Notebooks & Netbooks

[greg1]

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me23 wrote:

Frustration is the topic of the day. after spending $50 for the for the Active Stylus R7-572, I can get it to work. I see there is a full 4/a 1.5 volt battery that was supplied with the unit, yet no connection to my touch screen, yet. Maybe it's missing a driver, or I just don't know how to work with it. I do see there is current coming out of the business end of it.

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Try configuring the display for Touch and Pen input.

Desktop > Control Panel > Tablet PC Settings

In the section that says 'Configure your pen and touch displays', click the Setup button.

On the next window ('Identify pen or touch input screens'), choose Pen Input.

Touch the pen to the display as instructed.

[greg1]

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bkuhn wrote:

I've pretty much given up on the active stylus as a waste of money. Nothing seems to recognize it as anything other than a plain old stylus, and there is no documentation at all on how it should work or be used.

Live and learn (and waste $50).

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Not all applications use pressure sensitivity, and some applications that do may only use it for certain things.  Here is one way to check your stylus pressure.

From the desktop run Windows Journal.

Click the Pen dropdown and select Marker (2mm).

On the Tools menu select Options.

On the Note Format tab click the Pen Settings button.

On the Pen Settings tab, Marker should be selected in the list of Current Pens.  If not, select it.

Click the Pressure sensitive checkbox on.

Click OK buttons twice to return to the open note.

Draw with the marker.  The width of the stroke should vary with the pen pressure.

[bkuhn]

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greg1 wrote:

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bkuhn wrote:

I've pretty much given up on the active stylus as a waste of money. Nothing seems to recognize it as anything other than a plain old stylus, and there is no documentation at all on how it should work or be used.

Live and learn (and waste $50).

---

Not all applications use pressure sensitivity, and some applications that do may only use it for certain things.  Here is one way to check your stylus pressure.

From the desktop run Windows Journal.

Click the Pen dropdown and select Marker (2mm).

On the Tools menu select Options.

On the Note Format tab click the Pen Settings button.

On the Pen Settings tab, Marker should be selected in the list of Current Pens.  If not, select it.

Click the Pressure sensitive checkbox on.

Click OK buttons twice to return to the open note.

Draw with the marker.  The width of the stroke should vary with the pen pressure.

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that works! I had to select the "pressure sensitive" checkbox under pen options, and it seems to work well with the journal.

thanks!

Now, what else does it work with?

[greg1]

thanks!

You're welcome!

Now, what else does it work with?

Well, as far as applications installed by default with Windows, not any that I can think of.  Paint does not.

Free apps in the Windows app store, I have not looked at many.  Definitely OneNote, Fresh Paint and Sketchbook Express.

Desktop applications that you can purchase, the list is extensive.  Microsoft Office applications (OneNote, Word, etc.) support pressure sensitivity in their inking functions.  You can get trial versions of some art applications.  Sketchbook Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Manga Studio/Clip Studio Paint, Corel Painter, ArtRage, ZBrush.  There are many more.

Freeware/shareware desktop applications, there are some that do.  SmoothDraw, MyPaint, FireAlpaca, InkSeine, Inkscape, Gimp.

A few of these (notably Photoshop) require WinTab driver support for pressure sensitivity and that has been a problem for devices that use N-Trig digitizer and stylus technology... including the R7.

[Dreamer53]

This message is for Surfaceproartis - I just wanted to thank you for the 10% off discount you mention in your post. I don't know where else to find the right pen for my Acer Aspire R7-572 convertible. I just happened on your post (I read them all) & saw yours. It may not be a big deal, but even $5 off is better than nothing. So again, Thanks.

[surfaceproartis]

My pleasure! Please visit my blog for more Windows 8 art tips. SurfaceProArtist.com 

Look forward to seeing what you create on your R7!

[FenderGuy]

I am thinking of getting a R7 for the pen, do you know if it works in Adobe Acrobat to sign documents in PDF? I use to work for Samsung and the Note worked for this purpose, but the Note tablet had limits and I would prefer to get a laptop with the ability to turn into a tablet.

[surfaceproartis]

Yes all Tablet PCs work great with Adobe Acrobat.

[FenderGuy]

I just realized that the model I want to get is the R13 and not the R7, I assume Acer still has the same pen features as the R7 correct?