
• Uninstalled and reinstalled the Photoshop for iPad app.
• I tried the "Stylus only painting" option both on and off with the same results.
• I have searched high and low online and have seen others with this same issue, but no resolution.  I'm 100% sure my Apple Pencil is genuine, so I know that's not the issue.

I have attached two videos.  One shows the behavior in Photoshop for iPad when using my Apple Pencil and the other shows the behavior of using my finger.

[noah_9420]

Hey there! Thanks for replying. I'm using an iPad 10th Generation and the USB-C Apple Pencil. I am using the latest version of the software. The same thing happens when I use my finger and it happens for every tool.

[noah_9420]

Whenever I use the remove tool, I like to see the brush stroke as I'm moving the pencil at the same time. That's the issue that I'm facing currently

[Aleke]

Hey @noah_9420

I understand this might be disappointing, but unfortunately, the USB-C Apple Pencil isn't officially supported by Photoshop on the iPad. It's read as a third-party pencil and doesn't have some of the functionalities that the supported Apple Pencils (Gen 1 and Gen 2) have. You can read more about it here: https://adobe.ly/4jtZWoF

Thank you for your understanding. 

Alek

[noah_9420]

Ok, no problem. 2 questions. Firstly, why was my pencil working at first? Was it the version I had at the time? Secondly, is there an application I can use to make my pencil identify as if it were a supported pencil?

[noah_9420]

Yeah it's because my pencil isn't "supported". Why did they change that? It's not like it's a third-party product. Is there any fix to this?

[gabriela_1203]

My stylus is not drawing in real time it means that the line which I draw by stylus is visible after I disconnect stylus from the screen

I will add that drawing by fingers works without any bugs

iPad10 / iPencil USB C / PHOTOSHOP 6.1.1

[richard_8516]

Still an issue as of May 2025. Please fix this. There's probably a good technical reason it has not happened but it is terrible UX.

[richard_8516]

Product team,  you must realise this issue probably burns a lot of consumer trust and brand image in what is a premium product. When paying for a CC subscription users expect this to just work. It is not obsolete or low quality hardware. This hiatus makes the Photoshop iOS/iPad app looked severy crippled to pencil users and far from 'pro'.

I hope the Photoshop product owner will reconsider.

[????????_6763]

Hey currently having the same problem, it could really helpful if you could tell me if you found a solution, thanks

[Noel Orridge]

Hi @????????_6763 Thank you for reaching out and welcome to the community! 

Could you tell us more about the issue like the version of photoshop and the OS you're working with? Also, is your issue the exact same as VictorLion or are there other variables involved? Which Apple Pencil are you using? 

You can try these steps out for a quick fix while we wait for your reply.

1) Pressure Sensitivity Settings in Photoshop:

• Open Photoshop on your iPad.
• Tap the gear icon (settings) in the upper-right corner.
• Select Input and then Apple Pencil.
• Adjust the Pressure sensitivity slider. Experiment with different levels to see if it makes a difference.

2) "Stylus only painting" option:

• Go to iPad Settings > Apple Pencil.
• Look for an option like "Only Draw with Apple Pencil" or similar. Try toggling it on and off and testing in Photoshop.

3) Brush Settings (within Photoshop): Ensure "Smoothing" isn't set to an extremely high value, which can sometimes cause perceived lag or delayed rendering.

Cheers!

[????????_6763]

Στάλθηκε από το iPad μου

[????????_6763]

so sorry for the delay. I thought I sent you a message earlier but it didn't come maybe because I was trying via email address so I was telling that I have the Photoshop 6.2 version the iPad 2025 with the version 18.5 and I'm having the Apple Pencil USBC. I'm sending you a video where I'm trying various things that you said but it doesn't make any difference. Thank you so much for the quick reply and for trying to help have a nice day.

[????????_6763]

Hey, I don't know if you saw my message. Maybe I answered myself, below I have sent a message with a video and explaining stuff, if you haven't seen it check it out if possible thanks 

[Feasty]

.i had the same issue with my iPad a16 2025 and Apple Pencil usb c but I used it tonight and it works perfectly? No delay Has it been fixed?, one thing I have done is charged my pencil up ????