[Gimp-user] HATE the new save vs. export behavior

[darnkitten <forums gimpusers com>]

Late to the discussion:

I can see the need for a more professional product, and heartily approve of most of the changes I have seen 
in 2.8.  I even see the reasons behind the Save/Export changes, in terms of a professional workflow, of 
file/process safety, and in cleaning up terminology.

The problem with the "professional paradigm," though, isn't necessarily that it's not better/safer, etc., 
it's that no printer in an 80 mile radius uses the GIMP's XCF format,  nor do any of the local graphic 
designers.  All of them, however, can open TIFF, JPG, GIF, and BMP.  All of the printers and all but one of 
the graphic designers can handle PSD (the last one uses PSP).  

As a FLOSS evangelist, I have to say that familiarity and interoperability are two of our STRONGEST selling 
point to potential users, generally coming before cost-Free, in users needs.  XCF already fails 
interoperability, not being used to any great degree.  I am afraid that  even the terminology change of -- 
"I'm sorry, but you can't 'Save As" a JPG (or similar filetype that CAN be saved to in any other 
commonly-used software), you have to 'