Yes, those were the best of times for us! But only for PhotoLab users.
2 Likes
I was the one who started that thread and I’ve gone through an extended email exchange with the support people on it. I have to say that the skillset is ‘mixed’ on the customer support side. Fabrice there is great … very helpful, supportive, patient, and knowledgeable. Exactly the sort of person you want in that role. The first person I dealt with (no names needed) was polite but seemed not to understand the problem at first (asked for irrelevant information) then implicitly suggested that I was imagining things … I had to send multiple emails and files just to prove to her that the problem didn’t exist in earlier iterations. This wasn’t done with any malice, mind you, I think it was just a lack of deep product knowledge and understanding on how to deal with customers. I do have to say, though, when Fabrice took over, he saved the day and my frustration dissipated.
I’ve just “discovered” there’s yet another SIGNIFICANT behavioural improvement in PLv7.5’s UI/UX when working with Local Adjustments.
Previously, when returning to the LA-Tab (such as when adding LAs and then switching to Global mode, and then coming back to the LA-Tab … or when switching to a different image, to which LAs had previously been added) the user is shown a list of all those previously applied LA-masks.
-
The natural action taken (by a user familiar with mouse-based UIs) was to click on the specific LA that they now wish to review/refine … BUT, nothing happens !!
-
Instead, one needed to first select one of the LA-types from the LA-type-toolbar … and, only then was LA-mode activated.
-
This was totally counter-intuitive, and very confusing (as a result)
Now, when returning to previously applied LA corrections, one no longer needs to select one of the LA-types in order to activate LA-mode … Now, it’s enough to simply select the LA correction that one intends to work with (from the list of previously created LA-masks) - and LA-mode is immediately activated, and you’re all set to work with the selected LA-mask.
Because this is now intuitive behaviour, it makes for a MUCH better user experience 
7 Likes
That’s a big win! but I still hate the new LA UI I wish they could put the sliders back on the control points as has happened with the latest Nik where it’s a configurable display option. I hate having to mouse back and forward and scroll up and down to do local adjustments!
1 Like
Sorry, that is just not going to happen.
Mark
Do you know why? After all they removed them in the Nik collection then put them back (as an option) due to user demand. I know a lot of folks who haven’t upgraded to 7 from 6 because of the UI change. I don’t see any technical reason why they can’t put them back and I can see a commercial reason to do so. It seems to be a win-win for everyone. So why do you think they wouldn’t do for PL what they did do for Nik?
DxO added the HSL tool into local adjustments. This is one technical reason. Another seems to be their evolving approach to the UI, which borrowed from Viveza but didn’t duplicate it. As a TV character named Kosh said, “The avalanche has already started; it is too late for the pebbles to vote.” Maybe DxO will revise their strategy again one day, but for now they are picking a direction and moving that way rather resolutely.
4 Likes
The HSL tool is, I agree, an exception but it is not the most commonly used tool and the others can be made accessible from both places. After all, DxO did exactly the same with Nik and put everything on the right panel then replaced the on-image sliders. Those sliders don’t replace the right panel they augment it by making the most common adjustments more easily accessible. The current solution is horribly inefficient, especially when doing projected teaching sessions at workshops where attendees find it much harder to see what the instructor is doing as the mouse leaps about the screen, but even in long personal sessions it adds about 10% to the time taken to edit a batch of images. I hope they fix it, it would be easy to do with an extra checkbox at the bottom of the screen “show adjusters” or some such… I live in hope. 
I would love to have this option. I did really like the previous (PL6 and earlier) UI for local adjustments, and to have the option to use it along with the current side panel UI would be awesome.
I agree, so much mouse movement is currently required - especially with a large, high res monitor. Making multiple (exposure, contrast, etc.) local adjustments was once simple and quick, but now it is a chore 
I do love having HSL control on a Local Adjustment level too. However, I only apply HSL to a minority of LA adjustments. Obviously other peoples’ needs will vary to mine.
Unfortunately, only DxO knows where they’re going next with the local adjustments in PhotoLab. I’d be happier if they reduce the amount of vertical space required for the local adjustment palettes (they have this feedback). Then we would essentially have a larger equalizer that is not overlapping the image. But DxO’s updates, good as they are, are rather incremental and never seem to be finished IMO. 
