Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Mike's Software => Qimage Ultimate Wish List => Topic started by: sync007 on August 02, 2021, 04:10:40 PM



Title: More Modern Interface
Post by: sync007 on August 02, 2021, 04:10:40 PM
I think it's time that Qimage takes on a more modern interface, as Canon just released their Layout program, not sure of all the features but it can layout multiple image sizes on one page. Epson has theirs but is pretty poor. Qimage has all the great functionalities but needs an interface upgrade, as it does look very dated. Just my 2 cents.


Title: Re: More Modern Interface
Post by: admin on August 03, 2021, 12:27:26 AM
Define "modern".  Qimage has had a dark theme with objects/windows with rounded corners for years: something that Windows 11 now features.  So I can only assume you mean different controls to do the same job?  Canon's layout programs have always been awful... to the point that Canon's own executives have been known to give up trying to demo how to print large prints on their Pro-4000 printers with their software at printing expos and have to use Qimage to get the job done.

So I'd need more specifics on what you are referring to.  "More modern" cannot mean "worse".  And for Qimage to emulate the UI of programs like Lighroom or Canon pro layout software would be going backward!  It's easy (and tempting) to change something just to give it a new face or to say "more modern".  It's another to actually do that and not compromise functionality.  So I'm always open to "specific" ideas.

Regards,
Mike


Title: Re: More Modern Interface
Post by: sync007 on August 03, 2021, 12:48:47 AM
Hi, Mike
When I say more modern I mean something like the Epson Layout or the new Canon PPL "look or style" for the new P2100 printer. Don't get me wrong the guts of Qimage is amazing, maybe more cleaner lines but I am not a programmer so I am not sure how hard it would be to change the UI


Title: Re: More Modern Interface
Post by: admin on August 03, 2021, 02:10:20 AM
Hi, Mike
When I say more modern I mean something like the Epson Layout or the new Canon PPL "look or style" for the new P2100 printer. Don't get me wrong the guts of Qimage is amazing, maybe more cleaner lines but I am not a programmer so I am not sure how hard it would be to change the UI

This is what I mean by people just wanting something that looks "different" or "like" something else.  The Epson and Canon Layout programs are good examples: neither of them work well (or at all for that matter) for print nesting.  The Epson software only allows one size per page.  Neither software can do auto-placement to allow you to just pick common photo sizes on the fly and let the software arrange them.  They both have sliders to choose the width and height of each print: inappropriate for photo printing software as you should be able to define and select common sizes.  So I'm not in a hurry to copy look-and-feel from software that doesn't do the job properly or are missing key features which simplifies the interface not having those features.

I'll give one example: a common trend is to put a long list of scrolling settings on the right side.  Lightroom started that years ago and people emulated it just to do it like Adobe (and without thinking about whether it'd make things easier or harder).  Only problem is: it doesn't work well; not nearly as well as tabs.  I could mix all the printer settings and print settings like size, borders, etc. in ONE long scrolling list of settings on the right side but I'm not going to do that because it is not appropriate for printing software and would slow you down as you continually scroll up/down hunting for features.  Doing it like Lightroom (one long scrolling list of sliders on the right) simply comes from inexperience: not knowing how to design a purpose-built UI that really simplifies the photo printing workflow.

All of this is to say: I'm open to ideas but they have to be concrete ideas and they can't be changes just for the sake of trying to make Qimage look like other (inferior) software.  :)

Mike


Title: Re: More Modern Interface
Post by: CHoffman on August 03, 2021, 05:45:44 PM
Naturally, one can program just about anything, but Microsoft has promoted a certain look and feel since the beginning of Windows. They've "fine-tuned" it ever since, not always (ever?) for the better. It's nice if a program maintains the same icon-based system, but it's just not appropriate for some things. The Qimage interface takes a bit of learning and open-mindedness but it's absolutely appropriate to the task. I admit to swearing at it on more than one occasion, but once I understood how to do what I wanted, and why it was designed that way, I had to admit it was quite brilliant.



Title: Re: More Modern Interface
Post by: sync007 on August 18, 2021, 07:00:13 PM
I guess I did not explain myself very well,  then I realized that the skin is what I was trying to refer to. The layout is fine perhaps a more modern looking skin if that makes any sense. As for what the program does nothing can beat it!