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Author Topic: Preview Page and Full Page Editor options not always in sync  (Read 21785 times)
Pat77
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« on: February 26, 2010, 01:56:17 PM »

Hi,

I have been using QImage for a while now and I'm really satisfied with the output quality. Much better than Lightroom or Photoshop. Congrats. On the other hand, I find the user interface rather complicated. Too distracting and confusing.

I have a problem when setting the options for a job. Many times, they don't seem to be synchronized when I switch from the Preview Page (main window) to the Full Page Editor. For example, when I change the border settings in the main window, they are not synchronized when I go to the Full Page Editor. By the way, the full page editor should show the border in the color selected by the user. For me, it's always blue (although printed in black - my selected border color).

Did I miss something?

Cheers.

--
Patrick
« Last Edit: February 26, 2010, 02:09:11 PM by Pat77 » Logged
Fred A
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« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2010, 03:23:21 PM »

Quote
Did I miss something?
When you go back to the main screen, click on the large preview panel image to select it.
Then The main screen will reflect border size change.
It works like that here.
Let us know.
Fred
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Pat77
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« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2010, 03:44:16 PM »

Thanks, Fred.

OK. It actually works that way. I missed that. But should the update of the settings not be automatic? I understand that since there can be multiple images in the page, each image can have its own border settings. But when I click on the "Full Page Editor" button while an image is selected, that image should be selected again when I come back from the editor (therefore, the settings would be automatically updated). I find this more logical and consistent.

By the way, when the page contains a single image and when the border settings have been changed in the editor, if I print directly after coming back from the editor, I'm not sure of which settings will be applied. This could explain why I sometimes got a border with the wrong thickness when printing.

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Patrick
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rayw
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« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2010, 05:10:18 PM »

Hi Fred,

I can not find much of a relationship for image selections 'twixt preview panel and full page editor. Whichever image is selected in the preview page, the full page editor opens with the first image in the queue selected, and on returning to the main screen, none are selected.

This is particularly annoying if there is only one image on the page, and the border settings you think you are applying, are not then being applied. (If you are trying to get the maximum wrap for an image on canvas, to match  specific frame size, you have to actually do some sums Wink - and then the wraps don't show, so you have to start again, and select the single image that you can see in front of you - it may not be logical, but for one image, it is pretty obvious that is the one that is wanted.)

I think this is the same as Patrick is stating, the selection transfers are not perhaps as good as it could be.

I have not thought through the problems that may occur if the selections were properly carried over to the different views, or in the case of there being only one image, if that would automatically  be the one selected for applying the settings - other than it not being the way it is done at the moment.

Best wishes,

Ray

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Fred A
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« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2010, 05:41:38 PM »

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This is particularly annoying if there is only one image on the page, and the border settings you think you are applying are not then being applied.
Ray,
That is not a true statement.
They have been applied.
Only the main screen reading will not show the change in border size until the image to which the change was applied has been selected.
The changes have been made, See the print size change in the queue when you have the B+ selected.
See the border size change in the preview panel when you switch back to the main screen.
It involves one click of the mouse on the image on which you changed the border size to select it on the main screen preview panel.
Try it!

Fred

Quote
Whichever image is selected in the preview page, the full page editor opens with the first image in the queue selected, and on returning to the main screen, none are selected.
That is correct. Whatever image is selected will open first in the Full page editor. If you select all, and you have pages of images, the Full Page editor will open to the page selected on the main page.
Fred
« Last Edit: February 26, 2010, 05:47:48 PM by Fred A » Logged
rayw
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« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2010, 08:08:13 PM »

Hi Fred,

Quote
That is correct. Whatever image is selected will open first in the Full page editor.

I'm not sure if you have understood what I meant to say  Smiley

If there are two images on one page, image a), say, at the top of the page and image b) at the bottom. If you select either a) or b) in the preview page, when you open the full page editor image a) is always the one initially selected in the full page editor. When you go back to the preview page, no images are selected in that view. I do not see that as being the same as the quote above. (In reality, the image a) is the first in the print queue, which may be even a worse situation if you have a number of images on one page - the name is sort of buried in the other print details - <size, ppi, MB> ).

wrt the first part of your reply. The situation is that I normally set the borders in the preview page, often when I have not selected the image. I generally have no need to go into the full page editor, since the image can be loaded in and centred, to a defined custom size. On loading the image, it is not automatically selected - I can see it, it is the only one, so that is obviously the image I want - but it is selected in some respects, since its name is highlighted in the print queue!. If I apply borders in that situation, and then select the image by clicking on it, the border settings disappear. It is possibly not the same as setting the borders in the full page editor, and then on returning  to preview, the image not being selected. This is the problem with much of this stuff, it does not appear to show a consistent way of operating across all areas - there are many paths, but only one leads to salvation  Grin Grin Grin

(and many of us keep falling off....)

