Linux Nucleus Error Causes Graphic Tablet Issues

Artist David Ravois complained in its blog that after updating the Linux nucleus to version 6.5.8 in Fedora Linux, the right button on the stylus of his tablet started behaving like an eraser.

Ravois uses a tablet model that has sensitivity to the back of the Lastik, and the right button on the stylus has been customized in Krita for many years to call specific functions such as the menu, transformation settings, and showing the palette, depending on the active mode. The recent change in behavior, which cannot be reversed, completely disrupts Ravois’ workflow and requires adapting to a new habit that has been developed over a long period. However, rolling back to the previous version, kernel 6.4.15, resolves the issue.

Comments on Ravois’ blog indicate that a similar issue was caused by a change in devices that send support to the events of the stylus, like the XP-PEN ARTIST 24 graphic tablet, where the button on the stylus is used for erasing when inverted. This behavior was intended to be activated for a long time but did not work on the XPPEN 24 Artist Pro tablet due to a previously existing error which was fixed in the new kernel version.

For example, pressing the button on the stylus of the newer model XPPEN 16 Pro tablet (Gen2) always triggers the erasing function and this issue was not present on kernel 6.4, which explains why it didn’t affect the old stylus.

/Reports, release notes, official announcements.