How to Use a Stylus for Drawing and Touch for Navigation in PDF
Question details
The user wants to draw on a PDF document using a stylus while ensuring finger touch input is exclusively reserved for panning and navigating without creating accidental marks.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- Lenovo X390 Yoga (Windows)
- Scenario
- Annotating and reviewing a PDF document on a 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop.
- Observed behavior
- The software registers both finger touch and the stylus as drawing inputs when the drawing tool is active, preventing the user from using their fingers to scroll smoothly.
Ensure your Windows operating system and touchscreen/stylus drivers are fully up to date, as system-level pen settings heavily influence application behavior.
Configure Windows Pen and Ink Settings
Use Windows system settings to force your device to ignore touch input when your active stylus is near the screen.
Since some PDF editors do not natively separate touch navigation from stylus drawing, adjusting your system's Windows Ink settings is the most effective workaround for 2-in-1 devices like the Lenovo X390 Yoga.
Click on the Start menu and select 'Settings', or press the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
Go to 'Bluetooth & devices' (or 'Devices' in Windows 10) and select 'Pen & Windows Ink'.
Check the box or toggle the switch next to 'Ignore touch input when I'm using my pen'.
Open your PDF document. When your pen is near the screen, the system will reject finger input for drawing, allowing you to draw with the pen and scroll with your finger when the pen is pulled away.
Manually Switch Tools in Adobe Acrobat
Understand Adobe Acrobat's tool limitations and use manual switching for navigation and commenting.
Annotate Seamlessly with WPS Office PDF Editor
WPS Office provides an intuitive PDF reading and editing experience, offering dedicated annotation tools that work smoothly with touchscreen devices and active styluses.
- 1. Open Your PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your target PDF document.
- 2. Navigate to the Comment Tab: Click on the 'Comment' tab located in the top ribbon to access the annotation tools.
- 3. Select the Pen Tool: Choose the 'Graffiti' or 'Pen' tool, customize your ink color and thickness, and begin drawing with your stylus.
- 4. Navigate the Document: Use standard scroll bars or your touchpad to navigate, or switch off the pen tool to resume smooth touch scrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my finger draw instead of scrolling in my PDF editor?
This happens when the PDF software prioritizes the active drawing tool over standard system touch gestures. If a pen tool is selected, the application may treat any screen contact, including fingers, as an ink stroke rather than a navigation command.
Can I completely disable the touch screen on my Lenovo Yoga while drawing?
Yes. In Windows, you can go to Device Manager, expand 'Human Interface Devices', right-click 'HID-compliant touch screen', and select 'Disable device'. This forces the screen to only accept active stylus input, though it disables all finger touch capabilities until re-enabled.
Does WPS PDF support active styluses for drawing?
Yes, WPS Office PDF Editor fully supports active styluses and Windows Ink. You can use your stylus to highlight text, draw shapes, and sign documents naturally.
