Image editor Photoline upgraded to V18.5

[Bullit]

Upgrade list:
http://www.pl32.com/pages/rnote.php

[FXDude]

Speaking of painting apps (from the pxlr thread) Has anyone had any experience with this one?

How is it as a PS replacement? seems very complete all the way down to full layer FX controls.
And being up to V18, couldnt say that it's a newcomer.. (and isn't from either Adobe or Autodesk.)

[Bullit]

I heard good things about it, but never installed it. Mysbe websearch will show more opinions- choose those that are against with facts.

I also found this post in CGsociety:

Version 18.51 is now officially out! Many workflow enhancements in this version: for example, layer groups are now cached, so non-destructive complex documents are much, much faster to process. This is a free update for registered users.

Other new features:
- New Filter "Polar Coordinates"
- new Boolean vector cut function
- New Alignment Functions "Distribute Layers Equally Hor.“ and "Distribute Layers Equally Vert."
- Paint Tools with Smooth stroke options
- new vector editing options

What's more, the external app link option now includes PDF as an intermediate file format. This means the user can send vector layers to (for example) InkScape or CorelDraw, and edit the vector elements in those, and send them back to Photoline which updates the externally edited layers automatically. Very handy, and works like a charm.

And most importantly: selection of objects has been vastly improved:
- elements can be selected and moved in one action. (before we had to select first, then move - very awkward)
- elements inside groups and outside groups can now be multiple selected. Before only elements on the same level in the layer stack hierarchy could be selected, and this was quite inconvenient and a potential workflow killer - especially with mockups and documents with complex arrangements.

These last two improvements really make a huge difference in workflow speed.

Full list of improvements / release notes: http://www.pl32.com/pages/rnote.php

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Photoline is an image editor that offers a 32-bit linear workflow, imports and exports layered EXR files, true vector layers, Lab, RGB, CMYK and greyscale at 8/16/32bit per channel, and a predominantly non-destructive workflow. Multiple page documents are also supported.

It costs 59 euros, full point updates are 29 euros.

[Hirazi Blue]

Speaking of painting apps (from the pxlr thread) Has anyone had any experience with this one?

I have been using version 17 quite happily for a while now, but never felt the need to upgrade to version 18 as 17 fits my needs perfectly. I do not own Photoshop, so I can't really compare, but it does "the trick" nicely, especially as a companion to the GIMP. Quirky, yes sometimes, but at that price nearly unbeatable especially if you dislike the GIMP or need higher bit per channel support.
;)

[FXDude]

While Ormr is still in very much in it's infancy, this does sound very good. Angus? did you ever evaluate this?

(he starts about the grayscale icons and the dark UI tint, cause he (and probably many people) finds the default 'campy'.)

For those who are wondering about Photoline's GUI, here is an example:




The current GUI is easy to understand, very flexible, and the workspaces can be tailored to your workflow - exactly like Photoshop.

The icons can be switched to B&W versions. With or without shadow effect. The icons can be scaled in three steps.

All panels are dockable or floating. Any panel can be docked and tabbed with any other panel. They can be moved to another screen.

The GUI can be darkened to any level you wish.

This can no longer be called an ugly or unusable GUI if you ask me.
However, the DEFAULT setup is a bit campy looking with colourful icons. But it is, for the most part, customizable.



Notice how adjustment layers can be controlled through a simple palette.

But anyone looking at Photoline must realize that its image editing is as rich as Photoshop and also includes dtp functionality
- so it is a complex application to learn. The GUI itself is not ugly or hard to work with anymore at all at this point in its development

Below follows an example of how virtual (cloned) instanced layers can be extremely helpful with masking, etc.
The brownish labeled layers are all clones. It really pays off with multiple image maps.
One change to the original source in the diffuse updates the ones for the bump and the specular maps.

Another cool feature is that virtual clones can be used in groups of layers that can be turned in virtual clones as well!

Also notice how layer groups can act like layer masks (pink coloured) and allow you to use virtual clones of other layers in it for some very flexible and complex masking - all non-destructive!

Even layer effects and adjustment layers can be applied as you see fit on any layer mask, group, etc.

Adjustment layers can even be applied to adjustment layers! There are almost no limitations Scaling, rotating, skewing, liquify, warping: all non-destructive.
You decide when to fix layers, if at all.



[Here] The layers of the diffuse are virtually cloned to the other two maps on pages, and then treated and processed with adjustment layers and some brushing here and there.

Click image for larger version. Name: Untitled3.jpg Views: 52 Size: 91.0 KB ID: 318250

And it is quite awesome that any type of file can be included in the layer stack: monochrome, rgb 8/16/32bpc, cmyk 8/16/32bpc, Lab 8/16/32bpc, greyscale, vector (svg import is great) at any resolution - you are NOT bound to a fixed image mode!!!

External files can be placed with a live link. The only thing to keep in mind is that if you want to work with 16bpc masking you have to start out with a base 16bpc/32bpc document.

There is nothing on the market, except for substance designer, that can do this - but SD is node based, while Photoline takes a layered approach. Photoshop cannot do this (there are clipping masks, but they are a pain to use, and layer masks are destructive). And when I make a change to anything, the entire file updates in real-time.

Photoline is not perfect (non-destructive normal maps are more difficult to do), and there are a couple of usability issues here and there - but honestly, Photoshop has so many usability issues. it is hard to know where to begin.

Yes, the website sucks - but the tool is great. It loads Photoshop brushes, and the brush engine is good enough for texture painting.

[...]

[FXDude]

And thanks for your personal experience with it Hirazi!