"Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

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brynn
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"Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby brynn » Tue Nov 25, 2014 4:22 pm

Hi Friends,
Having recently subscribed to the dev mailing list (to request edit access on the wiki) it's been interesting to watch how things work from the development side. At the bottom of this message, is the content of a recent message from the mailing list, which I have permission to post.

For the most part, as I understand it, Inkscape users, especially those who have no development skills, or understanding of development, probably will not have much to contribute here (like me, for example). If all you have is a wish for this feature or that feature, the place to ask for it, is in a "bug report"/feature request at Launchpad (https://launchpad.net/inkscape). But if you have some understanding of application development in general, or Inkscape development specifically, please feel free to post comments in the wiki, as indicated.

To avoid some potential repetition, I'm already planning to post a summary of what I've seen as the most requested features which members here have said Inkscape needs, to become truly competitive as a professional vector graphics program. These are (in no particular order):

- object manager
- true CMYK print color
- gradient mesh
- animation

Also, I want to post up to 3 links to forum topics, which discuss how Inkscape either can be improved, or what it needs to be a full-fledged professional tool. In replies to this topic, could you all suggest which ones would be the best for that? After a week or so, I'll review all the suggested topics, and post the best on the wiki Roadmap page.

And if you do have some kind of development insight, here's how to contribute to the roadmap:

With 0.91 finally coming to a wrap soon, there are many different ideas on what to focus on next. One thing we all agree on is turning the next few releases out more rapidly, 0.92 especially.

To do this, we'll need to carefully select which new features to undertake each release; the more discriminating we are, the less risk of delay we'll face in these. The less we undertake in parallel, the more quickly we can perfect what we do tackle. The more we collaborate together as a team, the better the end result will be.

The Inkscape roadmap has proven instrumental in prioritizing and organizing our effort in the past. We can to use it again to help chart our course of development for the next several releases.

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Roadmap

I'd like to tackle this in three steps: First, brainstorm and gather ideas into a big list. Second, filter the list down to our most pressing needs. And third, prioritize that list across the next half-dozen releases.

I figure we should strive for one primary objective each release, with one secondary and perhaps a few tertiary items. Of course, as we go we'll also have some surprises, early deliveries and the like; no need to turn those away. But the idea is to focus Inkscape on what we as a project want to achieve each release.

What do you think should be listed in our Roadmap?

Bryce

Lazur
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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Lazur » Wed Nov 26, 2014 3:03 am

Would also mention the following:

-For animation and css seriousness, a way to remove ALL transformations from an svg would be great.


-A pdf cleaning up function.
http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18055
Something that removes all the unnecessary clipping and masking.

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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby michaelgr » Thu Nov 27, 2014 1:54 am

Here's my perspective. I've been working with Inkscape in a professional production environment for the past several months, day in and day out. I created technical illustrations of complex aviation-related systems and procedures. During those months several issues kept popping again and again, and most of them were not feature related but UI-related.

I was doing a lot of repetitive work with several dialogs, and needed all of them open and visible all the time. but it turns out that while it's possible to dock them in two rows of two dialogs each (ideal on an HD display), it's impossible to keep them this way between sessions. close Inkscape and open it again and the dialog rearrange themselves in one column that you have to scroll through, or in some other random arrangement. They also change height all the time depending on their contents. Also, if you dock two floating dialogs, next time you run inkscape they open separated.
What I would like to see is something closer to Gimp's interface, basically. also in terms of dialog sizes - some inkscape dialogs are very wide for no good reason.

another thing that I found frustrating is image export. I used Inkscape to export images - so I had to use this a LOT.
So first of all, some more formats (especially JPG) would be nice.
Also, the way it switches from exporting the whole page to just the selected object - that has to go. I only needed to export whole pages, but I had to always remember to set it back to exporting pages because every time I selected an object it would switch to "export object". I had to do this many times a day for MONTHS.
Lastly, the way export name and path is handled. something is completely broken there. I think it can save the export path/filename into objects and when that happens, you just can't set it back without going into the XML and deleting the data.

What else? the entire filter system. it's filled with a huge list of effects but there's no way of knowing what they look like from the descriptions, and honestly, most of them are useless. I'd like to see most of them go (they could be made avilable as a plugin or somethign).
What I really need is:
* shadow (inner/outer)
* glow (inner/outer)
* decent bevel
and have them be modifyable so I can change them after I applied them. yes, there's the filter editor... I just can't figure it out. it's not a user tool.