Best wishes,

Ray
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Fred A
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« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2010, 08:48:45 PM »

Ray,
Selected means selected.
Your image needs to be selected before you apply borders on the main screen.
Suppose you had a picture of your wife and one of your mother-in law in the preview panel.
You want to put a one inch black border around your mother-in-law's picture, only.
You select that print by one click in the preview panel, set the border size to 1.0 and the color to black.
If you select the other picture of your wife, the border box reverts to 0.00 , and lucky for you. She walked into the room, and you select her favorite color to border her print.
Even if there seems to be only one image,,, there are various contingencies that could come up.
You can select both or select all by holding the CTRL key as you click on both images. Then the border would be applied to both. That is a standard windows thing.
Selecting the image to be the recipient of your enhancements pertains not only to borders, but to add and remove a specific filter and more.
It is just an integral part of making sure you can change the size of one print and not others, add two borders, and then decide to remove one of the two borders from THAT image.
That's the best I can do explaining it.
Best,
fred
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rayw
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« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2010, 02:33:38 AM »

Hi Fred,

As you say, selected means selected. If I drag an image down into the 'view print Queue' area, then it appears on the preview panel, and is unselected. If I want to apply any borders or whatever to that image, then I have to select it, even if it is just the one image. OK, if that is the rule - which is unlike most other software I know, (but much like the windows folder/file situation)

BUT, if I do not select that image, and simply open the full page editor, then Qimage has selected that image for me. That is not consistent.

Furthermore, if there are two images in the preview panel, it does not matter which one I select there, because if I go to the full page editor, Qimage has selected the first one in the print queue, so I do not see that as 'selected being selected'.  Again, I do not see how that is consistent.

And then, if I leave the full page editor with whatever image was selected - either by me or by Qimage, when I return to the preview panel again, no images are selected in that panel - I have to select it/them again. I am assuming that a selected image has the blue (in my case) line around the image. If an image does not have the bounding line around it, then I think it should be unselected.

There is no problem in selecting an image (but unnecessary if less than two images to chose from) but I would expect that said selection should carry over to all screens where images can be manipulated.

At the moment, Qimage appears to ignore user selections that are made in the preview panel when moving to the full page editor. When the full page editor is opened it applies its own selection, and then when I return from the full page editor to the preview panel, nothing at all is selected.

I think it may make more sense if the preview panel was just that, a quick check of the layout of the images, no alterations allowed, and instead the full page editor was in it's place, or at least selections should be consistent between the various views.

Please confirm that the selection behaviour between the preview panel and full page editor that I have mentioned above in the first few paragraphs is the same on your system.

Best wishes,
Ray
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Terry-M
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« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2010, 08:49:43 AM »

Hi Ray,
Quote
which is unlike most other software I know, (but much like the windows folder/file situation)
... and Word, Exel, PowerPoint etc. etc. require you to select first to change something, so it's not exactly something "foreign" Wink
Quote
Please confirm that the selection behaviour between the preview panel and full page editor that I have mentioned above in the first few paragraphs is the same on your system.
Yes, I get the same, with multiple pages and multiple images on a page, the FPE opens on the correct page but always with the first image on the page selected. I've been aware of that "feature" for some time and got used to it  Wink
I checked out the slide show feature too. With nothing selected in the preview, a slideshow starts at the beginning as expected. If one image is selected in the preview, the slideshow starts at that image - which is fine and I've used that feature "live" to go back to an image during a show.
Terry.
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Pat77
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« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2010, 09:18:46 AM »

BUT, if I do not select that image, and simply open the full page editor, then Qimage has selected that image for me. That is not consistent.
...
Again, I do not see how that is consistent.

Hi,

I agree with you Ray. There's a consistency problem with this interface. Its current behavior is misleading. Another example:

- I select an image in the Preview Pane.
- I switch to the FPE.
- I change my mind and click on Cancel.
- The image previously selected image has been deselected.

In any application, when an action is cancelled, the application should return to the same state it was in when the action was initialized: Cancel = Back to the previous state (I'm a developer and I always take care of this).

More generally, I think that the QImage UI should be reworked and simplified. QImage is an excellent program and I wouldn't print with any other tool. However, many potential customers are intimidated by this user interface. DDI Software is losing market shares because of this.

My two cents...

Cheers.

