I ran a preset against a folder of photos (1 - DxO Style). I’ve set up a custom workspace and created a custom palette. When I click the Crop toolbar button at top of screen (on the Customize tab), grab handles are shown on each edge of the photo and I can drag to crop.
However, if I use the Preset Editor palette and apply “6 - No correction” then when I use the Crop tool the grab handles are not shown. Instead, I can draw a rectangle to crop.
Reading the forums I learned that the behaviour of this tool varies (intentionally, apparently) depending on whether or not the Crop palette is enabled or disabled.
So one point of feedback is that it seems counter-intuitive to me that the tool’s function should vary depending on whether the Crop palette is enabled.
That aside (I can work with that) - why is the Crop palette changing from enabled to disabled when I apply the “6 - No correction” preset, and can I prevent this?
Yes, this has been an annoyance for me, too. To work around it, all you have to do is create a new no-correction preset that enables the crop palette. Start with 6 - No correction. Enable the Crop palette and set it the way you want. (I use unconstrained / auto based on keystoning.) Then save the preset - for example: “7 - RGB uncorrected.” Now go to Edit > Preferences and make the new preset the default for RGB (or RAW) images if you wish. Now the preset will automatically be used when opening new image folders in PhotoLab. Note that to apply it to all of your JPEG/TIFF images (for example) that PhotoLab has already loaded, you’ll need to either clear your database or filter out RAW images/select-all/change the preset or rename the image folders after closing PhotoLab.
After I posted I wondered whether the preset also defines which palettes are active - so I guess it does.
Another workaround I just found - “favourite” the Crop palette (click the star icon). Then after applying the “No correction” preset hit the “Favorite Corrections” button at top-right of the palette panel. This hides everything else except the Crop palette (because the Crop palette is my only favourite). Click the switch to enable it then click the “Favorite Corrections” button again to switch back to your normal collection of palettes.
I’ve also minimised the Crop panel for less clutter. I suppose I could add it to my custom workspace too.
On the right-hand side I’ve got a custom palette called “QuickEdit”. At the very top of that I have the Crop tool and it is minimised. The little activation switch on the left now acts as an option to switch the Crop tool between using drag handles at the edges, to drawing a rectangle.