That's all I can think of for now. There are other things that are bugs or more specific requests, but these are the large areas that I think require attention for now.

hope that helps - -
Michael G.

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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby brynn » Thu Nov 27, 2014 12:43 pm

michaelgr,
I appreciate your comments, but you've misunderstood my message. The developers will not see what you posted here, since this is a user support forum.

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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Ponny » Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:28 am

I'm not sure, is there place fot this type of comments or no.

My quick view of inkscape 0.91.1 for windows:
Rendering and file opening is nothing faster, than the 0.48.5. (And file open dialog at first opening)
I was expecting new and much faster rendering engine.

Translating to slovenian is "half made job". Anywhere I see few english names betwen slovenian.

My impresion is ..... a little bit sloppy work done..... sorry, this si google translation.
Programers could be transfered almost all translated expresions from 0.48.5.


Ponny
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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby brynn » Thu Feb 05, 2015 3:53 pm

I don't think the new rendering engine would affect how fast Inkscape opens or how fast it opens a file. I guess if you're opening an existing file (rather than a new, blank document, it might be a little faster). But you probably won't notice much difference until you work with a large file, especially one with a lot of filters. I have seen a good improvement there. For example, I opened an SVG that I had made with Inkscape, which is 1.13 mb. If I select all, and try to move the selection, I would have had to wait 20 to 30 seconds for the move to happen. Now, it moves immediately, with no delay.

However, even though we do have the new, better, faster renderer, the amount of RAM on the system could still be a limiting factor....at least the way understand it. Although note that I don't understand the technical stuff very well.

Since I've been working a little bit, with documentation (which includes translation), I'll let that team know about your comments. Do you mean to say that in 0.91 does not contain all the translated content as you saw in 0.48.5?

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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Ponny » Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:36 pm

brynn wrote:Do you mean to say that in 0.91 does not contain all the translated content as you saw in 0.48.5?


Yes. For example, toolbox - snapping controls (not sure if I right translated this). There are mixing slovenian - english.

By the way, fast preview in FileOpen window not working for SVG files
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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Ponny » Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:43 pm

Aha, just now I see..... Missing icons for Undo and Redo and General Inscape settings.
I'm looking for this and ask myself, why all this has icon for new empty file. Now I see, there are missing icons. But this problem is maybe for some different subforum. Where should I put this question?
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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby brynn » Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:09 pm

You don't need to report the issue with the missing icons. The developers already know about that. In one of those topics Lazur mentioned, is a temporary fix for the missing icons, if you find it intolerable. (For me, 3 missing icons is not a huge problem, and I can wait for next release.)

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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Ponny » Fri Feb 06, 2015 12:18 am

I don't know is this right place..... But..... Can I help in any way about translating user interface to slovenian?
And what tool is used for this?
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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby hulf2012 » Fri Feb 06, 2015 2:19 am

Ponny wrote:I don't know is this right place..... But..... Can I help in any way about translating user interface to slovenian?
And what tool is used for this?

It's better go first here:
https://inkscape.org/en/contribute/translations/

About brainstroming:
- Improve CSS, javascript compatiblity. For example for CSS, there is a extension that comes with 0.91, but i feel like a first step in the right direction
- Last time i saw, ponyscape had a objects navigator. It could be possible use it on inkscape (¿?)
- In other topc it was said, support for multipage or projects with several drawings.
- Animation support... now what is better: frame by frame interpolations? SMIL? javascripts? an special library?
- There are a lot of interesting LPE made by "javiertxof" (sorry if it's misspelled) that doesn't appear on this release. I wish some of tem appear later
-- -- Or how about a better support for pluggins installation... As far I understand, the LPE have to be compiled with the main program, which seems difficult.
- Inkscape on the Cloud???...
- Inkscape for blind people!! for people with physical problems!! For richard hawkins!! :oops:
- Frugal Inkscape... with few tools
- Inkscape for Android!!
- A central line option in the tracing bitmap dialog
- A time counter!! because I don't want to stay 8 hours sitting, nailed on a chair.
- better 3d printing support
- support for cmyk colours, pantone colors
- import blender 3d shapes into 2d shapes, using perspective (because now it only supports cilindrical view)
- support for virtual, helmets and googles, controling with webcam, mind control!! :shock:
- support for gradient mesh... it can be activated in 0.91 ??
- clasification of fonts: serif, sans serif, callygraphic, extravagant, etc.
- support for CAD drawing
- templates for comic books!
- support for incrusting objects (videos, sounds)
- support for z-ordering even with objects in different groups.
- a linux distro with inkscape... and firefox ... and ... 2 or 3 more, in a live, fast SSD.
- support for logo turtle.