3 Likes
@John-M It was nice to see a topic here that was actually super positive. I realize this is a support forum and I should expect more negative than positive comments.
Still it’s refreshing.
4 Likes
Thanks, Brian … but, it’s simply a case of giving credit where credit’s due …
Quite a few PL users expressed their unhappiness with various aspects of new implementation of Local Adjustments in PLv7 … So, it’s excellent to see that DxO has taken notice and has responded accordingly … And, I’m hopeful there’s more to come on this (See Greg’s comment, as one such example).
John
1 Like
Yes - that would definitely be a worthwhile improvement … thereby making the new LA UI much less cumbersome (or, much more efficient) to work with.
Meanwhile, here’s how I make this situation a little better;
-
I have all LA panels selected as Favourites - EXCEPT for the HSL panel.
-
When I use Local Adjustments, I click on the LA-tab AND the Favourites button
-
With result that the entire LA palette (containing all panels, except for HSL) is now visible … which makes it MUCH easier to navigate
-
If/when I need to use the HSL panel, I temporarily un-select the Favourites button.
It’s not ideal, but it’s better than having to chase up/down the LA palette !
2 Likes
Back to the Solo Mode request, proudly ignored since years…
4 Likes
Is right click to select collapse all really too much to do?
It’s just 3 clicks in total to access any adjustment without scrolling or moving the mouse across the screen.
Summary
1. Right click on a title of any adjustment (whichever is closest to the mouse cursor)
2. Left click on “Collapse all”
3. Left click on the title of the desired adjustment to access it
(This is not limited to local adjustments)
Working with LAs you want to see, what tool you have used on that very layer / mask …
which is impossible with this long ‘litany’ without scrolling. – There have been quite a few suggestions how to improve, but no solution so far.
The simplest thing would be to highlight the used tool’s icon ( and the header ? ), when the tool is no more at its default setting. And this would go very well with Solo mode, but …
This request also needs more votes :
What does this have to do with this thread? Is it not possible for you to see that there are people who actually enjoy photography and using PhotoLab and don’t have to hijack threads with their negativity?
Also regarding scrolling through the local adjustments - how much movement of your finger is involved? I just have to move mine a bit without lifting it off the wheel to scroll up or down through the entire panel - total travel distance of finger tip approximately 7mm.
If scrolling with a mouse-wheel really is an issue for you, you should adjust the behaviour of your scroll wheel to better suit your needs or look for an alternative input device if you are not able to use a mouse. There are plenty of options for accessibility. Perhaps voice control might be something to consider. Then you wouldn’t have to move a finger.
Back on topic: I’m happy about the performance improvement and creative possibilities it has opened.
?!?!?! Hey, let’s keep cool ! This thread is about UI fixes/enhancements in version 7.5. And we all appreciate them (and thanks John-M for this summary). But consequently, it’s also a thread about problems and design issues that have not been fixed. I was just answering a remark from Egregius who was complaining about the way the real estate in the right pane is managed. I have not seen a thread subtitle saying ““I’m happy” answers only, otherwise keep away”.
It’s fine that problems that appeared with version 7 are partially fixed in this update. However, one may wonder why problems lasting since years are not, especially when the solution is known and easy to implement. Nobody will convince me that Solo mode is something hard to implement (unless big mistakes have been made in the structure of the UI). Also, the request I quoted is clearly related to this problem with the real estate management in the right pane. Some easy to implement suggestions I have made there would make it much more readable, even if they stubbornly insist on not implementing Solo mode.
The basic problem of this UI is that after working for a while, you have difficulties understanding where you are in the app and what you are currently doing. I’m sure that DxO are not ready to redesign it but at least they could try to listen to their old and loyal customers.
2 Likes
The changes to the LA UX introduced with v7.5, along with the fact that my muscle memory has mostly finally adapted to the new UI, I am now finding it far less frustrating to use.
I am perhaps still slower to complete an edit, but it is marginal.
However, I really do appreciate the HSL control and I do find the sliders on the right side panel far easier to control for fine adjustments compared to the old control point sliders. I especially find it much easier to adjust white balance for some reason - I always struggled with WB on the old system.
Just my opinion and expereince of course