Wacom Tablet And Pen

Tablets and Pen displays (wacom but not only)

Tip

This are all my experiences and encounters, and might be somehow outdated, and probably have a slight misunderstanding from my side as how some things actually work at the system level, but all I mentioned works for me (if there are issues) to this day, following those steps. Also, is a stripped down description and hopefully some others can bring more information to the table.

Different Desktop Environments

Cinnamon, Gnome and Budgie

The only thing that is needed to install aside from the default installer is the package xf86-input-wacom.

KDE Plasma 5

The package xf86-input-wacom will be automatically installed when installing the kcm-wacomtablet-git from AUR.

This will add Tablet Settings interface/configuration in the System Settings + the needed background services for KDE Plasma Framework.

XFCE and probably MATE

There is a workaround proposed by achadwick and works just fine. They use the Gnome settings interface.

Known Issues

Slow drag in File Manager and very slow interaction of Tools and Brushes in Krita. \

The resolution is to modify the 10-evdev.conf in /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf

There might be necessary to make a symlink of it like this:

sudo ln -s /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf

~ >>> cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf
#
# Catch-all evdev loader for udev-based systems
# We don't simply match on any device since that also adds accelerometers
# and other devices that we don't really want to use. The list below
# matches everything but joysticks.

Section "InputClass"
        Identifier "evdev pointer catchall"
        MatchIsPointer "on"
        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
        Driver "evdev"
EndSection

#Section "InputClass"
#        Identifier "evdev keyboard catchall"
#        MatchIsKeyboard "on"
#        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
#        Driver "evdev"
#EndSection

#Section "InputClass"
#        Identifier "evdev touchpad catchall"
#        MatchIsTouchpad "on"
#        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
#        Driver "evdev"
#EndSection

#Section "InputClass"
#        Identifier "evdev tablet catchall"
#        MatchIsTablet "on"
#        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
#        Driver "evdev"
#EndSection

#Section "InputClass"
#        Identifier "evdev touchscreen catchall"
#        MatchIsTouchscreen "on"
#        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
#        Driver "evdev"
#EndSection

Gnome DE

In Gnome, if someone wants to use the GDM theme of a custom gnome-shell theme to have a consistent look trough login/log-out/lock-screen, the settings for mapping the buttons will render a blank overlay with no options.

Resolutions:

Use the default gnome-shell, adwaita and gdm
Use the modified manjaro-gnome-maia-theme

The device is not recognized

The device is not recognized, the xinput doesn’t list it, etc, that is most likely due to a not supported device, no specific ID in the /usr/share/libwacom/ for it.

A possible resolution is to install the input-wacom-dkms making sure that the headers for the kernel are installed too, then manually adding the modules to load.

It will not provide a functionality if the modules are not loaded, and still relies in the xf86-input-wacom, libwacom and the Graphical interface for Tablet settings.

Of course the xsetwacom commands work too, but the purpose is to have a GUI for settings and avoid any confusing/miss-passed settings from terminal.

KDE Plasma 5

In KDE Plasma 5 the kcm-wacomtablet recognizes the pen and tablet but the pen (Stylus) doesn’t draw. By default there are no settings for them, the resolution is:

Set the mode to Absolute Mode in the tablet tab and the Area to the desired screen.
To the Stylus tab set the Eraser and Tip to where the slider passes slightly the letter T from the word Soft.
The Raw Sample to the level 5
The Suppress Rate to the level 2
Edit the pressure curve to be slightly curved downwards.
Set Button 3 to Right Mouse Button Click
Set Button 2 to Middle Mouse Button Click
Set Button 1 to Left Mouse Button Click
DO NOT check Tap to execute action
Click Apply button, disconnect and reconnect the tablet and it should work.

From this point all the settings can be changed and have also the Express Buttons personalized, and calibrate the pen to the screen area.

The settings are stored in ~/.config/tabletprofilesrc

Mixed configurations

Mixed configurations due to use of xsetwacom commands and other tools. Resolution is to undo all and start with the GUI Settings.

More information

Manjaro Forum -> Very slow drag and drop on Plasma 5 No Wacom effort from the Manjaro Team