No pen pressure happening on secondary PC

from Stardock Forums

Hi.  It's hard to say if this is a Multiplicity thing or not, but I figured I'd ask...

I have Affinity Photo running on my secondary PC, and I'm using a Wacom Intuos4 tablet.

On the primary computer, the pressure sensitivity of the pen appears to be working (based on the Wacom control planel), yet in Affinity Photo, it seems no pressure is being detected.  I BELIEVE I have things set up properly in the program (the 'Force Pressure' button is highlighted, which I think is all you need to do), yet the brush width is not affected.

I should point out that I'm using KVM mode (as I have 1 monitor).

So, I wanted to see if this is a known/possible issue thing in Multiplicity.

I'm perfectly okay with having the tablet connected directly to the secondary machine, as I don't need it on the primary.  But, when I do that, it seems to be overridden by the mouse.  But, if there's a way to get it to work, either attached to the primary and shared via Multiplicity, or by connecting it directly to the secondary (and therefore not usable by the primary).

 

UPDATE: So, suddenly connecting the tablet directly to the secondary machine, it is now working (with pressure)... but, the brush (in Affinity Photo) just sits in its original position (dictated by the mouse), yet there is an invisible version of the brush that is controllable... but, invisible.  So, there's two 'brushes'... the one controlled by the mouse (visible), and another that the tablet controls (invisible).

Any idea how to get the visible one to sync up with the invisible... basically, make this work properly?

 

Win7 Pro (Secondary), Win7 Premium (Primary)

multiplicity
5,454 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your problem to Stardock Support team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

 

Basj

Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Additional notes:

1) While I'm waiting, I've have the tablet connected to the primary PC (so I can see the brush), and along with the lack of pressure control, I noticed an odd latency... but only on initial contact with the tablet.  After about a 1/4 second delay when the pen hits the tablet, the responsiveness of the brush is actually great (easily keeps up with any scribbling I do)... as long as the pen stays in contact with the tablet.  As soon as I lift off, the delay happens again, when I touch the tablet with the pen again.  It's just that intial contact that causes a delay, then it's great.  Any thoughts on that, too?   (Last minute note: Sometimes I have that latency, sometimes  I don't. I got it again today.  Animated 'wait' circle appears each time the pen touches the tablet)

2) I just connected the tablet directly to the secondary PC (where my paint programs are), and this time, I foudn the brush is actually visible, yet the ORIGINAL pointer still remains stationary (dictated by the mouse position).  So, I effectively have TWO pointers... The one controlled by the mouse (crosshair of the paint program), and the one controlled by the pen (actual brush shape).  If I suddenly move the mouse, the brush shape snaps back in sync with the pointer.  The issue seems that, when using the pen, the crosshair is not released from the mouse.

Any fix for that?  (Again, I'm perfectly fine with having the tablet directly connected to the secondary PC, and having it only usable on that system.  I don't need it on the primary.

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi, any progress on that?  I'm loving Multiplicity, and it's serving all my needs, but the tablet thing is a big issue.

 

Again, here's a summary:

-3 Win7 PCs (Primary: Win7Premium-64bit,  Secondary1-64bit: WinPro,  Secondary2: WinPremium-32bit)

-1 monitor/keyboard/mouse, so I'm using KVM mode exclusively.

-Need drawing tablet (Wamcom Intuos4) to work for Secondary1 (Win7Pro-64bit).  Although it would be nice to have it available to all PCs, I am fine with it only being available on Secondary1.

-Connecting tablet to Primary: No pen pressure in any drawing software (even though tablet software on Primary verifies it is happening).  Sometimes a delay on initial contact of pen on tablet (circle icon forms), yet all drawing (while pen is in contact) keeps up very nicely, and delay only reappears if pen is lifted from tablet).  Can't test pen pressure using tablet software on Secondary, as it doesn't detect the tablet (since it is not directly attached to that computer).

-Connecting tablet directly to Secondary: Using pen results in original brush circle/crosshair staying in initial spot (dictated by mouse), while a secondary brush shape (preview of the stroke) moves based on pen (resulting in two 'brushes'... one following the pen, while the other stays stationary).  Moving the mouse results in both 'brushes' snapping together (in sync) and opperating normally.  Outside of painting programs, the mouse pointer stays motionless in the last mouse position, while an invisible pen-controlled pointer moves with the pen (and functions).  So, with direct connection, the mouse does not let go of control of the crosshair/pointer itself, yet the pen manages to move the location of the 'brush', and functions properly (aside from the graphic pointer/crosshair not following along).  Pen pressure works in this setup.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

First, this has never been tested nor would we easily be able to set up an environment for it. 

That said, my first advice would be to ensure that all tablet software exists on ALL PCs even if the tablet is only connected to the Primary.  MP sends simulated keys / commands - if the destination PC does not interpret it correctly, or cant because the software does not exist, that will be an issue.

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi.  Yes, both PCs have the software installed.

It seems like Multiplicity does not transmit pressure information.

Also, even if I unplug the mouse from the Primary, and plug both the tablet and mouse into the secondary, the software seems to still hang onto the mouse position (and you still get the scenario outlined in the 'connect tablet directly to secondary' scenario.

This is the one and only thing I have found an issue with, with Multiplicity.  It's definitely an issue, as there seems to be no workaround (including directly pugging in both the mouse and tablet to the secondary, since the software still seems to cling to the mouse).

I'm really hoping your staff can look into this, and either find some issue I have with the setup, or add the required support to the software.

All you need to test it on your side is a tablet (ideally with pressure sensitivity).

 

Is there any settings in the Multiplicity control panels (either on Primary or Secondary) which might affect the transmission of pressure info, or the release of the mouse pointer when the tablet is connected to the secondary?