Rationalizing and Simplifying the UI/UX of PL in 2025: A proposal

[shijan]

Like that! Pin.jpg

Notice the pin icon next to the other options such as minimize and close.

Disable those minimize and close button in Preferences to get more space. Those are legacy buttons. Just Click anywhere on toolbar and panel will expand/collapse.

[Vivi_Ram]

Again, Tab is just a convenient key. It can be any other key on the left hand side of the keyboard. There should be a simple "Move to Next" function in the shortcuts that can be manually assigned a key, which will work globally as described.

Well, Tab is already navigates between vector points in vector objects. It just don't change focus of the document yet. For me Tab looks like a nice key for special situations.

Since this already works, I think they should be implemented in gradients too for consistency. Gradient stop navigation could be a lot easier with the same Tab to next function. And auto-panning of screen in gradients for extremely large gradients. Combine this with calling up the eye dropper with \ stroke like I recommended, you have a dynamite gradient tool. Tab to move to next, \ to call up eye dropper temporarily and select literally any pixel colour on screen. Consider how much faster you can fill colour in this way. Even for large mesh gradients.

And, if you have a gradient stop selected, and you also have the global colour editor/palette window open, you can directly select colours from here, too, instead of having to select colour from a dedicated window. Just like in Mesh Gradients. I was always slightly thrown off by the fact that gradients worked slightly differently to mesh gradients. Selecting from colour editor changed the gradient to flat colour. Where as mesh gradients allow you to select colours from colour editor for each node.

[Vivi_Ram]

For my personal appearance all sorts of Auto hidden panels is the most stupid thing ever made. They literally slow down workflow because for any single slider change you every time need to spend few clicks or move mouse to the edge, then click or hover and then move mouse back to adjustment slider. Also that instant epileptic blinking distracts from thinking about the image.
Just get wider screen.

Many things in PhotoLine like Colors, Brushes are already duplikated as auto hidden. They temporary appears as drop lists when you click on that little arrow button in different places.
Screen Shot 2025-02-05 at 12.33.33 PM.jpg

I'd have to disagree here. I do think auto hide has it's time and place. Especially when combined with pinning. Point taken about colours, however.

Also, how do I switch off theming to get circle sliders, please?

[shijan]

Screen Shot 2025-02-05 at 12.55.17 PM.jpg

[Vivi_Ram]

I think that's Mac UI. In Windows, this is what you see.

UI.jpg

[Vivi_Ram]

Auto document creation.jpg

Another one of the simple additions that can help. Adding a small + sign, on the document menu, and pressing on + should create the exact same type, dimension, bit depth and colour of document/image as the present one. Alt + Clicking on the + sign should call up the New Image window where the user can decide. Shift clicking should duplicate the present document. Ctrl + Shift to set up a new view of the current document. Just possibilities. Take the best.

Likewise, user should be able to rearrange document order in the document list - exactly like in a browser. Presently, as far as I can tell, this is not possible.

[shijan]

I think that's Mac UI. In Windows, this is what you see. UI.jpg

Mac and Win versions are the same. Just enable "Use Own Brightness" checkbox as it was shown on screenshot.

[shijan]

Auto document creation.jpg

Another one of the simple additions that can help. Adding a small + sign, on the document menu, and pressing on + should create the exact same type, dimension, bit depth and colour of document/image as the present one. Alt + Clicking on the + sign should call up the New Image window where the user can decide. Shift clicking should duplicate the present document. Ctrl + Shift to set up a new view of the current document. Just possibilities. Take the best.

Likewise, user should be able to rearrange document order in the document list - exactly like in a browser. Presently, as far as I can tell, this is not possible.

As i remember "+" sign near document tabs was requested earlier, but i guess it wasn't fit well to global UI logic or something so. In reality it is not a web browser where you create/close new tab every minute. It is always possible to create new document from Document List toolbar panel, or using hotkey or from "New Document" icon placed to customized General Toolbar panel.

