Surface Pro 3 Wavy diagonal lines when inking

Anonymous
2014-07-12T07:29:27+00:00

I've noticed a problem with my surface pro 3 that I have not been able to work around.  When I draw a slow diagonal line, it comes out very wavy and jagged.  If I quickly draw a diagonal, it seems ok.  Has anyone else seen this, is there a fix for it?  seems to happen in every application, so it strikes me as potential hardware.

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-02-03T18:36:36+00:00

    Thanks for the links, but those posts don't seem to have any concrete answers. Also, I am unable to reply to other users who commented on my post since you moved it. How do I go about responding to them?

    Richard Diver replied to you, but HE deleted his own post.

    There isn't a concrete answer. One person on the previous age in this thread reported trying an i7 SP3 that didn't exhibit the issue.

    I'm not an artist, but I find the 'straight' lines I draw in Photoshop pretty straight. Maybe not architecturally straight, but...

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-02-03T19:35:39+00:00

    I had a i7 SP3 with the same problem, and I have tried every one SP3 in the store where I buy it, all with the same problem.

    I think Much people don't realize the problem because is not apparent when drawing fast lines.

    But much people who try to use the SP3 for drawing need to draw very slow lines ( depending of drawing style, including myself ) and with slow lines ntrig technology is just very very bad.

    This video shows the problem in other tabled using ntrig tech:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKHLU0bjH\_Y

    It is an Acer Aspire but the SP3 shows exactly the same problem. It is not related to the processor, is just the way ntrig sensors captures the pen position.

    Here is a test performed in a lot of tablets with different pen technologies, including SP2 with wacom tech and SP3 with ntrig tech. The video is self explanatory:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v-dZ4Ohp8c

    Please, try to draw realy slow lines, even using a ruler, like in that video, and post the screenshot again. I still have to find a SP3 that does not perform this way.

    This is a comparison test I did with my wacom and the ntrig pen in my i7 SP3 in photoshop. It is a hand made tiny circle performed very slowly while changing pressure, wacom vs ntrig. Of course I have tried my best in both cases, and the test is performed in the same conditions, only changing the pen input:

    My personal opinion after a lot of reading on the matter and about different pen technologies used nowadays is that the problem is inherent to the ntrig technology and will not be solved.

    I´m not sure if Microsoft really knew about this when decided to include ntrig tech in the SP3. But even if they knew it I can see why they used it. Ntrig tech include pen and touch capabilities in the same sensor, as stated in their website. This means the same sensor the SP3 uses for touch is used for the pen detection. It is capacitive technology and will never be as accurate as wacom tech. In the other hand, that allows the SP3 to be thinner than the SP2 and to save a lot of battery.

    I think for a lot of people that is a fair tradeoff. But for some professional artists like me is not.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-02-03T23:52:38+00:00

    I see! I was wondering where his reply went. Thanks for explaining. Well, those lines look significantly better than what I am able to produce. I have included a screenshot. As you can see, when drawn fast the lines are acceptable. When drawn slowly, as you have to as an artist sometimes, they become unusably wonky. 

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-03T23:56:44+00:00

    Wow, great explanation, thank you. It makes a lot of sense and I think it's probably accurate. However if it is an N-Trig issue I hope that it can and will be solved. I mean, an issue this big can't just be glazed over and forgotten. It seriously needs fixing.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-02-04T05:40:51+00:00

    Just thought I would throw my experience in here.  Wavy lines in all art apps...except for one.

    Art Rage 4 does not seem to suffer  from the same wavy line issue in my tests.  The lines arent perfect but im not a robot so i accept a small bit of natural wavyness.  It seemed much improved over my Photoshop tsets.

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