Limner FAQ

Optimizing performance

This app connects over WiFi, so there will always be a small delay, but there are a few things you can do:

• Make sure that nothing on your computer screen is continually moving – things like the “marching ants” of a selection in a drawing program can significantly degrade performance. If you must have something moving, try to zoom in far enough on the iPad that the movement is off screen.
• For shorter latency and more fluid updates to the image on your iPad’s screen at the expense of resolution, lower the image quality of the view on your iPad by tapping the Settings icon (the gear in the upper right corner of the screen), then moving the “Speed vs. image quality” slider to the left toward “Fast Refresh.”
• If feasible, move your computer and/or iPad closer to your wireless access point to improve the speed of the network connection.
• If feasible, connect your computer to your wireless router via Ethernet, which will help free up network bandwidth for your iPad.
• If your wireless network is too slow or otherwise congested, there is another option, though in many cases you will lose internet access on both your iPad and your computer. You can connect via a computer-to-computer network. In the Airport menu on your computer, select “Create Network...” Once you’ve created the wireless network on your computer, open WiFi settings on your iPad and connect to it. Note that it may take a few moments for the iPad to connect properly, so if you have connection errors on the iPad side, try again. Keep your computer and iPad close together for optimal network speed.

I have multiple monitors. How do I choose which screen the app uses?

The app will connect to whichever screen has the menu bar.

Can I connect multiple iPads to the same computer?

Yes! This can be useful, for example, if you zoom into a tool palette on one iPad, and zoom into the drawing area on another.

The strokes I draw sometimes skip a few of the points I’ve touched on the iPad screen.

Long, continuous strokes will sometimes skip. This will only happen after your finger/stylus has been down for a while. You can lengthen the amount of time between skipped finger/stylus movements by lowering the image quality of the view on your iPad by tapping the Settings icon (the gear in the upper right corner of the screen), then moving the “Speed vs. image quality” slider to the left toward “Fast Refresh.”

If there are any resource-intensive apps running in the background on your iPad, quitting them may also help.

You also can try enabling “Interpolate curves” under “Advanced settings” – under the Settings icon (the gear in the upper right corner of the screen). This will turn your strokes into smoother curves on the computer, even if some points have been lost.

Battery life

This app uses a fair amount of battery on your iPad (and on your computer if it’s a laptop); there’s no way around it – it’s constantly using WiFi. You might want to keep your iPad and computer plugged in.

How do I use a non-US/European keyboard layout?

Limner currently doesn’t work with a non-US/European keyboard layout or dictation on the iPad, but there is a workaround. Choose a non-US/European layout on the computer, then type into it with the US keyboard on your iPad.

My iPad still won’t connect to my computer, even after following the steps under “Don’t see your computer listed?” and entering my IP.

As a last resort, you can create a computer-to-computer network on your Mac, but in many cases you will lose internet access on both your iPad and your computer. In the Airport menu on your computer, select “Create Network...” Once you’ve created the wireless network on your computer, open WiFi settings on your iPad and connect to it. Then you should be able to connect to your computer from your iPad. Note that it may take a few moments for the iPad to connect properly, so if you have connection errors on the iPad side, try again.

The app isn’t responding to pressure changes as quickly as I’d like.

Normally, Limner smoothes out pressure changes slightly so the lines you draw don’t end up looking lumpy. If you need more precise pressure changes, try disabling “Interpolate pressure” under “Advanced settings” – under the Settings icon (the gear in the upper right corner of the screen).

When using my fingers, my lightest touch produces no line at all (or far too wide of a line) in my drawing programs.

You can re-calibrate for your fingers by tapping “Calibrate pressure sensitivity” under the Settings icon (the gear in the upper right corner of the screen).

Pressure sensitivity doesn’t seem to be working.

• If you’re using Photoshop, you may need to enable “Shape Dynamics,” then set “Control:” to “Pen Pressure” in the Brush window.
• Check to see that the correct stylus type is currently selected. Tap the Settings icon (the gear in the upper right corner of the screen) to see the current stylus. If the wrong stylus is selected, tap “Choose different stylus” and select the proper stylus.
• If you’re using your fingers, you can re-calibrate by tapping “Calibrate pressure sensitivity” under the Settings icon (the gear in the upper right corner of the screen).
• If you’re using a generic iPad stylus, pressure sensitivity is not supported.
• If you’re using a pressure-sensitive Bluetooth stylus, the stylus may not be connected or may have run out of batteries. Tap the Settings icon (the gear in the upper right corner of the screen) to see the current status of your stylus, and make sure that it shows “Connected.”

Can I change the function of the hardware buttons on Bluetooth styli?

Not at this time. For now, they perform “Undo” and “Redo” functions (⌘Z and ⇧⌘Z).

Security

Limner securely authenticates with your computer, but the computer screen and key presses are not encrypted! If you trust the other devices and use encryption on your local WiFi network, this may not be an issue, but do take care when connecting Limner to a screen with sensitive information on a public WiFi network.