Please redesign PL's website

[photoken]

Would it be a funny idea for a webpage if toolbar, layer list and picture became more alive and functional? Then the first usage of a restricted PL would already happen while watching the webpage.

Great minds think alike!

Not a funny idea, at all. I can imagine a Web page that has a headline:
"Welcome to PhotoLine!" across the top, the PhotoLine logo below that at the left, and to the right of the logo, smaller italicized text that reads:
"The new King of image editors."

Below that, the page would be a customized version of the PL Dark Mode user interface. The menu bar would be the site navigation, so it's items would not be the PL menu bar items, of course. The rest of the interface would be the standard PL layout of toolbar on the left, main editing window in the middle and layers & properties panels on the right.

That Web "menu bar" would have items such as
Platforms
Interface
Image types
Features
Downloads
Support
Purchase

Choosing from an option in the dropdown submenu from that "menu bar" would change the rest of the interface to demonstrate what was chosen. For example, choosing "Platforms" and then "Windows" would show the interface as it appears on Windows. Choosing "Mac OS" would change the interface to the appearance of a Mac version.

Choosing "Images" from the options under "Image types", would change the contents of the interface to show the tools, layers and properties as used for editing images. Similarly, choosing "Vector Graphics" as the option would change the contents of the interface to show the tools, layers and properties as used for drawing vector shapes. And so on, for "RAW Images" and for "DTP".

You're absolutely right about the effect on the person viewing the page -- from the very beginning, even the most casual visitor would be immersed in the PL interface and interacting with it. A good idea, IMO.

[photoken]

Design is one thing - content and structure is more important, though, and should come first.

I agree wholeheartedly, although I would put it in terms of "Intention and content" being the important things.

[Martin Stricker]

To put it in a nutshell, here's my redesign (including the Support-Section): http://andreas.thetmc.net/photoline/

I really like your redesign it's clear structered and all of a piece. And I am glad to see that there's another Huber with fresh ideas.

"The new King of image editors."

This doesen't sound really inventive to me.

Below that, the page would be a customized version of the PL Dark Mode user interface. The menu bar would be the site navigation, so it's items would not be the PL menu bar items, of course. The rest of the interface would be the standard PL layout of toolbar on the left, main editing window in the middle and layers & properties panels on the right.

That Web "menu bar" would have items such as
Platforms
Interface
Image types
Features
Downloads
Support
Purchase

One thing is to imagine how the design should look like the other thing is to realise it. It would be nice if you could show your ideas like Andreas did.

Martin

[Juan]

As a starting point it´s nice, it has a little app feeling more than software but to be at it´s early stage I like it.
Too bad that I´m not that skilled person but good be great to search for great artwork from talented users, maybe we can make a public call for it?

Cheers,
Juan

[Juan]

I found over the gallery few nice examples, so it´s matter of asking to the creators if this can be used on the website.
http://www.pl32.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4399
http://www.pl32.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4118
http://www.pl32.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4479

Cheers,
Juan

[photoken]

"The new King of image editors."

This doesen't sound really inventive to me.

Oddly enough, you seem to have unintentionally stumbled upon the most important part of that Web site concept.

It's not important to be "inventive" just for the sake of being "inventive". As 123 and I wrote, the most important thing, coming long before the actual design, is the intention and content.

You must always keep in mind that a Web site does not exist in a vacuum. A Web site must be part of the overall product concept. The Hubers are the ones to set the goals and intentions of the product.

To wit, the rationale for that phrase is this:
If it were agreed that the intention is to market PhotoLine as a Photoshop replacement, then I suggest using the concept of "The King is dead, long live the King!" as the motif and catchphrase in all communications: When an information package is sent to reviewers, the subject line of the email message should be "The King is dead, long live the King!"; when users post product announcements in forums, the subject line should be the same. When users add comments to existing Web Review sites, the same subject line should be used, and so on. At worst, that subject line should be intriguing enough to create curiosity about the message content. At best, if editors decide to review PhotoLine, the phrase takes advantage of the inherent laziness of editors, reviewers, and headline writers -- they will be inclined to use it in their publication.

The implication is obvious -- Photoshop has outlived its time, and PhotoLine is the new application of choice. The concept of burying the old King and hailing the new King is common to many cultures and will be quite familiar around the world. In addition to explicitly targeting Photoshop users, the users of other software such as PaintShopPro and PhotoshopElements would also get the feeling that that message of the end of an ancien régime refers to their applications, also. No guarantee, of course, but a concept worth trying, IMO.

