Gerhard Huber wrote: ↑Tue 03 May 2022 16:50
"Exportfunktion" (neben den Ebenenattributen), keine Kritik, ist wohl perfekt
This is quite awesome, and a request that I had all those years ago is now granted!
I've tested it, and it works quite fine as-is, but for a few things:
[1]
In games, web, and app dev exporting new versions of assets update older versions all the time throughout design and development phases. Placeholders are replaced with (semi-)finished assets, design specs change, new improved versions of assets need to replace the older versions, and so on.
Currently this is not possible with how the export works, because it asks for a folder, and then saves new versions with a space and an incremental number instead of replacing the old versions.
On the other hand, the current behaviour is also desired in many circumstances: asking for a folder and export, and keeping the older versions.
My suggestion would be to add a second export option called "Export Again" or "Re-export" which would remember the export last used with that document. It would also overwrite existing files with the same file name and replace these, instead of saving new versions with incrementing file number suffixes.
Or a checkbox that tells PhotoLine to export to the same folder after picking it once, and that existing files are overwritten with newer versions.
[2] While I understand why the Document export option is added (because it seems to make sense to add it to the document properties scope), I do think from a usability perspective it separates that functionality from the Export panel. It requires the user to keep those two panels open at all time, OR keep switching to that document panel to export the document.
(I did not even notice that option, because I thought I had to select all layers before pressing the export button - after an hour of testing, I only noticed it because of @shijan panel screenshots!!! If I can't find it without help despite more than 3 decades of design software experience, then I question its location...)
It makes more sense to keep all Export functionality contained within the Export dialog instead. It could be implemented either as a checkbox option or as a separate document export option button.
[3] the icon for "add export setting" uses a diskette icon. I would replace that with a + icon. It is confusing and too similar to the export icon. Other design apps with similar export options use that icon to indicate extra export entries.
Besides, the diskette icon is entirely deprecated nowadays. Newer users wouldn't even recognize it anymore.
[4] replace the export icon with one that has the arrow pointing outward to the right instead of the left. That is the standard "flow" arrow with export icons. And again I would change the diskette icon to a document, or something else.
[5] it would be nice if the Export would use layername_01, layername_02, layername_03 instead of layername 1, layername 2, layername 3 when it exports and it discovers existing files with identical file names.
[6] Options for each export entry are now hidden in the dropdown menu, which makes little sense to me. I often make changes to the settings after testing the first export, and having to open each drop-down, then navigate with the mouse, and then finally click on that options entry is just WAY too much work. Please just add a simple options button right after the file format drop-down menu. Or just allow us to double-click an entry to open the settings - just like in the other areas of PhotoLine.
Btw
- I love the option to replace the number with any other one. I can simply type 2.5 to export an asset at that size.
- I very much like the control over exporting layers. Simple to control.
shijan wrote:
Here is also small idea that can speedup and improve quick export workflow. Currently for quick export i need to set settings in Export Attributes panel every time for every new opened image or document. Not too comfortable. Sure i can set it to preset there, but it also needs additional mouse click every time for every new document. Guess in most real life situations people just want to set export settings once and use them for multiple documents.
So here is an idea/request: always keep last settings in Export Attributes panel. Keep them even after program restart.
Please don't. Each project I work on requires specific settings for specific layers, and such. Having to delete old entries all the time would just waste time. No other design or prototyping app that shares this export panel feature does this, and for good reason.
