Can't close Panels or Lists

[der_fotograf]

When I accidentially select a RAW image to open with PL, it opens an Adjustment Layer Panel/List. After closing the image, I can't close the Adjustment Layer Panel/List.

Screenshot 2024-04-15 at 15.00.44.png

In previous versions, there was a red button to close the panel.

Screenshot 2024-04-15 at 15.02.52.png

Same problem with the Shape List, Outline List and Clipart List (maybe even more, didn't have the time to check them all).

Screenshot 2024-04-15 at 15.01.08.png

When starting PL, it's kind of slow, IMHO it needs more time to start. Version 24.01 was/is faster.

[Herbert123]

Yes, I noticed that as well. You can right-mouse click the panel's title bar and pull up the menu to close it, though.

My PhotoLine now takes ~33 seconds to start. Slower than Windows 10 to boot up!

When I install a fresh installation it will boot in less than 2-3 seconds, or so. My experience throughout the years has been that with additional plugins, fonts, and other assets it will keep adding more time to the boot time.

But I do agree that PhotoLine's boot time seems to have hit a record high... It is now officially the slowest app to start on my machine. (And I have a LOT of software installed!)

[der_fotograf]

I've measured the time again. iMac 14,2 (2013) 27" with 24 GB RAM, internal SSD drive and external USB 3.0 and FireWire 800 drives.

Clearing memory with sudo purge (remove all inactive apps from memory) before each test.

Starting PL 24.40.b12: 5 seconds
Loading a 720 MB TIFF: 5.1 seconds

Starting PL 24.01: 3.4 seconds
Loading a 720 MB TIFF: 7.4 seconds

It appears to me as if the beta can load the file faster. Maybe it is better optimized.

I really love my version 24.01 ;-)

BTW, I can't remember so many bugs and problems in previous »in between« beta versions.

[Herbert123]

BTW, I can't remember so many bugs and problems in previous »in between« beta versions.

It's understandable, I think: refactoring the asset panels (colours, gradients, textures, etc.) to support groups (for example) meant a core change to PhotoLine. Seems like a small change, but it's those kind of modernization updates that actually cause a lot of work, and are interconnected throughout the architecture of an application...

And with that also more bugs initially. Growing pains. Can't make a great omelette without breaking some eggs

It's great, though: I love some of the changes. The groups are already improving my daily workflow. So happy about those that I started a standard library of assets for PhotoLine. That just wasn't feasible before this beta.

[der_fotograf]

Seems like a small change, but it's those kind of modernization updates that actually cause a lot of work, and are interconnected throughout the architecture of an application...

Yup, that's what I can imagine. And that's the reason I post the tiny bugs. I think the many lines of code are pretty complex, and no developer can check everything.

It's great, though: I love some of the changes. The groups are already improving my daily workflow. So happy about those that I started a standard library of assets for PhotoLine. That just wasn't feasible before this beta.

Hm, I don't understand the group thingie. But I guess I don't need it for just a bit of retouching and resizing photographs. On the other hand, I admire people who use all the features to produce stunning graphics with all the bells and whistles of PL.

[Martin Huber]

When I accidentially select a RAW image to open with PL, it opens an Adjustment Layer Panel/List. After closing the image, I can't close the Adjustment Layer Panel/List.

This is just a test whether the close and minimize buttons of the panels are superfluous (see https://www.pl32.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?t=7043). You can still close the panel by rightclicking its title bar and choosing "Close" at the bottom.

But in the next version, the close and minimize buttons will probably be back again.

[shijan]

But in the next version, the close and minimize buttons will probably be back again.

Please make it as user setting checkbox, or at least allow to turn them off in PhotoLine.xml. I really don't like those close and minimize buttons. They only waste useful space. During all those years i didn't use them at all. UI feels much better without them.

[Martin Huber]

I'm not seeing anything special here. On my Mac Mini M1 (macOS 14, about 500 font families, 100 ICC profiles), I have the following starting times:
- vanilla PhotoLine: < 1 s
- with my usual settings: 1.5 s
- additionally with Herbert's palettes, textures and gradients: 2 s
- additionally with shijan's PictureUser.pld: 3 s

The 1.5 s is quite similar to the time when I last checked.

I have files in my Preferences folder from 2006, so I haven't cleaned it for quite a while

Herbert's 33 s sound horrendous to me.

Any hints on how to replicate the slow starting times are welcome.

[Martin Huber]

Please make it as user setting checkbox, or at least allow to turn them off in PhotoLine.xml. I really don't like those close and minimize buttons. They only waste useful space. During all those years i didn't use them at all. UI feels much better without them.

There is already a value in PhotoLine.xml that can be used to turn them on/off:

Code: Select all

<UI>
   <StackingPanelsWithControls>
      0
   </StackingPanelsWithControls>
<UI>

A value of 0 hides the buttons, a value of 1 shows them.

[Hoogo]

I'ma lso more happy without those buttons.

[Martin Huber]

I'ma lso more happy without those buttons.

Personally, I don't need them either. I have my dialog layout and rarely open/close other dialogs. And when I do, I use the Close command in the context menu.

But for a normal user, it is certainly irritating when these buttons are missing. And hardly anyone would think to look in the context menu.

[shijan]

In other apps normal users use right click menu, so why do you think that they can't find it in PhotoLine?
Also menu could have separate commands for "Close" and "Close Tab Group" which could make things even better. Here is how same right click menu looks in Ps:


In addition same commands could be reached from panel settings menu icon.

[Herbert123]

I agree with @shijan: just put the close button in the context menu and keep it accessible via the right-mouse click as well.

Double-clicking the title bar to minimize/maximize is quite straightforward. No need for an extra button.

And the panels look nice and clean now.

[shijan]

Double-clicking the title bar to minimize/maximize is quite straightforward. No need for an extra button.

minimize/maximize works with single click.

[Herbert123]

Double-clicking the title bar to minimize/maximize is quite straightforward. No need for an extra button.

minimize/maximize works with single click.

Ah yes, confused with other software.