One thing is to imagine how the design should look like the other thing is to realise it.

And your point is ???

Right now, redesigning PL's Web site is only at the conceptual stage, so there's no need to build anything. I haven't done a Web site in a long time, so I won't bother with that now; but I might bash together an image if no one understands what I wrote....

[Andreas Huber]

Below that, the page would be a customized version of the PL Dark Mode user interface. The menu bar would be the site navigation, so it's items would not be the PL menu bar items, of course. The rest of the interface would be the standard PL layout of toolbar on the left, main editing window in the middle and layers & properties panels on the right.
[...]

How should that look like on smaller screens with aspect ratios?

To wit, the rationale for that phrase is this:
If it were agreed that the intention is to market PhotoLine as a Photoshop replacement, then I suggest using the concept of "The King is dead, long live the King!" as the motif and catchphrase in all communications: When an information package is sent to reviewers, the subject line of the email message should be "The King is dead, long live the King!"; when users post product announcements in forums, the subject line should be the same. When users add comments to existing Web Review sites, the same subject line should be used, and so on. At worst, that subject line should be intriguing enough to create curiosity about the message content. At best, if editors decide to review PhotoLine, the phrase takes advantage of the inherent laziness of editors, reviewers, and headline writers -- they will be inclined to use it in their publication.

I like this, but please create a simple webdesign in PL, so I can build on it.

to search for great artwork from talented users, maybe we can make a public call for it?

We really have to collect fascinating and eye-catching pictures, which attract the homepage visitors.
I just did some 'nothing to get excited about' stuff like these:

1. http://andreas.thetmc.net/img/banner-yt-reptile.png
2. http://andreas.thetmc.net/img/banner-yt-n7studios.png
3. http://andreas.thetmc.net/img/living-glass.png

Andreas

[photoken]

Below that, the page would be a customized version of the PL Dark Mode user interface. The menu bar would be the site navigation, so it's items would not be the PL menu bar items, of course. The rest of the interface would be the standard PL layout of toolbar on the left, main editing window in the middle and layers & properties panels on the right.
[...]

How should that look like on smaller screens with aspect ratios?

I have no idea. That's up to the Web site designer to decide what's possible on small devices. If small devices require a radical departure to the design, then so be it -- their loss....

I like this, but please create a simple webdesign in PL, so I can build on it.

Like I wrote, it's way too early for that. If I get the time in the next couple of days, maybe I'll do an image as a mockup, but that's really unnecessary for discussing concepts.

[Juan]

I just did some 'nothing to get excited about' stuff like these:

http://andreas.thetmc.net/img/banner-yt-reptile.png
http://andreas.thetmc.net/img/banner-yt-n7studios.png
http://andreas.thetmc.net/img/living-glass.png

Really nice artwork you have there, specially the living glass .

Cheers,
Juan

[Torsten]

The art works shown by Andreas are nice, can hold a candle but not the listed competitors.

Cheers,
Torsten

[Martin Stricker]

The implication is obvious -- Photoshop has outlived its time, and PhotoLine is the new application of choice. The concept of burying the old King and hailing the new King is common to many cultures and will be quite familiar around the world. In addition to explicitly targeting Photoshop users, the users of other software such as PaintShopPro and PhotoshopElements would also get the feeling that that message of the end of an ancien régime refers to their applications, also. No guarantee, of course, but a concept worth trying, IMO.

In fact I disagree. I don't think that's a good idea to crown PL as a new King. I think it's inadequate.
The better way is to show the possibilitys of PL in a pleasant design.

I haven't done a Web site in a long time, so I won't bother with that now; but I might bash together an image if no one understands what I wrote....

I would like to see it rather then just words.

Martin

[Martin Stricker]

The art works shown by Andreas are nice, can hold a candle but not the listed competitors.

I like Andreas artwork as well and I ask myself if there's someone here who can do it better?

Martin

[Torsten]

…I ask myself if there's someone here who can do it better?

That is not the question

If you here even as reference sites like affinity photo; Pixelmator; Sketch etc. shows up, then you should compete on their quality, if you can do it.

Torsten

[Martin Stricker]

That is not the question

Sure it's the question, because if there is none who can do it better, where do you get the material from?

Martin

[Torsten]

Now Adobe or Pixelmator, always the developer shows what is possible with the programs.

We should here not mutually blame us. Sure, the community can help. Important and properly direct questions to the community of developers page would be produced.

Torsten