Arch Linux

vizipok

Member

Registered: 2011-03-26

Posts: 23

Wacom B. P&T CTH-470

Hi all,

i have the CTH-470 wacom tablet, called "Bamboo Pen & Touch".
The 3.3 kernel is the first containing the wacom.ko with support for this model. After installing the xf86-input-wacom package, the device is recognized out of the box. But when i try to use in different applications, i face some problems:

Mypaint:
I can draw with the mouse, but when i try to draw with the tablet and the pen, the pointer is moving, but no lines drawn, and the python2.7 eats 100% cpu, mypaint interface freezing, and on the non-graphical tty, where i started the X from by startx, this message running very fast (~5 message per sec.):

device change: Wacom Bamboo 16FG 4x5 Pen Stylus <enum GDK_SOURCE_PEN of type GdkInputSource>
device change: Core Pointer <enum GDK_SOURCE_MOUSE of type GdkInputSource>

Inkscape:
This is the best until now, because i can draw lines, but there is no pressure sensitivity, the lines are the same thick every time.

GIMP:
Here there is no pressure sensitivity also, and the if the pen is not perfectly perpendicular to the tablet surface, it doesn't draw lines following the tip of the pen, but horizontal lines connecting the left edge of the image, and the points where the line expected to be drawn. In addition, it happens with significant latency. Here is an example of this behaviour:

I have no idea where to search the reasons and solutions, any help would be appreciated!

Last edited by vizipok (2012-04-06 19:37:13)

triplesquarednine

Member

Registered: 2011-04-12

Posts: 630

Re: Wacom B. P&T CTH-470

Hi, i don't know if i can help or not. But i just bought the CTH-470(M) today and have it working in Archlinux.

As far as packages relating to Wacom,  i am using the xf86-input-wacom-git, libwacom, wacom-utility and wacom-udev packages in the AUR. For the kernel driver, i was having trouble getting any of the packages working, but i found a kernel driver here, that has the linux 3.3 related changes and that works (atleast, it does with linux 3.0.25-rt);

http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/foru … om-discuss

the file is 'wacom-bamboo.tar.gz', and should be listed down the page, 2nd or 3rd comment down. I then, just followed the same commentor's instructions (who posted the file). Basically,  you just unzip the file, cd into the directory and;

make -C /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build SUBDIRS=$(pwd) modules
sudo insmod ./wacom.ko

EDIT: sudo insmod .wacom.ko doesn't actually install it, but it does load it. to install it;

gzip -9 /path/to/wacom.ko

and execute from within your build directory;

install -D -m 644 "wacom.ko.gz" "${pkgdir}"/lib/modules/$(uname -r)/updates/"wacom.ko.gz"

If it spits back an error /complains on the second command, it probably means that the wacom module is loaded, so you need to unload it - sudo rmmod wacom and then install it. After that the (new) wacom module should work. (you may need to modprobe wacom, though).

I then went through the Wacom Tablet Archwiki to configure xorg.conf;

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wacom_Tablet

and found this page to disable the 'touch pad' features, as they made the wacom difficult to use;

http://eastasiastudent.net/study/linux- … h-disable/

I hope you find something here, useful. It took me a while today, before i got mine working properly.

cheerz

Last edited by triplesquarednine (2012-04-08 15:45:56)

vizipok

Member

Registered: 2011-03-26

Posts: 23

Re: Wacom B. P&T CTH-470

Thank You for your response triplesquarednine! I installed the packages you suggested. Now, it seems it has performance issues if the X started by startx: the brush is very slow in GIMP, and also in Mypaint it takes several seconds, and high cpu usage to draw a few strokes.

Did You create udev rules and edit xorg.conf also? If i have no xorg.conf, i have to create one with all sections to apply these settings?

What is interesting, if i start gnome-session via GDM, it works fine! I can draw normally, with good pressure sensitivity. So it's a temporary solution for me.

Maybe somebody who has more insight to Xorg can tell easily what is the reason behind this difference. It would be nice, if i didn't have to start a gnome-session and gdm to use a graphic tablet. I'm wondering if there is a way to dump the settings what gnome applies to configure this tablet?

triplesquarednine

Member

Registered: 2011-04-12

Posts: 630

Re: Wacom B. P&T CTH-470

Thank You for your response triplesquarednine! I installed the packages you suggested. Now, it seems it has performance issues if the X started by startx: the brush is very slow in GIMP, and also in Mypaint it takes several seconds, and high cpu usage to draw a few strokes.

I noticed this as well, as at one point i had started a session from the commandline. I however, do use GDM, so i didn't dig any further.

Did You create udev rules and edit xorg.conf also? If i have no xorg.conf, i have to create one with all sections to apply these settings?

I think so, but i don't really remember (i'm a long time tablet user, i just happened to buy a new one, around the same time you did). But i think wacom-udev in AUR provides the config. Again, i'd read through the wiki on this.

What is interesting, if i start gnome-session via GDM, it works fine! I can draw normally, with good pressure sensitivity. So it's a temporary solution for me.

Maybe somebody who has more insight to Xorg can tell easily what is the reason behind this difference. It would be nice, if i didn't have to start a gnome-session and gdm to use a graphic tablet. I'm wondering if there is a way to dump the settings what gnome applies to configure this tablet?

This i can't help you with. As i mentioned above, i do use GDM. I log into a compiz + awn + easystroke .session. I let GDM manage everything, just out of convenience - even though, i do have GDM set to autologin (so i never even see it).

I actually had issues with that module i gave you the link for, and ended up using another one (i don't have a link). But if yours is working fine (mostly anyway), i suppose it's not a bother. (although i could upload or find the link, i suppose). Also, remember that if you are using kernel 3.3 - it should 'work out of the box', now.

I'll be upgrading to 3.4 once a linux-rt (based on 3.4 is released, they're just switching upstream). Then my table should just work.

cheerz