Wacom Intuos 2, Wavy Line Issue

[Reality Forge]

I have used a Wacom Intuos 2 for about 2-3 years. Recently, about every 30 seconds or few minutes of drawing, the lines become wavy. When the brush is drawn horizontally it looks ok but diagonally you can see it seems to wobble down. It is not the jerky movements of lag, but very smooth. You can even 'fix' it for a few minutes by rubbing your hand on the drawing pad.

I have tried reinstalling drivers and changing the USB port, but to no avail. Does ANYONE know what this is, or is it time to replace?

OS: WinXP sp2
Software: Photoshop
Working Res: 4500x3000px at 300px/cm

[Stahr]

i got wavy lines also, but thats on an intuos3, but it's just sometimes.
i don't know how to fix it though, updating drivers? mail the wacom support?
how much does i wobble? the lines i mean.

[Drumwhore]

I'm experiencing the exact same issue with my intuos 2, what is/was the problem, the tablet or the pen? did you find a way to fix it?

Thanks!

[romance]

Maybe it's the pen nib. Try replacing it.

[Drumwhore]

No, I already tried it, as well as upgrading to the latest driver version.. :\ The problem is still there..

[Lone Wolf]

I am actually having the same problem, but it goes away after i draw a few lines. I have a new nib and the latest drivers.

[CCorsair]

I have one of the large Intuos2 tablets( 12X18 ) and i haven't noted any "wavy or Wobble" yet but i do most of my work in Painter. what Program are most of you seeing this problem in? I will tell you also that if you are un-plugging and re-plugging in the USB connector it can ware down the wires inside the cord and you could get a bad voltage in the pad causing the lines to not line up with the grid inside. The tablet is not made to respond to your hand just the Pen so if you are making it clear up by doing that i would say the tablet could be getting ready to fail and i would look into getting it repaired or replaced...

I love my tablet and I know if I keep it safe and try to use it with care it will last but I know it will not be for ever. I have already cracked the areas where screw's that hold it together and I have shipping tape holding the area together now. I do plan on getting newer tablet maybe a third smaller one but I just saw the 12X19 Intuos3 and I want one for my computer (that one would stay at home) I go out and draw in public a lot to I pack and unpack my tablet a lot.

when not in uses i have it in art portfolio case to protect it. I did let it sit out a lot before and dust in our hose is a never end battle and it did make me have to clean the drawing area a lot and i get a few spots that have dings now.

When I see some this like this I go a bit techie but that is my job.

another reason for this problem also could be a bad USB socket on you systems. It does happen but it not all USB sockets are made by the same people and bad shielding can let some signals cross and well you would get something like you have with the lines but it could be bad shielding on some part of the tablets well so do write Wacom and see if this was a big problem or defect they may replace with out question.


Ok well that my input on this hope your tablets lest a long good time.

CC

[Lone Wolf]

I use photoshop with my tablet. I have 9 x12 tablet, and i treat it like a baby. I've had it for 3 years and there isn't a scratch on it.

I think this might be a tablet problem, it's no big deal for me because it lasts for a few seconds but it would be good to know what it's all about. Anyone else have any input.

[CCorsair]

I betting on the cord getting some kinks/breaks in shielding.
and it giving you a signal disruption that give us the lines.
I'll look at filters for line noise and see which would work best.

I baby my tablet but it is a big one so I need to get smaller one for going out and working but I love the way people look at me when working on big tablet..


Do this also shack the tablet and see if feel or hear and rattling or feel movement. If the grid is lose or something is falling on the grid it will disrupt the field the pen interacts with .

CC

[Puck]

I got a wobbly line near the top of my tablet until I figured out that it was because of the close proximity to my CRT monitor - moved it a bit further away and problem solved for me. So screens and other sources of MAGIC RADIATION will muck with your lines. Good luck with fixing your wobbles.

[Lone Wolf]

Any body has any other ideas/tips? This is getting really annoying and making it hard to work.I will call wacom on tuesday.

I have a 9x12 Wacom Intuos. 3-4 years old. Latest drivers. Photoshope CS2

[magicgoo]

I've heard that there is monitor interference, so try moving it as far away from your monitor as possible.

[CCorsair]

You could try a line filter like they have on phones. some USB cables have them
near on end its big round piece just before the end . they have a ferrous metal in them that helps shield the connector. I'll look around and see if there is clip on like they had for phone line out for the usb cables.

It would be good to sit back when drawing as you are holding something that is giving off a signal and if you et 2 signals of the same channel or frequency you could get the lines.

CC

[Lone Wolf]

I re-calibrated the tablet and got the latest driver. Also plugged it in directly to the laptop. Seems to have really improved.
Call Wacom if you continue to have the problem, their really helplful.:)

[Grondhammar]

The hand-rubbing trick works, which after searching for an answer for a month is very good news. I guess perhaps mine is getting ready to fail as CCorsair said, but a working tablet is a working tablet for now. Thanks to everyone who posted in this thread.

[Dallas]

Remember that CRT tubes interfere with the wacom signal.

If you got an old monitor try moving the wacom away from it.

EDIT: Well.....had already been said :)

[Nathaniel1979]

Hi,

I had the same problem with my wacom intuos 2 (a5 platinum). When i draw a line diagonal, the line was not straight but very wavy! I also had the problem that my mouse pointer quickly places itself somewhere else on the screen and then back to it's normal position.

But now it seems to work exelent again!

What i did was:

i removed the rubber grib from the pen and cleaned the plastic strip (mousebuttons). After that i took a very small screwdriver and screwed a very small screw (between the mouseleft and right kliks), just +/- 45 degrees left (counterclockwise). Then i assambled the pen back together... Thats it! and now it works perfectly!

I hope this works for you also!

Nathaniel from Holland.

[ponor]

Thanks Nathaniel1979 - I agree Yes, It's the pen! Remove the little mouse button, you'll see three holes, the middle one is a tiny screw for frequency adjustment. I fixed my pen by turning the screw 10 degrees anti-clockwise. I think the frequency had drifted over time. (My Wacom model is Intuos2/grip pen.)
Ponor http://ponor.wordpress.com

[cray54]

I had the same issue on an Intuos2 9x12 and found this site. Turning the pot about 45 degrees counter clockwise solved the problem for me as well.

It may seem obvious, but you can test for wavy lines with a straight edge. If your waves follow the identical path as you go back and forth, it is not likely an external noise issue.

-Chris