Quick answer

🖊️ Need pen pressure sensitivity on Windows? Astropad Studio supports pen pressure using Windows Ink tablet driver API. Enable Windows Ink in your art program settings and adjust pressure curves in the Studio sidebar.

💡 Key requirements:

Windows Ink API: Your art program must support Windows Ink
Program settings: Enable Windows Ink/TabletPC mode in app preferences
Pressure curve: Adjustable in Astropad Studio sidebar (Pencil & Stroke > Pressure Curve)
Compatibility: Some older programs (like Photoshop CS6) don't support Windows Ink

How Pen Pressure Works

📐 Technical Overview

Windows Ink API:

Modern standard: Current Windows tablet driver API
Astropad requirement: Astropad Studio uses Windows Ink exclusively
Program support: Art programs must be configured to use Windows Ink

Pressure curve adjustment:

Astropad Studio control: Tap red ring button → Pencil & Stroke → Pressure Curve
Custom sensitivity: Adjust how pressure affects stroke thickness and opacity
Per-app settings: Different curves for different applications

❌ Incompatible programs: Older software like Photoshop CS6 that only support WinTab API will not work with pen pressure in Astropad Studio.

✅ Compatible Art Programs

The following programs support Windows Ink and pen pressure with Astropad Studio:

Blender - 3D modeling and sculpting
Clip Studio Paint - Digital illustration and animation
Drawpile - Collaborative drawing
Krita - Digital painting and illustration
Paint Tool SAI - Digital art (Developer version only)
Toon Boom Harmony - Professional animation
TV Paint - Animation software
ZBrush - Digital sculpting

Program-Specific Setup

📼 Blender

Enable Windows Ink in Blender:

Open preferences: Go to Edit → Preferences → Input → Tablet
Change API: Set Tablet API to Windows Ink
Apply settings: Close preferences to save changes

🖇️ Clip Studio Paint

Configure Clip Studio Paint for pen pressure:

Access preferences: Go to File → Preferences → Tablet
Enable TabletPC: Select the "use TabletPC" option
Confirm setting: Apply changes and restart if necessary

💡 Requirement: Ensure Windows Ink is enabled system-wide before configuring Clip Studio Paint.

🖌️ Drawpile

Set up pen pressure in Drawpile:

Open preferences: Go to Edit → Preferences → User Interface
Enable pressure: Check "Enable Pressure Sensitivity"
Enable Windows Ink: Check "Use Windows Ink"
Restart required: Close and reopen Drawpile for changes to take effect

🎨 Krita

Krita requires more detailed setup:

Step 1: Change tablet API

Access settings: Go to Settings → Configure Krita → Tablet settings
Select Windows Ink: Choose "Windows 8+ Pointer Input (Windows Ink)"
Apply: Click OK to save

Step 2: Configure toolbar

Toolbar settings: Go to Settings → Configure Toolbars
Select main toolbar: Choose mainToolBar
Add pressure option: Find pen pressure option in Available actions
Move to current: Use arrow to move to Current Actions
Apply changes: Click OK or Apply

Step 3: Enable pressure icon

Show File toolbar: Go to Settings → Toolbars Shown → select File
Enable pen pressure: Click the pen tip icon next to undo/redo buttons
Restart Krita: Close and reopen for full functionality

🖼️ Paint Tool SAI

⚠️ Version requirement: Only works with SAI Ver.2 (Developer version) or later. Not available in SAI Ver.1.2.5 or older.

Open options: Go to Other → Options
Pen Tablet menu: Find Pen Tablet Control API setting
Set to Windows API: Change to "Use Windows API"
Apply and restart: Click OK and restart SAI

🎬 Toon Boom Harmony

Enable pen pressure in Harmony:

Access preferences: Go to Edit → Preferences → Advanced
Disable WinTab: Uncheck the box labeled "Use Qt Wintab Tablet Support"
Restart required: Relaunch the application for changes to take effect

📺 TV Paint

Set up TV Paint for pen pressure:

Open preferences: Go to Edit → Preferences → General
Change tablet setting: Set Tablet to "Ink"
Apply changes: Save preferences

🗿 ZBrush

Configure ZBrush for Windows Ink:

Open preferences: Go to Preferences → Tablet
Change driver: Set Tablet Driver API to "Stylus"
Apply setting: Confirm changes in preferences

🔧 Troubleshooting

Pen pressure not working:

Check Windows Ink: Ensure Windows Ink is enabled system-wide
Verify app settings: Confirm art program is set to use Windows Ink/TabletPC
Restart applications: Close and reopen both Astropad Studio and art program
Update software: Ensure you have the latest versions of both applications

Inconsistent pressure:

Adjust pressure curve: Use Astropad Studio's pressure curve settings
Check app settings: Some programs have additional pressure sensitivity settings
Calibrate: Some applications offer pressure calibration options

Program not listed:

Look for similar settings: Search for Windows Ink, TabletPC, or tablet API options
Contact support: Let us know about unlisted programs
Check documentation: Consult your art program's documentation for tablet settings

Contact Astropad Support