Pixelated strokes

[Kostiantyn D]

Hi, I have a weird issue where my strokes in Photoshop become pixelated. It happens after a few minutes of drawing, and it's gone after I switch to another app and come back to Photoshop. But it happens again after a few minutes.

In the picture below, the left side shows normal lines, while the right side shows pixelated ones.

I use the default hard brush with smoothing turned off, and I don't change brush settings, so the lines on both sides were drawn with the same settings.

Photoshop version: 24.5.0

Tablet: Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Touch

Wacom driver version: 6.4.2-3

Nvidia driver version: 535.98 (RTX 3070)

Windows version: 11 Home 22H2

I tried disabling Windows Ink and placing 'UseSystemStylus 0' into 'PSUserConfig.txt,' but it didn't help. I also tried changing some settings in the Performance tab in Photoshop but it didn't help either.

Has anyone else experienced the same issue?

[Leslie Moak Murray]

Make sure that when you stroke, "Brush" is selected and not "pencil."

[Kostiantyn D]

Thanks for your reply Leslie. I double checked, it was the Brush tool.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

What are you talking about exactly? 

I fail to notice a relevant difference in the quality of the strokes. 

Edit: I think I get what you meant now … not the edges themselves, but the »stairs« on a larger scale.  

Could you please post screenshots taken at View > 100% with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Brush Settings, Options Bar, …) visible the next time it happens? 

[Kostiantyn D]

Yes, the stairs! They become hard to notice when zoomed in. Thanks for looking into it, I will take another screenshot when I'm at home after work.

[Kostiantyn D]

Here is a screenshot with all the settings visible. On the left side are lines with the "stairs" effect when the issues happens. On the right side are normal lines (after doing Alt+Tab).

Yesterday I removed 'UseSystemStylus 0' from 'PSUserConfig.txt' and re-enabled Windows Ink and it seems it fixed the issue. I think I will leave it like this.

Using Windows Ink introduces another issue though. Slider, like the one that changes brush size, become less responsive. But I can live with it for now.

[Trevor.Dennis · Accepted solution]

I should have mentioned that, but didn't catch that you were using a Cintiq.  Windows Ink has been the preferred API for tablets for several versions. 

I see you are using Windows.  Do you use Lazy Nezumi Pro?  It is the single most useful third party Photoshop addon bar none IMO, and fixes several tablety issues like shoelace line endings.  It was doing amazing brush smoothing years and years before Photoshop added, and it still does a better job with lots of options.  I especially like being able to map line width to pressure rather than Photoshop's linear progression.

This is from the LNP Info page

As is this one which appears to relate directly to your issue

My most used preset is Vanishing Lines which allows you to match perspective to original scenes, but it has dozens of presets so do check it out.

[Kostiantyn D]

Thank you so much for mentioning this addon! I've never seen it before though I googled the issue a lot. It seems it fixes the exact issue I have. Will try it out when I'm at home. And vanishing lines too, I used Clip Studio and Krita a little in the past and I was impressed with their support for perspective. It's very nice that all of these goodies are in one single addon.

[Trevor.Dennis]

The only thing I can think of is that you are using an erodible preset.  The easiest fix is to reset the brush tool.

If you still have the problem, and are viewing at 100% 1:1 zoom ratio, show us a full screen full res screen shot as c.p. suggested.

[Kostiantyn D]

Thanks for the hint! Will try it out when I'm at home.

[Kostiantyn D]

I tried it but it didn't help. However, I found another workarond. See my reply to c.p.