Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

I love the way the size drop down works now - really helps when putting different sizes on the same sheet.  But one annoying thing, while I can drag it to any point on the screen, as soon as I click a thumb, the drop down pops back and covers most of the page image.  This is mainly a problem when doing drag and drop free hand placement.  I would like to have the drop down stay wherever I drag it until I move it elsewhere.  Gripe gripe gripe with an occasional whine.  ;)

Hi Mel,
Try this, when dragging, make sure all thumbs are de-selected and do not select the thumb first, just click once on the thumb and keep the LH button down and drag. Doing it that way, the size pop-out does not appear at all.  :D

However, if the pop-out is there already (a common situation), it can be a problem when dragging. I notice that when it's partially covering the page preview, you cannot drag to the covered area. There seems to be a little problem in that situation. If dragging, you probably need the pop-out to auto disappear. Something for Mike to look at I think.
 
Terry

Hi

Would it be an idea to have the print property window as an automatic pop-up on hovering over a thumbnail? It could be set up to always appear so that it does not cover the print preview, and only disappear when you exit the pop-up, so you can select several sizes.
I would also like the ability to add custom settings to the size window, such as 'Number of prints on page', 'Specify one dimension' or a template. Perhaps there could be a button on the custom 'Special sizes' window saying something like 'Add setting to Print Properties'.
This is just a first idea, I haven't really thought it through, but it would certainly help me.

Brian

After using the new program for over a week, I found that I'm still not appreciating the floating print size box.  MelW is correct that it IS easier to use when putting different size pics on a page -- something I do with semi-moderate frequency.

But mostly, for me, it's an annoyance in my workflow.  Also - when opening the box in Studio, my most frequently used choices are right at my cursor (custom size, fit image, original size and a few user defined sizes).  In Ultimate, I now need to scroll down to get to these choices. 

I also find that double clicking on a thumbnail to add it to the queue to be preferable than single clicking the small plus button.  It's just that my mouse control is such that I often miss the plus button -- it's much easier for me to double click a large square than single click the small button - especially when I'm moving rapidly.

I also prefer the location of the queue window in Studio.  I never before realized how often I check it until it is not there -- it's especially helpful when combining images from several folders.

Luckily for me, I have both Studio and Ultimate so this past weekend I reverted back to using studio for the major part of my work.

I guess, um, ultimately, it would be great if the various components could be made modular, movable, dockable and combinable - much the same way PS is.  In that program, I have 9 panels open on my second monitor with some panels containing more than one function (history and layercomps, for example, share the same panel).  I have no clue as to how much programing it would take to accomplish that.

The key part of "workflow", for me, is the "flow".  The more choices and options that one has in setting up a program's layout allows each user to customize it to allow a better flow for their particular needs. 

This, by the way, is not a gripe, complaint or a whine -- just feedback.   I'm perfectly happy using either Studio and Ultimate as my needs dictate.

Took me a couple weeks to get used to the double click thing since I was used to double clicking to add to the queue in Lite, Pro, and Studio.  I do believe the Ultimate way is much better though.  When you double click on an object, it should open that object... always!  In Ultimate, if you double click an image in the thumbnails, it opens the image in the image editor.  Double click on an image on the page and same thing: the image opens in the editor.  Double click on the page itself (white space) and that page opens int he page editor.  It's consistent.

I think you'll get used to the sizer too, and future tweaks will make it even better.  How many sizes do you have in the sizer (print properties)?  It'll hold 12 individual sizes and still show all three custom options.  Perhaps just delete some of the sizes you don't use as often if you are having to scroll.

As to the queue, I really think that becomes a more "diagnostic" tool in Ultimate and it's better on the page/queue (right) side rather than a third panel blocking thumbnails.  What are you using it for anyway?  You mention folders, but what are you doing with them?  Are you scrolling through the queue to find where a batch of images goes from one folder to a new one?   I'm thinking I could add a simple indicator on the preview page for that so you could quickly tell when folders change.  Like a little "1" on prints from one folder and a "2" when the folder changes.

Mike

Yep - me too - but I am getting used to that and think this interface is much more user friendly and consistent. I especially like the way I can now highlight a thumb and then decide what I wantr to do with it.  I like to drag the size window to keep it just below the page preview, or sometimes just to the left of it.  I just wish it would stay there until I move it again.
Agree also about the queue - it's still nearby if I need it, but prefer having the extra space on the left for folders and thumbs.

There is absolutely nothing "wrong" with the interface in Ultimate.  It's logical and there are certainly good reasons for setting it up as it is.  I just work faster with the way it's set up in Studio.  I definitely admit that some of it is habit that can be relearned.

But after about 10 days of stumbling with the add button vs. the double click and mumbling "go away" to the print size box, I decided that there was no reason to relearn my habits since studio is just as easily accessible.  For me, there is no benefit to relearning.

The queue is convenient for me when I check to make sure I included everything I wanted to.  This morning, in printing out 23 pics from 4 different folders, I was easily able to review my selections (using Studio) in the queue and indeed, I quickly found one I missed and one where I selected the wrong image.  I keep the queue collapsed at the bottom so it doesn't normally interfere with my thumbnails.  When I need it open, one click (or a hover) opens it to maximum size covering almost all the thumbnails -- but I then don't need to scroll much up or down or left and right to see what's there.  The tiny queue box in Ultimate is just not that useful to me.

As for deleting some sizes in the print box - yes - I thought of that -- but I also thought, "why bother since I like the way it works in Studio".

I am ALWAYS looking for ways to make my workflow faster.  Change can be very good but if the change requires learning new habits but provides no appreciable benefits (for me personally), then it's easier and more productive to use the "old" way.

We all work differently and what may be great for one person may be a headache for another.  That's why I always appreciate programs that allow us to modify the layout as our needs warrant.  Since I have both studio and ultimate - I just look at it as two different layouts and could use either one as I need to.  It's not a problem.