The Pen as an Input Device

Overview of using the pen as an input device.

The tablet pen can be an input device and a pointing device that lays down ink. Writing and drawing on a surface that accepts digital ink should be as much like using traditional pen and paper as is possible. Ink should flow naturally, without interruption or delay, and should be rendered precisely and smoothly. Slow rendering interrupts the users thought and writing process, which causes the user to perceive the writing process to be unnatural. High-quality rendering of ink instills confidence that the ink looks like actual handwriting. Otherwise, users feel as if the ink is ugly or of low quality.

Follow the recommendations in the following topics to provide an ink experience that exploits the full capabilities of the pen.

• Default Ink Thickness
• Ink Cursors
• Erasing, Selecting, and Editing Ink