Input settings
Pen input passes through the device and operating system before reaching the editor and brush. If pressure is missing or the cursor is offset, first work out where the problem starts. Once the pen works, you can assign frequently used commands to controls that are comfortable while drawing.
These draft guides describe the intended workflow and include features that are still in development.
What you'll learn
- Distinguish missing pressure from a brush response that needs adjustment.
- Check tablet-to-screen mapping and separate pen input from touch navigation.
- Assign undo, brush size, and canvas navigation to reachable keys or pen buttons.
Check pressure before changing the brush
Use the built-in Pencil preset with its default settings. Pressing harder should make the line wider and darker. Draw a stroke that gradually increases and decreases in force. If the stroke stays uniform, check whether pressure works in another drawing application. A problem in both apps points to the device or its driver; a problem only in Capy Canvas calls for checking its input and preset settings.
If pressure works but takes too much force, adjust the pressure response. Test with your normal grip rather than pressing harder to reach the preset’s maximum. Use the brush engine settings for the response of an individual preset.
Map the pen and touch input
On a separate tablet, check that its active area maps to the display containing Capy Canvas. A mismatched aspect ratio can make a circular hand movement produce an oval on screen. On a pen display, check alignment near the center and edges if the cursor appears offset from the tip.
If resting your hand creates marks, check palm rejection and whether touch is assigned to drawing or canvas navigation. Pressure and tilt require support from both the pen and the device; a touchscreen or stylus does not necessarily provide either.
Set up controls for drawing
Open Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts from the settings gear in the web version, or Preferences in the native app menu. Choose a command, select Add, and press the desired keys. The editor flags conflicts before you apply the assignment. For pen buttons, assign the same keys in your tablet driver.
The defaults used in this tutorial are Ctrl+Z for undo (Command+Z on Apple systems), Space-drag to pan, F to fit the canvas, and Tab for Zen mode. You can assign your preferred brush sizes in the shortcut editor.
If a stroke trails behind the pen, reduce stabilization before changing pressure settings. In the web version, also compare a smaller brush and a smaller document to narrow down whether the delay is related to rendering. Note the device, browser, preset, and document size when reporting the problem.
Platform-specific input
The device selector shows notes for your current system. You can switch it to check another device.
Windows
Check pen pressure in your tablet driver's settings if it fails in more than one app. With multiple displays, map the tablet to the display showing Capy Canvas.
macOS
Check the display mapping in your tablet settings before adjusting the brush. When assigning shortcuts, treat Command and Control as different keys; do not copy a Windows shortcut assignment without checking it.
Linux
For the web version, check tablet mapping in your desktop settings. When reporting missing pressure or a cursor offset, include your browser and whether your desktop uses Wayland or X11.
iOS / iPadOS
Check that your Apple Pencil model supports the pressure or tilt input you want to use. If your hand leaves marks, check how touch input is assigned before changing the brush.
Android
Check that the pen and device support pressure input; a generic touch stylus may act like a finger. If pen input works but touch interferes, check the separate drawing and canvas-navigation assignments.