Martin Huber wrote:
In my opinion it is less a matter of design but more a matter of functionality:
- All of the examples I've seen on their web page, are just using built-in functionality of either Acorn or Mac OS. None of them manipulates an image on a per-pixel basis. So at least their example plug-ins are more a kind of action than really a filter.
- The Acorn adjustment layers are directly connected to a single layer and don't have a mask. They can not manipulate the underlying document content. So they are more a layer style than an adjustment layer. It is not basic problem to allow access to plug-ins in PhotoLine's layer styles. The main problem is designing a user interface, that is not disadvantageous and more complicated for most users. And in my opinion Acorn's way is more complicated.
Martin
All very true. I noticed some of these things myself when looking into the implementation they used.
Martin Huber wrote:
And if I see the redraw problems, that happen in combination with some of Acorn's adjustment layers, PhotoLine's current implementation of the Rotate View tool might be acceptable after all.
Martin
I also noticed various glitches and redraw problems, and so on.
I merely like the basic idea behind some sort of scriptability, or custom user adjustment layer creation.
Btw, not sure if you remember Filter Factory (a plugin for Photoshop way back that was shipped with v5 or even before)? This guy created a compatible modern version that also works well in Photoline (32bit only) called "Filter Foundry":
http://www.telegraphics.com.au/sw/
It, like FilterMeister, allows for custom filter creation, and both can save an 8bf file.
Anyway, I do completely agree that it's all about accessibility and user-friendliness towards the user - the issue with these filter creators is that one must learn a complicated script language. Filter Forge does allow the user to work with nodes and build a filter visually, but these custom filters require the FF plugin to run (their business model prevents standalone filters).
Still, a version of Filter Foundry as a non-destructive adjustment layer would be kinda cool. But I do understand it opens up a whole new can of worms to deal with.