Re: [Gimp-gui] Make the selected tool default to the Color Picker instead of the last tool used

[Elle Stone <ellestone ninedegreesbelow com>]

On 11/03/2015 01:07 PM, Jehan wrote:
> Hi,
>
> On 2015-11-03 18:36, Elle Stone wrote:
> > This is a change to the GIMP user interface that I've wanted for a
> > long time. It probably would only benefit people who use the Color
> > Picker a lot.
>
> There are so many different type of users, I seriously doubt it is
> possible to select *one* tool as being the most common case. And if we
> were, the color picker would not be my choice. Users of paint tools
> would very often use ctrl-click in place of running the color picker,
> for instance.
>
> Of course, as a choice (as you propose below), why not, of course.
>
> > When you use a tool, say Curves, and the operation completes, and then
> > you click on the canvas again, Curves pops up again, unless you
> > remember to pick a different tool.
>
> Doesn't it become an habit to switch tools without even thinking about
> it? Especially when you are a daily user, it seems strange reading that
> you forget to pick the tool.

It does seem strange, because I've been using GIMP a lot over the last 
couple of years. So yesterday I worked on an image, trying to figure out 
when/where/why I lost track of which tool is selected.

When working on an image, sometimes it seems like I use the Color Picker 
after just about every editing operation. Having to deliberately click 
on the tool icon to rechoose the Color Picker of itself is tedious. But 
I can ease that issue by assigning (and using) a keyboard shortcut.

Here's what seems to be the real problem:

For many tools, including Curves and Levels, the selected tool's Cursor 
doesn't actually appear until I "touch" the canvas, at which point the 
last-used operation dialog pops up and I have to dismiss that dialog and 
then choose the Color Picker.

> I'm wondering if the issue in your specific example is not rather than
> the cursor of "Curves" is nearly the same as the cursor of the "Color
> Picker" (a small pipette)? Maybe this is confusing?

Yes, the Curves Cursor is nearly the same as the Color Picker Cursor, 
and this is confusing.

> > Almost never do I actually want to use same tool that I just used,
> > immediately again.
>
> Well once again, that depends on users and even more on which tools.
> Paint tools are again a good case where people use them again and again
> in the row (unless your art is "calligraphy" maybe, you don't paint a
> full artworks in a single stroke).

Maybe some digital painters might like to have the option to choose to 
have the selected tool default to a brush, but probably not. When I use 
Krita to paint, I wouldn't want the color picker tool to automatically 
switch back to the brush. So I think my suggestion for a global default 
tool really isn't such a good idea.

> Also I have a behavior/spec question for the feature. Let's take your
> "Curves" tool example.
> Let's say I changed my mind after having run curves and I want to redo
> the curves processing differently. So I cancel (ctrl-z). When the user
> selected your "default tool" option (so now this default tool is the
> selected one), what should be the tool selected after canceling? Still
> the default tool, or should GIMP switch back to curves?

That's a good question, to which there doesn't seem to be a good answer. 
So here's how I think the issue of remembering which tool was last used 
maybe could be addressed:

It would help a lot if the Color Picker Cursor were changed, or rather 
preferably change the Curves cursor and keep the Color Picker Cursor the 
same.

It would help a lot (this would be the key change) if the selected 
tool's Cursor could immediately display "on hover",  *before* clicking 
on the canvas, for more tools, specifically including Levels, Curves, 
Desaturate, and other tools with icons that can be put in the toolbox.

Elle