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.

[Shire23]

Has anyone figured this one out yet?  I'm on an iPad Air (5th Gen) using a USB-C Apple Pencil (genuine) and for the lift of me I can't get my brush strokes to show up as am I'm making them.  When using my Apple Pencil, my brush strokes don't appear until I life my Pencil off of the screen.  Can't seem to find a solution anywhere.  However, when I use my finger, my brush strokes show up as I'm making them.  Adobe support was no help.

[Shire23]

After some more investigation, I figured out the issue.  As mentioned in my original post, I was using the USB-C Apple Pencil model.  Apparently, this particular Apple Pencil isn't supported (and also doesn't have pressure sensitivity), so the Photoshop for iPad app treats it like a third-party stylus, resulting in the behavior of brush strokes not showing up until lifting the pencil off of the screen.  One week into back-and-forth emails with Adobe support and multiple support chats, nobody mentioned I was using an unsupported, but official Apple Pencil.  I returned my USB-C Apple Pencil and got a 2nd Gen one and it works like a charm.  Hopefully this might save someone some time and frustration.

[Shire23]

I did some more research and figured out the issue for my situation.  The only solution I could find for this was that people were using a third-party stylus and not an official Apple Pencil.  I knew 100% my Apple Pencil was genuine, so I knew this wasn't the issue but I couldn't find any other solutions anywhere.  Apparently the USB-C Apple Pencil (A3085) isn't supported in the Photoshop for iPad app, which results in the app treating this particular Apple Pencil as if it's a third-party stylus.  I went through almost a week of back and forth emails with Adobe Support and multiple support chats, and nobody on Adobe's end told me I was using an unsupported (though official) Apple Pencil.  I returned the USB-C Apple Pencil and got a 2nd Gen one and everything works like a charm.

Side note, the USB-C version doesn't support pressure sensitivity. This was my own fault because I didn't do enough research.  I thought the only difference was the wireless pairing and charging, which wasn't a big deal to me.  This flub is all on me, but just wanted to mention it in case others may miss it too.

[Sean @ One]

I wish more people new about this. Guess I'm heading back to the Apple Store tomorrow

[greenharamaki]

Did anyone find a solution for this? I'm using an Apple Pencil Gen 2 and I'm using the most recent version of photoshop as of 2024. I'm using the free trail of the educational purchase. My brush strokes don't appear unless I lift my pen. It's very frustrating. I was excited to use Adobe but I can't deal with this at all and I'm just resorting back to procreate. Will Adobe be fixed??

[Ian30608409undb]

I have this bug too. Genuine Apple Pencil which works perfectly with everything else on my iPad Pro. Why has this not been fixed by now, Adobe?

[JRoast_Beef]

Same problem. It's (in my opinion anyways) one of the most important, basic functions of being able to draw on a tablet. For a company like adobe to be missing something like this while expecting that you pay for all their apps is crazy. The original post was from 5 or so years ago and it's still missing. I was previously using Medibang Paint but thought "I wonder if I can skip the adds by using the photoshop app". Not being able to see the brush as you're drawing is so frustrating that I'd rather deal with the adds that show up when saving. Medibang has all the basics and is really responsive(even with my 15$ amazon stylus).

[petiili]

Wow, really frustrating to find out this kind of a basic level problem. Also seems that newer pencil is not supported on my new iPad, so option is either to buy iPad that supports v2 pencil + pencil v2 ...or to learn and use another software 😔

[keefxkhan]

This is completely unacceptable. Apple did not put any disclaimer that the usb-c Apple Pencil would not be compatible with the world's most popular photo manipulation software. Sure I don't particularly care about pressure sensitivity but I should be able to draw in a usable way.  Adobe has not made any statement about this issue from what I can see and I was not informed rightly as a consumer. I an heavily considering filing a complaint with the FTC. 

[ruckdhedhamma_5414]

brush delay when use apple pencil usb c on ps in ipad

The line will appear after lifting the pen. There are only normal selection tools.

[Shivani Somayajula]

Hi ruckdhedhamma_5414, 

A bug has already been logged for this issue. I'm merging this thread with the parent thread. Please add your update to the parent thread. 

Thanks, 

Shivani