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I love the new SP4 pen, but I've noticed the pen pressure is not consistent. The biggest problem is that paint brush strokes in Photoshop don't taper smoothly when drawing. I tired using the SP4 pen on my Surface Pro 3 and it doesn't have any problem. Here is a screen capture of what I'm talking about.
Since the pen isn't the problem I'm assuming it's a calibration issue with the Surface Pro 4. I downloaded new Wintab drivers to see if that would solve the problem (got the idea from this thread about pen problems).
It's not just Photoshop. The actual Surface pen pressure app has the same problem. It's harder to see because the brush strokes are thinner, but there is a much faster tapering happening than there is on the Surface Pro 3. Here is a screen cap:
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Hey Everyone!
Thanks for all the feedback!
As some of you have already noticed, on July 14th, 2016, we released an update to the Surface Touch Driver that should significantly improve the pen tapering and pressure experience that this thread talks about.
For more information on the 7/14 update, you can go here.
If you experience any difficulty downloading or installing updates, please check the Troubles installing Surface and Windows updates article for assistance.
Thanks!
Zachary
I wanted to get in on this as well. When I first started looking at drawing tablets, I was moments away from purchasing an iPad Pro, but instead purchased the Surface Pro 4. now you guys sit here and complain about the tapering problem you have with your lines... I CAN'T EVEN GET THAT!!! In all of my art programs the pressure sensitivity doesn't work AT ALL!!! It drives me crazy!! So if anyone can help me at least get to THAT point I'd appreciate it. This is the worst experience of my life. Never again will I buy a Microsoft product... :(
I found this thread yesterday and I want to add my voice as well.
I'm a professional illustrator who mainly works in book illustration for children and young adults. My style is literally digital painting. They are complex illustrations build up from many different color nuances, shapes and values, which means that I'm constantly color picking from my canvas (In Photoshop Alt+click for eyedropper when in brush mode).
Those quick clicks just won't register at all! I'm using a custom made onscreen toolbar for shortcut keys (Toolbar pro. It would actually be great if programs like Photoshop would have this integrated for tablet users, but that's another issue) and I have found that I have to press relatively hard for at least a full second to pick the color I'm aiming for. This completely messes up my workflow and becomes incredibly tedious. It's a total dealbreaker for me.
I bought the SP4 to have the ability to work everywhere I want to and especially for ergonomic reasons to be able to step away from my desktop. The SP4 would be a dream come true for digital painters like me if it weren't for this pen pressure sensitivity problem. It isn't sub-par compared to Wacom, it is far inferior! For the amount I spend on this computer, I expect everything to be high-end. It is almost, except for the most crucial part for us digital artists.
If this is a software problem, please fix it ASAP or at least keep us users in the loop regarding an upcoming fix. I have about two weeks left before my return options run out, but I will return it if this issue won't be cleared up soon. I may invest my refund in the Wacom Cintiq Companion 2 instead.
Got my i7 16gb SP4 over the weekend. Been using the i7 8GB SP3 for a year and a half. I'm a wedding photographer who does a lot with images in Photoshop which require nice smooth lines... but with the SP4... no dice.
SP3 works fine. I don't get it. Why did I drop $1700 on a SP4 which that gets this part wrong? Otherwise I love the product. I actually hook up my Wacom to the surface when I need a smooth line, lol! That works. Oh, the irony!
Here's to hoping there is a fix soon.
It's much likely to achieve NOTHING. MS will shrug it off. Why would they care? It's just like collecting signatures to protest a decision. It's quite ineffective.
Now... If you make the media expose SP4 as super bad... then they'll react. But only until a SP5 replaces it NeXT year or so.
