The interesting part is not simply that another computer’s desktop appeared on the Surface. Gibson could draw in Krita running on his desktop PC while using the Surface as either a mirrored pen display or a screenless input tablet. That makes this a worthwhile reuse project—with some important boundaries before anyone starts clearing space beside the keyboard.
Two computers, two distinct jobs
Gibson’s configuration split the work between these devices:
- Surface Pro 3: A compatible Surface Pen, Firefox, and a Surface-specific installation of Ultramarine Linux replacing Windows 10.
- Desktop PC: Linux Mint Xfce, Krita, and Weylus, which connected the browser-based tablet to the drawing application.
That distinction matters for Windows readers: this was Microsoft hardware being repurposed in a Linux-to-Linux workflow, not a demonstrated Windows-host drawing solution.
Ultramarine’s documentation specifically lists the Surface Pro 3 as requiring its Surface image, warning that a generic installation may boot with broken functionality. That supports Gibson’s choice, but does not make Ultramarine a universal prerequisite for browser-based tablet input.
The hardware remains a plausible drawing surface. Microsoft lists a 12-inch, 2160 × 1440 display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, multitouch, and Surface Pen support. Pro 3 configurations included both 4 GB and 8 GB of RAM; Gibson used a 4 GB unit.
Before connecting the machines, he installed Krita locally and checked that pressing harder changed his brush marks. That is a sensible diagnostic checkpoint: establish that the tablet and pen work together before adding a network connection and another computer to the puzzle.
What Weylus adds—and what it does not promise
Weylus’s official documentation describes a desktop host controlled through a modern browser on the tablet. Its Linux-specific capabilities include pen pressure, tilt, and multitouch; equivalent pen functionality should not be assumed for Windows or macOS hosts. Wayland support is documented as experimental, whereas Gibson chose Mint Xfce to avoid that path.
In Gibson’s test, the desktop’s Krita session received pressure changes from the Surface Pen. Hovering also positioned the cursor before the pen touched the glass. Those are the useful findings: this was more than remote mouse control.
There is, however, a specification wrinkle. Gibson cites 256 pressure levels. Microsoft’s May 2014 Surface Pro 3 pen article also gives that figure, while its current compatibility chart lists 1,024 pressure points for the Pro 3 under two older Surface Pen categories. Those documents do not establish the effective pressure resolution of Gibson’s unspecified later-model pen running through Linux and Weylus.
The defensible conclusion is simpler: pressure sensitivity worked in his configuration; its exact effective level count was not established.
The connection has a security cost
The project’s host-side requirements deserve attention:
- Linux pen and multitouch support require Weylus to have write access to
/dev/uinput. - The default connection uses TCP ports 1701 for the web server and 9001 for WebSocket traffic.
- The tablet opens the host address displayed by Weylus—not Gibson’s particular private IP address.
- Weylus recommends setting an access code and warns that its default connections are unencrypted.
- Access to
uinputpermits system-wide synthetic input, so untrusted users must not receive that permission.
In practical terms, this belongs on a trusted local network, not casually exposed to the internet. Free software does not mean consequence-free permissions.
Three ways to use the same Surface
Gibson’s experiment produced three distinct working modes:
| Mode | Where Krita runs | Where the artist looks |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone drawing | Surface | Surface display |
| Screenless-style input | Desktop PC | Desktop monitor |
| Mirrored pen display | Desktop PC | Surface display |
With video disabled in Weylus, Gibson reports that pen input continued working, with a blue movement trail visible on the Surface. With video enabled, the desktop canvas appeared beneath the pen.
That second arrangement needs a reality check: mirroring does not turn the Surface’s glass into a 24-inch drawing display. It provides direct pen-on-canvas interaction on the Surface while the desktop runs the application. The larger monitor becomes most useful when the Surface is treated as a screenless tablet.
Running Krita locally remained another option, although Gibson found the experience disappointing on his 4 GB device. That is a workload-specific observation, not a verdict on every Pro 3.
Touch worked better than the pen buttons
The biggest compromises were in the controls. Gibson reports that the side button produced no response in Krita’s tablet tester, while the top button opened Xfce’s application menu instead of providing his intended eraser action.
He eventually configured touch gestures as follows:
| Gesture | Reported action |
|---|---|
| One-finger tap | Open brush and color palette |
| Two-finger tap | Undo |
| Three-finger tap | Redo |
| Two-finger pinch or twist | Zoom or rotate |
These were his configured controls, not a guaranteed default mapping. Palette activation required adjustment, and enabling touch also let his palm interfere with menus and cursor placement. Disabling Touch Painting stopped unwanted painting but did not eliminate every unwanted touch action.
Krita’s own documentation confirms two useful fallback controls: Tab toggles Canvas Only mode, and right-clicking the canvas opens the pop-up palette. Canvas Only settings determine which interface elements disappear.
Those controls offer a practical way to reduce interface clutter, although they are not a substitute for reliable palm rejection.
A good reuse project, not a free professional pen display
Gibson noticed no lag while sitting beside his wireless access point, but supplied no latency measurements. His results therefore demonstrate a satisfactory nearby connection—not universal wireless performance.
The physical setup also needed work: the tablet slid on the desk, and he found the kickstand angle uncomfortable for drawing. Even a drawing glove did not solve his palm-input problems.
The appeal is nevertheless clear. Someone who already owns a working Surface and compatible pen may gain another useful drawing workflow without buying a dedicated tablet. The price is configuration time, imperfect controls, and a network-dependent connection.
The strongest takeaway is modest but valuable: the Surface Pro 3 did not need to become a better modern PC to remain useful. In this setup, it became a specialized input device—and escaped the cupboard in the process.