[Vivi_Ram]

I think that's Mac UI. In Windows, this is what you see. UI.jpg

Mac and Win versions are the same. Just enable "Use Own Brightness" checkbox as it was shown on screenshot.

This only resets the contrast for me. It does not change the sliders.

[Vivi_Ram]

As i remember "+" sign near document tabs was requested earlier, but i guess it wasn't fit well to global UI logic or something so. In reality it is not a web browser where you create/close new tab every minute. It is always possible to create new document from Document List toolbar panel, or using hotkey or from "New Document" icon placed to customized General Toolbar panel.

+ sign can be used to do a variety of things besides new document. New views, duplicate present document, duplicate present setting, are all inherently possible with just one click + some modifiers. Those are actions I perform pretty frequently. Especially, duplicate present documents, where I work on an image, and suddenly fork out the same image, and choose different set of adjustments on the same image for variation. Presently, I do this manually.

Furthermore, I also wish to be able to open and close PL even without saving documents (through auto backups), and load back all the documents/images I left unclosed while closing the program. I want to retain the same scroll position, too. So, what I want to do is: I have seven documents open, with different scroll positions. I want to close the program without any prompt to save. And when I open, they should all open as unsaved documents with the same scroll position. Currently, I'm aware you can ask PL to open to the last open documents/images. But they need to be saved.

[shijan]

+ sign can be used to do a variety of things besides new document. New views, duplicate present document, duplicate present setting, are all inherently possible with just one click + some modifiers. Those are actions I perform pretty frequently. Especially, duplicate present documents, where I work on an image, and suddenly fork out the same image, and choose different set of adjustments on the same image for variation. Presently, I do this manually.

From what i learn - PhotoLie logic is simple as possible and developers are like to improve existing options, but don't like to add too many random new options that don't fit to global logic. All required Icons are located bottom panel toolbars. There is also multiple user customized toolbars that you can place anywhere and add any icon, action or even external app there. In addition PhotoLine have plenty of hidden key modifiers. And customizable quick menu which could be opened from anywhere by middle mouse click.
More half-useful onscreen tools variations that duplicate other tools and use totally different logic doesn't makes program better or easier to use.
PhotoLine is like for brave spartans

Currently, I'm aware you can ask PL to open to the last open documents/images. But they need to be saved.

File->Open Resent

This only resets the contrast for me. It does not change the sliders.

You need to restart program.

Screen Shot 2025-02-05 at 2.08.31 PM.jpg

[Vivi_Ram]

That did it!

Point taken about customizability. The intent, remember, is not to have all of these things implemented. Even I would not want all of my suggestions to be implemented. But I want to create a dump of information and ideas where people can argue, critique, and lift the best ideas and make the application as a whole better. So we're doing exactly what I want - debate and find points of agreement and disagreement.

And I have discovered that when designers argue, they tend to produce entirely new ideas as well. I find that really refreshing. This is one of the reasons I ultimately quit Affinity forum completely. They kept saying how even bugs are just features. And how everyone had to basically just accept Affinity as it is or go away. So I went away. If Affinity adopted the Hubers' bug fixing and feature implementation approach and philosophy, I honestly think they will quickly replace even PS. Now, they have billions in backing from Canva. We're still waiting for curve expansion to work correctly! It is AD 2025!!

[Vivi_Ram]

Going over Freehand, there are two options which I think are good candidates to think of: Smudging vector shapes (Morphing in reverse) and multi-step mirror transform. As are the possibilities of having multi-fill and multi-stroke (of different types: Gradients, flat, patterns, textures, transparencies) for a single vector object. I will record videos later for these.

Quick question: Can we reset all transformations for an object with a single click. I'm sure that's possible.

[shijan]

Vector multi outline aleready exists. Interesting to see what is exactly multi fill.

multi.gif

[shijan]

Quick question: Can we reset all transformations for an object with a single click. I'm sure that's possible.

Right click on Scaling or Angle in Layer Attributes and Reset
It is also possible to Fix layer, so all transformations became permanent.

Screen Shot 2025-02-06 at 12.28.39 AM.jpg