Categorizing Parameters

not sure which sub-forum is the right place to post this topic, so i put it here :confused:

After translating some doc and app itself, and following tutorials to learn this awesome software pack, i got a lot of ideas (good or bad :slight_smile:

here is a suggestion for param panel:

as we can see, the current order of params of layers is not so ordered in a good way, different type of layer have different params order. So why we can’t polish it a bit to improve our UI, make users can create their animations more efficiency. In fact, the parameters can be categorized into 4 groups (maybe more):

1, general
1.1 Z Depth
1.2 Amount
1.3 Blend Method
1.4 …
2, position and size
2.1 Origin/Center
2.2 Size
2.3 Vertices
2.4 …
3, effects
3.1 color
3.2 Gradient
3.2 Feather / Type of Feather / etc…
3.3 Winding Style
3.4 Invert
3.5 Antialiasing
3.6 …
4, misc (those can not be named in a certain way)
4.1 RandomNoise Seed
4.2 Animation Speed
4.3 Do Alpah
4.4 …

and then we organize all layer params in this contain order to have a consistent layer parameters layout.

What do you think?

It is fine. Currently the parameters are listed as they appear in the code (they are listed with an index) Maybe we should review some layers and reorder some of the parameters.
Do you have in mind any of the layers that has a current bad listing?
-G

While I go through all the parameters of all layers, I notice most layers which have color/gradient parameter list this color/gradient below the fist category as mentioned the above post, so it would be good to keep it.

so, here is the summary of those not perfect ordered paramters:

==Spherize==
Position
Radius
Amount <---- raise it to the top
Clip
Distort Type

==Metaballs==
Z Depth
Amount
Blender Method
Gradient
Points
Radii
Weights
Gradient Left <---- raise it to the below of Gradient parameter
Gradient Right <----raise it to the below of Gradient parameter
Positive Only <----raise it to the below of Gradient parameter

==Halftone 2==
Z Depth
Amount
Blend Method
Mask Origin
Mask Angle
Mask Size
Light Color <----raise it to the below of Blend Method parameter
Dark Color <----raise it to the below of Blend Method parameter

==Circle==
Z Depth
Amount
Blend Method
Color
Radius
Feather
Origin <----raise it to the below of color parameter
Invert
Falloff

==Outline==
Z Depth
Amount
Blend Method
Color
Origin
Invert
Antialiasing
Feather
Type of Feather
Winding Style
Vertices <----this param define the shape, raise it to below of Origin parameter
Outline Width <----raise it to the below of Origin parameter

==Polygon==
Z Depth
Amount
Blen Method
Color
Origin
Invert
Antialiasing
Feather
Type of Feather
Vertor List <----raise it to the below of Origin

==Region==
Z Depth
Amount
Blend Method
Color
Origin
Invert
Antialiasing
Feather
Type of Feather
Winding Sytle
Vertices <----raise it to the below of Origin

==Star==
Z Depth
Amount Blend Method
Color
Origin
Invert
Anitialiasing
Feather
Type of Feather
Winding Style
Outer Radius <----raise it to the below of Origin
Inner Radius <----raise it to the below of Origin
Angle <----raise it to the below of Origin
Points <----raise it to the below of Origin
Regular Polygon <----raise it to the below of Origin

==Curve Gradient==
Z Depth
Amount
Blend Method
Origin
Width
Vertices
Gradient <----raise it to the below of origin
Loop <----raise it to below of the origin
ZigZag <----raise it to below of the origin
Perpendicular <----raise it to below of the origin
Fast

==Linear Gradient==
Z Depth
Amount
Blend Method
Point 1
Point 2
Gradient <----raise it to the below of Blend Method
Loop
ZigZag

==Plant==
Z Depth
Amount
Blend Method
Vertices <----low it to the top of Split Angle
Origin
Gradient
Split Angle
Gravity

==Text==
Z Depth
Amount
Blend Method
Text
Color<----raise it to the below of Text
Font Family

Origin <----raise it to the below of Color

attached is the mind mapping for layers (freemind)
you can take it as a reference if you like to
Synfig_Layers_Mapping.zip (11.8 KB)

jcome,
thanks for take your time on that. There is lot of common sense in al that you say. I’ll personally take care of change it. It is a simple change but a good step for usability.
-G

PS: I would discuss some of the proposals. But now now, later with more time.

1, general
1.1 Z Depth
1.2 Amount
1.3 Blend Method
1.4 …

2, position, shape, size
2.1 Origin/Center
2.2 Vertices / Points
2.3 Size
2.4 …

3, effects
3.1 color
3.2 Gradient
3.2 Feather / Type of Feather / etc…
3.3 Winding Style
3.4 Invert
3.5 Antialiasing
3.6 …

4, misc (those can not be named in a certain way)
4.1 RandomNoise Seed
4.2 Animation Speed
4.3 Do Alpah
4.4 …

Hi, It has been quite long time I didn’t code, And it is time to catch up(I know it is an impossible task for me, but I am trying ^__^) with Genete, our leader. I am setting up my new development environment, this kind of thing seems like a good starting point for me to recall my synfig coding knowledge, and with it I can get used to develop on OSX.

The above is the proposal to re-order the parameters listing in Parameters Window/Panel. The noticeable change is the Vertices will be located after the first Type of parameters (Z depth, Amount, Blend method), intending to speed up accessing by artists.

We will try to implement “Parameters Filter System”. But for at the moment, I am going to just change the hard-coded order as short-time solution.

What do you think?

Any user usage improvements is welcome. :smiley:
-G

I am planning to raise this topic again. the main reason is not only to categorize our parameters, but also to figure out the most common used parameters (seven maximum )for each layer type by rating each parameter.