Can I use GIMP with a Surface Pro 3 and a Surface Pro 4 Pen?

January 30, 2016 7:39 AM

I can draw fine in GIMP on my Surface Pro 3 with my new Surface Pro 4 Pen. But I can't use the rubber stamp tool. Is it just GIMP or is it the tablet or the pen?

I don't have a actual keyboard so I use the one that pops up on screen to press CTRL while I select an area to clone on the image. I have used the button on the pen and not used the button on the pen (the one near the point). It doesn't select. Has this happened to you?

posted by cda to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

I don't think this is a bad interaction between the Pro 3 and the 4 pen. (Though I have run into one problem with that combination - I don't think the Pro 3 can tell which end of the pen is pointed at the screen.)

I think what's going on here is that the on-screen keyboard doesn't actually hold down Ctrl, it just presses it along with whatever key you touch next. (You didn't say - are you using Windows?) You might need to get a different keyboard.

The button near the point of the pen is for right-clicking.
posted by reprise the theme song and roll the credits at 11:23 AM on January 30, 2016

Response by poster: It has Windows 10 on it.

I thought it might be the keyboard as the problem - the second-hand Pro 3 didn't come with a keyboard. So I will go pick one up and try that. Thanks!
posted by cda at 11:37 AM on January 30, 2016

Response by poster: That worked. Woohoo!
posted by cda at 5:00 PM on January 30, 2016