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ViTiW
Participant
October 27, 2012
Answered

Vaio Duo 11 pen pressure unsupported?

  • October 27, 2012
  • 2 replies
  • 23008 views

Hi, I've just bought Sony Vaio Duo 11 i7 edition with Windows 8 Pro, but I found pen pressure isn't working on neither Photoshop CS5.0.4 or Photoshop Elements 10, while its pen pressure works on Fresh Paint and Artrage 3.5.5. Can anyone help?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Chris Cox

If the driver isnt' reporting pressure correctly, then it won't work in Photoshop.

The other 2 apps you mention use a different API for pen pressure -- so probably the older API is broken in your driver.

You'll probably have to go through Sony for driver updates.

2 replies

V
ViTiWAuthor
Participant
December 28, 2012

Didn't notice so many replies as I didn't check my e-mail so often and flooded with advertising. I thought this discussion is dead already. So...

After reading some Japanese (though I'm still studying Japanese) reviews and interviews of Duo 11, yes, some people said it already, it's a n-trig stylus, and it seems to have MS Ink or (Tablet PC some may call) APIs only; I tried it on another software which allows choose using WinTab or MS Ink (TabletPC it refers) API for stylus, and the pen pressures works perfectly on MS Ink and doesn't work on WinTab API. Accoring to one of the Japanese interview of Duo 11 (which interviews the designer, technician and marketing director), they (Sony guys) mentioned that they wanted to have wider stylus support but that depends on software vendor intention, which probably means Sony are less likely, if not meant not at all, to update the stylus to support WinTab API-only software. They also mentioned that the reason they chose N-trig because "the other technology" sensor is thicker that would cause the tablet exceed 18mm (and therefore cannot be classified as Ultrabook).

With more tablet PC using n-trig tablet (sadly still overwhelmed by touch-only tablet), I believe adding support for N-trig stylus (or MS ink) is needed, rather than waiting for driver update, since the driver isn't broken anyway. Guess this isn't a question anymore.

JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 29, 2012

ViTiW wrote:

With more tablet PC using n-trig tablet (sadly still overwhelmed by touch-only tablet), I believe adding support for N-trig stylus (or MS ink) is needed, rather than waiting for driver update, since the driver isn't broken anyway. Guess this isn't a question anymore.

Only high price powerful tablets will be running Windows 8 Pro and have driver that use API the interface with windows. These machines will also have USB so external tablets can be attached it the tablet has a built in N-trig digitizer. Is a tablet a good Photoshop device time will tell.

JJMack
J
jwjarv1s
Participant
July 12, 2013

I'm thinking about purchasing the new VAIO Duo 13 Custom Touch Ultrabook. Would you guys recommend it or do you think I'll run into driver and other issues?

Chris Cox
Chris CoxCorrect answer
Legend
October 27, 2012

If the driver isnt' reporting pressure correctly, then it won't work in Photoshop.

The other 2 apps you mention use a different API for pen pressure -- so probably the older API is broken in your driver.

You'll probably have to go through Sony for driver updates.

P
pwr_usr
Participating Frequently
November 18, 2012

I am in a similar situation. Just got the Sony Vaio Duo 11 and the pressure sensitive pen is not working. I downloaded the Photoshop CS6 trial but it shows a warning when I try to set pen pressure in the brushes "Control by pen pressure requires a pressure sensitive tablet". I know the pen pressure works in Microsoft, Sony, and ArtRage products.

How can I check that "the pen is not reporting pressure correctly?" Surely if its working with all these other programs it is reporting it correctly?

Why does Photoshop not support the "differnt API?" It seems to be popular with other software developers?  

P
pwr_usr
Participating Frequently
November 20, 2012

Looking in Device Manager in Windows 8 I found 4 devices under Human Interface Devices that make up the control interface for the touchscreen and pen. The composite device is listed with a hardware ID of

HID\VID_1B96&PID_0F00&REV_016

There are three child HI Compliant devices

HID\VID_1B96&PID_0F00&REV_016&Col1

HID\VID_1B96&PID_0F00&REV_016&Col2

HID\VID_1B96&PID_0F00&REV_016&Col3

All of these devices are using driver:

Provider: Microsoft

Date: 6/21/2009

Version: 6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247)

Files: hidclass.sys, hidparse.sys, hidusb.sys

So yes this device is using drivers built into Windows 8 and provided by Microsoft.


Digging a little deeper I have discovered (dun dun dunnnnnnn) that this is probably a N-trig Duosense device. So it seems I am not early to this party, like I first thought since this a brand new product, and it looks like N-trig, Microsoft, and Adobe have been dancing for a while.

http://forums.adobe.com/thread/374836 : N-Trig Tablet Not Recognized

http://forums.adobe.com/message/1667559 : Pen Pressure/Tilt in PS 7 when using a Tablet PC that uses N-Trig

http://forums.adobe.com/message/1660307 : Photoshop Pressure Doesn't work on Multitouch Tablet Pc's!

To summarize the above posts:

  • N-Trig does not use the WinTab API instead opting for the Microsoft Ink API. Adobe does not support the MS Ink API. So Adobe does not support any N-Trig device.
  • Adobe does not support MS Ink because: WinTab does everything correctly. MS Ink is incomplete, does not provide pen tilt, is not worth supporting. N-Trig has been uncooperative, does not respond, slow to create drivers.
  • N-trig does not support WinTab beacuse: WinTab is expensive to license, MS Ink is free, MS Ink does everything they need, MS may be an N-Trig investor.

Some points to consider:

  • I have found 23 laptops with N-trig pen tablets built in. Dell (9), Fujitsu (3), HP (3), Lenovo (5), Sharp (2), Toshiba (1). The majority of new Windows 8 tablets being launched right now use N-trig. N-Trig is also a major player on Android phones and tablets.
  • It appears that MS Ink has been around since 2003. It has been an option in XP & Win 7, and now native in Win 8. It now apparently supports pressure, tilt, and twist. I think most people will agree that it is now the standard for pen input.
  • I agree that MS has a track record of producing buggy code and lots of flip flopping. Windows 8 seems like a weak offering.

All of the posts above are from 2009 and reference CS4 products. It's now almost 3 years later and 2 major releases.

Does Adobe still not support MS Ink? If so why?

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