Wacom IntrosPro/Affinity Photo2 continual mouse on/off. Pen disables, can't edit.

[dancinggecko]

Hi there! I've tried to troubleshoot this all morning.

I'm using M1 iMac, Wacom IntuosPro, AffinityPhoto2. I predominantly use my Wacom tablet for everything (i.e. rare use of mouse though I do have one). 

I'm editing and my pen action is becoming disabled.

Specifically... I have been trying to use the clone tool. So have been defining my source points using the option key on my keyboard and clicking the areas using my Wacom pen (as has worked happily for months/years up to now). This seems to be setting off random 'Mouse on' 'Mouse off' messages and then, after a bit of this, the pen becomes disabled such that the cursor moves, but it can't click or perform any other actions. (In another scenario, the cloned line just continued, following the cursor around unable to complete the action until I had no choice but to restart.) It then won't work on anything on my screen, leaving me to reboot the machine. I'm a now locked in this cycle and can't edit.

All my software and drivers are up to date. My Mac privacy/security > accessibility settings are on. It not a simple case of 'hit option 5 times to turn 'Mouse on' back off'.

Can't think what else to do.

[TomM1]

Is your Wacom bluetooth?

I get the 'Mouse on' 'Mouse off', when I activate the bluetooth and when it sleeps.

[dancinggecko]

Hi @TomM1– thanks for replying. The Wacom is a bluetooth, but I have it wired (because I'm impatient with the bluetooth going on and off!).

 

 

[Callum]

Hi dancinggecko,

Welcome to the forums

Unfortunately I can't seem to replicate this here, do you happen to have another cable you can try the tablet with to see if this is the reason tablet keeps being disconnected?

Thanks
C

[dancinggecko]

Hi @Callum huge thanks for getting on this – much appreciated.

Hmm… cables could be interesting, didn’t think of that. I only have the Wacom one that came with it. Also, I t is connected via an adapter, since the newer Macs only have USB-C now, and I don’t think the adapters I got were very good (although it has all been working fine up to now).

I actually ordered a cheaper Wacom (One by Wacom) a few days ago out of desperation, as I have a deadline to reach for a photo qualification 😬 and really need to be able to edit. This should get here tomorrow (or so). Not sure if the cables are compatible, but if so, I can check this out on the Intuos. I also ordered an Wacom USB-C adapter, so can try that, too. 
 

Fingers crossed… I’ll let you know how I get on, if you like!

[dancinggecko]

Hi there @Callum

Went back in to my Mac System Settings > Accessibility and I clicked the 'i' icon by Alternative Control Methods 'Mouse Keys'. There I finally found the place where it says 'Press the Option key five times to toggle Mouse Keys'. This was switched to off, but it wasn't having any effect. (When I pressed five times it was doing the Mouse On, even in off position.)

After toggling this button on and off again, it seems to have jolted it in to behaving properly!

I've just done a quick cloning test and I am now able to define a source point to my heart's content without Mouse On activating.

Now to put back my Intros tablet and cross my fingers... Yep, this is now working – WOO HOO!

Happy to report that this is not an Affinity bug 🙂 – it was a bloomin' Apple OS Accessibility feature issue (again...). 

 

[dancinggecko]

So… famous last words…

While I’ve solved the 5x Option key issue, my Wacom Pen/Affinity Photo 2 issue has come back to haunt me.

Wacom support told me a procedure for a complete uninstall and reinstall (which I did, using the driver they linked me to). I have been editing in Photo 2 this afternoon and it’s all fine for a while. Then the Wacom Centre randomly popped up while I was using Curves. This then disabled the pen action, leaving it on the last thing it was on (the picker tool in Curves). 
Then, as before, the cursor moves, and hover works, but no pen action inside or outside of Affinity – no button or link clicks, no changing tabs, no saving, no closing windows, no actions at all.

As my Apple Magic Mouse was still working fine, I swapped to that to come out of the programme.

I went in to Wacom Centre to restart the drive but this has had no effect so I have restarted my Mac once again.

i have reported back to Wacom support and have an open ticket there, but just wanted to update the situation here. 
 

@Callum