First impression of X4

[edwinn]

As mentioned, I installed the X4 Trial and SP1 yesterday. The immediate impression is that the user interface isn't as professional as it once was, however let's quickly state that the usability (or work flow) is quite GOOD. It's not difficult for an experienced PSP user to get right into photo enhancement. Also for the first time, i'm using the ADJUST workspace as it now seems very useful and intuitive. There were a few tools or function that were missing, that is I got to a level of EDIT and could back out, or change my mind about the settings. Also there were some VERY strange screen artifacts in the Adjust/Smart Photo Fix space. I can post a screen cap on this if you'd like.

The customizability didn't see too good, as there were places I wanted to put tool bars, and they wouldn't go there or fit. There are new HOT SPOTS where you can drop a tool bar or pallet which I've seen in other newer software.

What was VERY good was the prominent integration of EXIF data from the Canon PowerShot camera. This is going to open up a whole new dimension in camera data/operational feedback when it comes to shooting. Let's call it "greatly enhanced awareness of settings."

Generally like the functionality a lot, and there are some downsides.. like restricted control over tools or menus, and the damn CROP tool is really annoying. This sould be reviewed and streamlined at once!! The application shell seems to be less professional in appearance with sophomorically large tool buttons and menu bars, and there is much wasted space in some areas, almost as if the target market age bracket has been reduced by a generation. Can Corel "tighten up" the GUI on this fine program?

-Ed

[LeviFiction]

With SP1 you can shrink the icons back to a smaller interface. Technically what you consider "professional" others considered cluttered and ugly. Don't think of it as a generation gap change but rather a presentation change. In order to appeal to more users who are familiar with a more "friendly" looking interface these changes actually add an appeal of "pretty." But they don't take away from the overall functionality.

What tools are you missing exactly?

We've complained about the crop tool but they apparently didn't agree with us during the beta test, then again maybe our complaints about the crop tool are different from yours. Care to elaborate? At least we can drag by the edges again, a much needed return of functionality.

There were a lot of changes needed when it was in beta, when it was first released, and now after PS1 but they seem to be listening and improving based on received comments though somethings have been "held over" to X5 whenever it comes out for whatever reason.

[edwinn]

Yes, I've found the Icon size setting and have it set to SMALL. It's not really a matter of Friendly vs Ugly, it's about wasted space IMHO. Below you can see three clips. One has a blue smear across the Adjust / SPF area, where I thought the PAN tool was enabled, however the Color Cast picker was active. The next clip is of the X4 workspace with a strange artifact to the center-right. See the wasted space in the upper right Menu Bar area. The third clip is the PSP14 image inside PSP9. LoL Very tightly arranged and No wasted space to speak of.

In the X4 space, I cannot put the "Tools" toolbar to the right against the pallets.

It may take some getting used to, and X4 is by far more powerful and workflow friendly. There are some usability and customizability issues but overall I think X4 is an improvement. It can now switch modes relatively quickly, all of which are highly useful. Plus it hasn't crashed whilst you "wheel" the selections in SPF (Smart Photo Fix). BTW that's my honey in the pics.

-Ed

[LeviFiction]

Haha, maybe. But to a company that is losing potential customers because they don't like how ugly the UI appears it's important to them. No one is going to come away from this totally pleased but at least it's not as bad as it was when the first beta came out.

[edwinn]

Haha, maybe. But to a company that is losing potential customers because they don't like how ugly the UI appears it's important to them. No one is going to come away from this totally pleased but at least it's not as bad as it was when the first beta came out.

I see your point. Let's stop trying to make PSP14 look like PSP9?

Spending more time with the X4 interface, it was easy and surprisingly pleasant to find how clean and "useable" new workspace is. Attached are a few screen caps where I've set-up Autohide pallets and utilities around the outer edge of the table. The Tool Options, Histogram and Overview pallets have buttons in the upper tool bar to pop them up, as does Tabbed vs Windowed images.

Have moved the TOOLS toolbar over to the RIGHT side behind the Autohide pallets. That seems to work ok with three or four pallets there. The working (mouse) flow is top-to-side mainly, and not in an inverted U shape. All in all very happy with it.


-Ed