"Layers" palette too big, yet doesn't display much.

[stapel_eliz]

I create only very simple graphics, but often their creation can be simplified with the use of layers. The old "Layers" layout (in PSP8, not X8) allowed me to see the items in a given layer; if I wanted to check to see what was represented by a particular listing in a given layer, I could hover my mouse, and get a nice-sized picture.

Old layout allowed for more information to be displayed at once.

old_layers.png (9.16 KiB) Viewed 1604 times

In PSP 2018, the "Layers" palette is... well, big, but unhelpful. There are nice big boxes for each entry, with the boxes containing teensy thumbnails of what is displayed in the layer.

New layout takes loads of room with thumbnails I can't see anyway.

Even the "hide this layer" button in PSP 2018 is dumb; instead of going from an eyeball ("visible") to an eyeball with an "X" through it ("hidden"), it goes from an eyeball to a blank square (and hopes that I know, and remember, what that empty spot stands for).

Is there any way to rearrange things, fiddle with settings, etc, to restore the earlier clarity and functionality?

Thank you!

[JoeB]

In Preferences>Palettes you can change the size of the palette thumbnails that show up to the left of the layer name or even turn them off. Hovering over the layer name will still provide a larger thumbnail of the layer image. Typing the word palettes into the search box of the Help file will give you more info about options for palettes.

Have you familiarized yourself with all of the options in Preferences in PSP 2018?

As to the Eye icon that becomes blank when the layer is hidden, I can't see that as an issue. All square boxes that require a checkmark, icon, etc., to indicate that they are active are widely known to be inactive (i.e., you can't see the item) if there isn't a checkbox or icon in the little square box. That shouldn't be something that is difficult for a windows program user to get used to.

[stapel_eliz]

In Preferences>Palettes you can change the size of the palette thumbnails that show up to the left of the layer name or even turn them off. Hovering over the layer name will still provide a larger thumbnail of the layer image. Typing the word palettes into the search box of the Help file will give you more info about options for palettes.

Thank you. That helped!

Have you familiarized yourself with all of the options in Preferences in PSP 2018?

I'm trying. I'm mostly confused about what the various options mean and how they work. I've figured out some settings myself, but I surely do appreciate being able to benefit from the experience of others!

As to the Eye icon that becomes blank when the layer is hidden, I can't see that as an issue. All square boxes that require a checkmark, icon, etc., to indicate that they are active are widely known to be inactive (i.e., you can't see the item) if there isn't a checkbox or icon in the little square box. That shouldn't be something that is difficult for a windows program user to get used to.

Yeah, well... I'm old, and slow, and don't want anything to change, and-- GET THE HECK OFF MY LAWN, YOU GOSH-DARNED WHIPPERSNAPPERS, YOU!!!

But, seriously, an X-ed out eye is a bit more clear than an "I wonder what this box here does...?" (Personal rant. Yes, I'll likely remember, from here on out.)