--
Patrick

« Last Edit: February 27, 2010, 09:21:06 AM by Pat77 » Logged
Terry-M
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« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2010, 09:42:20 AM »

Hi Patrick,
Quote
More generally, I think that the Qimage UI should be reworked and simplified.
This really is an "old chestnut" and if you make general statements like that without specific suggestions, Mike, I'm sure, will not respond.
OK. there may be odd little problems such as has been raised in this thread and Mike will respond, one way or the other, faster than any other software developer.
Quote
However, many potential customers are intimidated by this user interface. DDI Software is losing market shares because of this.
I don't really believe this, the interface is designed for a purpose. So, like any other software does need to be learned and I'm amazed at the attitude of some "pros" who are not willing, "too busy" to learn how to use their tools.
The complete opposite view has been expressed on this forum and by new users I have personally introduced to Qimage. In the latter case, when I offered tuition, the answer was, it's ok. it's easy to use.
"Losing market share", what other printing program is there that competes and comes anywhere near what Qimage can do?  Huh?
Terry
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Pat77
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« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2010, 10:13:47 AM »

"Losing market share", what other printing program is there that competes and comes anywhere near what Qimage can do?  Huh?

Terry,

Chicken-egg problem.

In my developer's life I have seen many software shops go out of the business because of too much self-confidence. But let's admit that QImage is the best printing program available (at this time). People who don't know that but who want to give it a try will first have to get familiar with the UI (and I repeat, it is very intimidating) and read through a very strangely structured manual which doesn't follow the basic rules for editing a software manual (tools like EC Software's Help & Manual could help produce something more readable). I made the necessary efforts to go through this because I knew from others that QImage was really worth it. Otherwise, I'm not sure I would have even tried to launch the first print job.

Just google a little bit and read what people say about QImage. Always the same: excellent printing tool... once you've gone through the user interface intricacies.

I'm amazed at the attitude of some "pros" who are not willing, "too busy" to learn how to use their tools.

Please consider that printing is just one (final and important) step in the photographer's workflow. Beside learning how to make pictures in the first place, and even pros have to learn how to use their cameras, their always changing RAW development and retouching tools, etc. The software must adapt to the user, not the opposite.

Cheers.

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Patrick
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Fred A
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« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2010, 10:32:10 AM »


Please confirm that the selection behaviour between the preview panel and full page editor that I have mentioned above in the first few paragraphs is the same on your system.

Best wishes,
Ray

Yes, wow, just woke up!!
Yes I confirm what you describe is the same here, but what I am seeing is not bothersome. I guess I am so used to working in Qimage, and I am so old, far beyond menopause, that I can't have a cow anymore over having to click on an image to select it.  Grin

In switching to the Full Page Editor, I find that Qimage will go to the *page* of the selected image, and then expects you to make one click to select which one on the page you wish to adjust.
What do we do in the full page editor? We adjust the location, add text, maybe print cropping, add a border, change a size, loads of things. Each one calls for a selection to be made so Qimage knows which print image to apply to.
It makes sense to me, and selecting the image is the mental focus to do your work.
If it worked the other way, where Qimage pre selected an image based on the last touched in the main screen, you would likely gripe that the border I added went on to the wrong image.
Right now it selects the first image on the page you sent it to. You want the second image instead, one click!
If that answer is not satisfactory to anyone, then that person will have to wait for Mike to address it.

All opinions are welcome!

Fred

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Terry-M
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« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2010, 12:01:41 PM »

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In my developer's life I have seen many software shops go out of the business because of too much self-confidence
Tell Adobe that. Did you see the thread on here on how to set PS E8 up for print colour management  Huh?
In my life as a user & occasional trainer of applications from DOS stuff, Unix based Enterprise systems and customised Windows applications, Qimage is pretty good in my view.
You still have not come up with any specifics, on :"I think that the Qimage UI should be reworked and simplified." other than than the minor problems already mentioned. It is a reasonably complex and multi-functional program so it is going to continue be an evolutionary process, I would think, as users and Mike suggest specific improvements.

I heard about a friend this week who had a new Sat Nav and was spending time reading the 20 page manual before using it. His 10 year old grandson picked up the Sat Nav and within a few minutes had planned a journey from his home in the UK to a friends house in Italy. "Out of the mouths of babes ....". There's a lesson there I think for all software, do as the kids do now, experiment.

We'll have to agree to disagree probably  Wink
Terry.
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Fred A
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« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2010, 12:06:40 PM »

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set PS E8 up for print colour management
This is true in CS4 too
Try to make a print in CS4 using Color Management. Let's say I want to print on Epson PGPP, and set the print interface to Let Photo Shop handle color, and select the correct print profile, and then No Color Adjustment. All set!
 No, I would rather use Luster paper. I go back in and set to Luster paper. The printer profile changes to RGB, Selecting the correct profile for the luster is grayed out, and only removing No Color Adjustment will return to a live list of profiles. Select luster, and you better remember to also re-select NCA again.
That can of worms seems more inclined to create angst than one click to select an image in Qimage
Fred
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