PK Color 2.0 Preview window

[jsd]

Hello all...I am seeing a separate "preview" window when using 2.0. What is this for? How does one use it?

Am seeing no mention in the help files though I may have missed it.

Any advice would be appreciated.

...Jordan

[Martin Evening]

You are probably noticing the duplicate document window that is being generated in the background to create the preview you see in the PhotoKit Color 2 dialog. The same thing is seen for example when you use the Picture Package plug-in in Photoshop.

Martin

[jsd]

You are probably noticing the duplicate document window that is being generated in the background to create the preview you see in the PhotoKit Color 2 dialog. The same thing is seen for example when you use the Picture Package plug-in in Photoshop.

Martin

Hi Martin...perhaps, but, in the main window (larger) all activity happens. The preview I see happens there (if I opt for it). Nothing happens in this extra window that has appeared to the left of the main one. It remains blank.

...Jordan

[Martin Evening]

Let me try explaining the way PhotoKit Color is designed to work with the PixelGenius Toolbox dialog.

When you select PhotoKit Color 2 from the Automate menu you see the PixelGenius Toolbox. Then when you click on the Preview checkbox, you initiate the generation of a Preview. PhotoKit Color 2 will create a flattened duplicate of the selected image and resize it to the size of the preview display and then apply whichever effect is selected in the list. depending on the size of your screen and the positionng of the PixelGenius Toolbox., if you can see the duplicate document window you won't actually see an image previewed in it. Use the PixelGenius Toolbox preview as your guide and click OK when you have selected the desired effect. The effect will then be applied to the image you first selected.

Martin

[jsd]

Let me try explaining the way PhotoKit Color is designed to work with the PixelGenius Toolbox dialog.

...if you can see the duplicate document window you won't actually see an image previewed in it. Use the PixelGenius Toolbox preview as your guide and click OK when you have selected the desired effect. The effect will then be applied to the image you first selected.

Martin

Thanks Martin...I think I understand but, since that duplicate document window shows nothing, why not eliminate it altogether? Seems to be a waste of space.

Please excuse my density.

...Jordan

[Martin Evening]

Yes, I agree it would be nice to get rid of the window popping behind the PixelGenius Toolbox, but unfortunately, Photoshop does not allow any work around for us to do this, so in order to generate a much-needed preview, we have no alternative but to use this method. But on the whole I think most people will prefer having a preview to see the effects in advance rather than a simple list of actions, which is what we had before in PhotoKit Color 1.

Martin

[jsd]

Yes, I agree it would be nice to get rid of the window popping behind the PixelGenius Toolbox...
Martin

Ok...thanks. Am on track now. Thanks for the explanation.

Best regards,
Jordan

[bobp]

love the previews

[luminous]

Is there or will there be any way to make the Toolbox larger? On my 1600x1200 monitor, the preview image is too small for me to get a good idea of what the effect will look like.

[Jeff Schewe]

The preview in PhotoKit Color 2 is 400 pixels, the standard filter dialog on Photoshop plug-in filters is 206 pixels...so our preview is about 2x the standard filter plugin. Yes, built-in "filters" (actually core plug-ins) can zoom. . .we can't. But what we are trying to show is the effects of color, not filter processing that is resolution sensitive...

[Darwin]

From a programming POV, it is often possible to use the OS API to determine the dimensions of the user's display, then move the window an appropriate distance off screen. If Photoshop offers a handle to the window, which seems likely since you are manipulating the preview image, it could be easy.

Of course, it is merely cosmetic. I think it surprises some users since its appearance is not mentioned in the User's Guide. Perhaps some editing in the guide would deflect additional comments.

[Martin Evening]

As far as I can remember the appearance of the dupilcate window behind the dialog wasn't an issue that was raised by any of the testers during our beta process. But as you and others have raised this, it is something that we could consider revising in a future dot release update.

Martin

[luminous]

My issue is only with the static size of the Toolbox, i.e. the window that the actual image sits in when applying the different filters; not with the duplicate window behind it which only shows a transparency (at least for me)... I thought Jeff's response answered to that.

Thanks.