Re: [Tuxpaint-devel] Selection tools proposal - feedback wanted!

[Albert C. <aca...@gm...>]

On 2/8/06, Ben Armstrong <sy...@sa...> wrote:

> What if in the Open dialog we also used the currently unused stamps
> cells to hold all system-wide stamps along with user-created pictures
> marked as stamps?  Then provide a "Stamp" button next to the open button
> that moves pictures to and from the stamp bar.  The "Stamp" button would
> be disabled for system stamps.  (If a user wants to edit a copy of a
> system stamp, just open a new picture and use the stamp to create a
> copy.)
>
> Clicking on the stamp bar would allow a stamp to be selected, just as
> pictures can be selected.  "Open" would be available for all stamps,
> while "Erase" would be available for user-created stamps, but be
> disabled for system stamps.

I was thinking that the "currently unused stamps cells" ought to just
go away, with the file selector area growing to use the extra space.
I was getting ready to do that when I changed jobs, moved, and then
was sick for a couple months.

I think it is best to reduce confusion in the "Open" and related dialogs.
The existing delete button is kind of misplaced. Adding more awkward
UI stuff just digs a deeper hole to get out of.

Perhaps user-defined stamps should get their own left-side button.
That makes a clear distinction, yet gives the same stamp interface.
It also avoids making the stamp listing grow larger. All saved images
could show up as stamps. I only see two problems with this:

1. not much space on the left side for that button

2. the user may still get confused by choosing an unintended
   option, giving them the wrong set of stamps to choose from

Well, I think this may beat the alternatives.

One question left is: when does the stamp extraction happen?

a. on file save, and stored to disk
b. on file save and on Tux Paint start-up (not stored to disk)
c. on selection of the user-defined stamps menu (discard when done)
d. on 1st selection of menu, and kept up to date on file save

Perhaps the current image should ALWAYS be a stamp, kept
continuously up to date. (in the first slot?) One could do some
neat hall-of-mirrors effects that way, or magnify a too-small
image to fill the screen better.