... well ... brainstorming you said
If you have problems:
1.- Post a sample (or samples) of your file please.
2.- Please check here:
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/index.html
3.- If you manage to solve your problem, please post here your solution.

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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Ponny » Fri Feb 06, 2015 5:06 am

Brainstormimg, you said?
Then I wish to see in next versino.....
Importing drawings from TopDraw..... and other unknown file formats. Vector drawing of course.


Ponny
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Lazur
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another wishlist

Postby Lazur » Fri Feb 06, 2015 5:39 am

OCR boundled into trace bitmap.
Wouldn't it be good if you could produce text objects by a raster image?

Other features, like dynamic blocks may be too much to ask, as well as the mentioned rearrange z-order between objects in different groups, because that would exceed the svg document structure and rendering logic.
Gradient meshes would hardly come out officially if an svg spec containing it is not finished.

Easy lpe enabling would be great.
I would like so much to see an lpe that draws a path's curvature/tangent radiuses some way.
Maybe boundled into display mode too? Node tool selected paths could show those automatically.
Speaking of display modes, a new mode where all gradients are flattened down to their steps without interpolation.

A new node based editor for the filters.

A way to add more alignment options to text objects.
Converting object to path and typesetting manually is painful.

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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Ponny » Fri Feb 06, 2015 6:44 am

Brainstorming ideas?

Hm, a path with variable width? Produced by pressure sensitive pen? On graphic table, like wacom?

Hm, hm, a raytracing rendering - in realtime?


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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Lazur » Fri Feb 06, 2015 7:54 am

^--- calligraphy tool much? Pressure sensitivity is already implemented.

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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Ponny » Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:41 pm

Really? Thankyou. :)
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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Ponny » Sat Feb 07, 2015 12:17 am

Hmmmmm, what about some more free style selecting tool, if you need to select few object betwen many object. And you can't use clasic selecting tool.

Ponny
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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby hulf2012 » Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:37 am

AFAIK
- The first step of brainstorming is:
-- give ideas with total freedom.
-- Don't worry about the limits, the feasibility, the budget... etc.
-- Don't say "no, it's not possible"
-- Me, and maybe others could recomend "think like a child"

- The next step will be discuss the ideas, change them, improve them if possible

- The next of course, will be to select the better ideas. Test them with the limits, the actual knowledge, etc.

well ... More or less... I never tried in an internet forum
If you have problems:
1.- Post a sample (or samples) of your file please.
2.- Please check here:
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/index.html
3.- If you manage to solve your problem, please post here your solution.

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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby Ponny » Sat Feb 07, 2015 5:01 am

Hm, one more unrealistic idea.
A 3-dimenzional grid, but perspective deformed.

..........Ponny
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Re: "Roadmap brainstorming for 0.92 and future"

Postby blurymind » Mon Jul 20, 2015 6:55 am

Inkscape's current bucket tool gives really bad results.
I wish developers would look into improving it:
http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php ... _tool_fill


Added to that, the way it handles lines is inherently not ideal for animation. The SVG format has a number of limitations that all vector animation software solves by inventing a new format. Toonboom , flash , clip paint studio, and other software for example allow a node to be connected to more than two edges - so a line crossing another line can share a node with the other line.
This is advantageous as it simplifies greatly editing an illustration.

Recently a developer who is now working at Pixar demonstrated a similar technology (sigraph paper and demo app)
He also announced that it will be released as open source this month:
http://www.vpaint.org/

in his siggraph videos he outlines the limitations of current vector specification and how vpaint has solved them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdQFAMe7TlY

Its my hope that this somehow gets seen by inkscape developers.

Right now Clip paint studio has a vector layer with tools that are far superior to the drawing tools in inkscape:
http://www.clipstudio.net/en

Please have a look at the features - note the way lines with varied thickness are stored, can be manipulated and edited and also the vector eraser tool.


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