Surface Pro 3 Pen Button Customization

Remapping is a possibility depending on how N-Trig built them.  May have to redo the entire controller software as well.  So, you cannot remap like you can with a keyboard.  If the pens where built generic and allowed the driver to perform the mapping, then a software remap would be very easy.  In fact, I think that is what everybody was expecting out of them.

The Pro and Pro 2 had a generic Wacom pen and had the digitizer built into the tablet.  I think it only half worked, though.  The Pro 3 has no digitizer within the tablet itself and is built into the pen.  The tablet only has the controller which doubles as the touchscreen controller as well.  I think you can see the direction I am going on this; remapping - forget it.

There was so much interest in note taking that, that is the possible direction for these particular pens.  So, for the drawing aspect, it will probably be simplified and like I mentioned; an electronic stylus.  It works but it is simple.

Now as a digital sketchbook, that is what this pen is for if not taking notes.  You will not have a lot of options but depending on the program you use, it will rely on those features.  A sketch is not a mechanical drawing.

After seeing that video of an artist in the UK doing a portrait of Morgan Freeman using an iPad and two fingers and it came out perfect, brings to light of looking at what few tools a person has and using their imagination for creativity.  I think that with that pen and the right app, you might surprise yourself at what you can do and you don't really need all those "bells & whistle" features that most programs offer.

Heck, you might even find yourself even doing better work with the free app from AutoDesk in the Store and that pen.  I played around with it myself and works pretty good.  Add that with Skitch and for mechanical drawings, "Back to the Drawing Board".  Along with using PowerPoint for page layout as well.

Who says a person has to be limited!

By the way, here is the web link to the HD version of that Morgan Freeman portrait video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player\_embedded&v=uEdRLlqdgA4

My understanding is Microsoft and N-trig are working on an updated Driver and adjusting the pressure curve. Customizable Buttons are within the realm of the hardware but takes modification to the driver and/or Firmware.

N-trig has been pretty good at updating the Firmware of its Digitizers and I also know that Adobe is working with Microsoft and N-trig as well. The main thing moving forward is for Adobe to move forward in the product suite around the native Windows Ink API and away from the WINTAB Model.

As far as the other titles, they are still coded for Wacom and specifically the WINTAB Driver. Magna Studio and Art Rage as well as a few others are using the native Windows Ink API and perform much better on the SP3.

Very informative. I just hope at least some of this gets adressed as it would make this device ALOT better.

Agreed. Agreed. Agreed! I NEED the use of at least 1 custom macro on the pen. I already spoke to N-trig about giving the users some kind of GUI to allow for customization of the pen in a new driver release. They just said "thank you, we value your input." Honestly didn't seem like that was going anywhere. Maybe MS could pressure N-trig to roll out a driver that meets our needs? The software is what is hindering my SP3 right now.....so sad for such a beautifully endowed piece of hardware.

I have run into this same problem.

I'm really confused how poorly the Surface pro 3 is being supported by Microsoft.

For being a device targeted at power users, it sure seems like my hands are tied by oversimplification way too often.