I was waiting to see GTK3 build for Windows in hope that it will bring a normal color integration with Windows custom color themes (High-Contrast in my case) and was so happy when I saw the announcement on the main page…
But I was disappointed very quickly, because the interface is a total disaster. I know it’s rude to say that… Many people spend time on it and so on. So I will try to explain what I dislike:
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GTK3 is ignoring your custom theme, totally. I have red on black and Synfig has black on white. GTK2 was much better at this even if it was far from perfect.
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Synfig’s interface is now so messy that you can’t work on 800x600 resolution (native resolution of my monitor). Heck, it’s barely workable on 1024x768. Try opening Window->Workspace->Default. Why so many useless toolboxes? Other modes (animating, composition) are a bit better, but still trashy.
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No compatible mode with Synfig 0.64.3. There were a File->Panels->Horizontal dock that arranges 3 most needed windows (Layers, Parameters, Keyframes) in one. And what now? How can I restore that behavior? I tried combining some toolboxes in one, but no success yet…
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No timeline in a main window. Now it’s a separate window in Windows->Timetrack. Not so comfortable.
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Global menu sucks. It hasn’t any menu borders and icons. And now instead of quickly picking up a layer by its icon I have to read all those text entries.
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There’re dead windows. When choosing Window->Workspace->Default mode, some windows appears, but no any information in it and you can’t close them.
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Toolbox’ titles are HUGE (where those arrange buttons are placed). They eat up pretty much of the workspace.
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When only one animation project is opened the tab panel should be hid to save some place on screen. I wrote about it here: Tabs on work area
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Localization doesn’t work properly. Synfig thinks I am Russian and shows me localized interface, but I don’t like Russian and changed it to English (Edit->Pref.->Misc.->Interf. lang.). And you know what? Half of menu entries now in English, others still in Russian. Synfig is a truly multilanguage program…
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Workspace (where you see your actual animation) now renders using the other different BAD method. It waits for the picture to be fully rendered and only after that it allows you to work. While rendering (state “Rendering…”) THE WHOLE interface hangs. So if you work with some big animation, you’re in a wait of rendering. And I afraid to tell you what happens when you try to zoom your animation and then do some navigation…
Tested on Windows 7, 32 bits, 4GB RAM, i5 processor, cheap Nvidia adapter.
Sorry if I were rude, it’s just… you know, ruined my dreams about a new shiny GTK3 interface that will bring peace to the Universe.
