gimp-web r1792 - in trunk: . release-notes

[weskaggs svn gnome org]

Author: weskaggs
Date: Thu Aug 21 19:57:08 2008
New Revision: 1792
URL: http://svn.gnome.org/viewvc/gimp-web?rev=1792&view=rev

Log:
Bill Skaggs  <weskaggs primate ucdavis edu>

	* release-notes/gimp-2.5.htrw: applied modified patch by
	Alexia Death.


Modified:
   trunk/ChangeLog
   trunk/release-notes/gimp-2.5.htrw

Modified: trunk/release-notes/gimp-2.5.htrw
==============================================================================
--- trunk/release-notes/gimp-2.5.htrw	(original)
+++ trunk/release-notes/gimp-2.5.htrw	Thu Aug 21 19:57:08 2008
@@ -14,25 +14,112 @@
 </p>
 
 <h2>What's New in GIMP 2.5</h2>
+
+
+<h3>UI changes</h3>
+
+<p>
+  GIMP has several UI changes in this version, many of them offering relief to 
+  long standing issues. 
+</p>
+
 <p>
-  The most notable change in GIMP 2.5 happened under the hood. The
-  color tools in GIMP have been ported
-  to <a href="http://gegl.org";>GEGL</a>.  This does not yet have much
-  impact on the user experience but it is a first and important step
-  forward. With full GEGL integration GIMP will finally get support
-  for higher color depths, more colorspaces and eventually
+  A major change is the appearance of an "empty image window". This window
+  is a placeholder where your image will eventually open, also a drop zone
+  into which you can drag-and-drop your file and  start working.
+  You will also notice that the Toolbox menu is gone: it has
+  been merged into the image window menu. Toolbox and docks are treated as utility
+  windows, so if your window manager supports it, then your problems with
+  docks and toolbox getting lost under other windows are over. Unfortunately,
+  at this moment utility window hints only work correctly in metacity, the
+  Gnome default window manager.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+  There are also a couple of nice usability changes concerning docks.
+  Have you ever been aggravated to no end because you accidentally closed your 
+  neatly set up dock and had to build it from scratch again? 
+  That is no longer a source of stress, because the Window menu now holds a list of
+  recently closed docks, and just one click can bring your carefully constructed
+  setup back to you. Another common annoyance is incidentally dragging tabs out
+  of docks. Now GIMP lets you lock your tabs to make sure that does not happen. 
+</p>
+
+<p>
+  One of the most desired changes over the years has been "overpanning": the ability to pull
+  those pesky corners, that are so hard to reach with just the right point of 
+  the brush, to the front and center. This is now finally available. Panning does not
+  have to stop when the image edge reaches the window edge. You can go on panning,
+  and position the area you work on where it is comfortable for you.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Improved Freehand select tool</h3>
+
+<p>
+  The freehand select tool has been enhanced to support polygon segments
+  in selections. Selection segments are all independently adjustable. This 
+  significant improvement fills the need for making polygonal selections 
+  without creating yet another tool.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Improved help system</h3>
+
+<p>
+  Ever been bothered by the fact that you need a single page of help but 
+  can't get it because you don't have the whole large help docs package 
+  installed? Despair no more. GIMP now supports online help. All you need 
+  is a network connection and that particular page opens in your browser 
+  when you ask for help anywhere in GIMP.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Brush dynamics</h3>
+
+<p>
+  Brush dynamics let you map different brush parameters, commonly at least 
+  size and opacity, to one or more of three input dynamics: pressure, 
+  velocity and random. Velocity and random are usable with a mouse. The Ink tool, 
+  that supported velocity before, has been overhauled and now handles 
+  velocity-dependent painting much better.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+  Brush dynamics have enabled a new feature in stroking paths. There 
+  is now a check box under the "paint tool" option, for emulating brush 
+  dynamics if you stroke using a paint tool. What this means is that when your 
+  stroke is being painted by GIMP, it tells the brush that its pressure and 
+  velocity are also varying along the length of the stroke. Pressure 
+  starts with zero, ramps up to full pressure and then ramps down 
+  again to no pressure. Velocity starts from zero and ramps up to full 
+  speed by the end of the stroke.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Preset saving for color tools</h3>
+
+<p>
+  Now you can save presets in all color tools for color 
+  adjustments you use frequently.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Under the hood</h3>
+
+<p>
+  Most notable of under-the-hood changes are the first steps of 
+  <a href="http://gegl.org";>GEGL</a> integration. Right now the effect
+  on user experience is minimal, but it is an important development
+  for the future. Once GEGL integration is complete, GIMP will finally 
+  get support for higher color depths, more color spaces and eventually
   non-destructive editing.
 </p>
+
 <p>
-  With the help of the <a href="http://gui.gimp.org/";>UI team</a>, the
-  Toolbox menu has been merged into the image window. GIMP now always
-  keeps an image window open and the default configuration treats the
-  toolbox and docks as utility windows.
+  Peeking out from under the hood are subtle differences in the way the UI 
+  draws its elements. These changes are due to internally making use of the
+  Cairo library to draw UI elements. This is visible for example in the 
+  drawing of Layers and Paths docks and Curves dialog.
 </p>
+
 <p>
-  An often requested tool for simple polygonal selections has been
-  added and work has started to improve the text tool. Please see
-  the <a href="wgo:dev-news">NEWS</a> file on developer.gimp.org for a
+  Please see the <a href="wgo:dev-news">NEWS</a> file on developer.gimp.org for a
   more detailed list of changes.
   <a href="wgo:dev-screenshots">Screenshots</a> of the development
   version can also be found there.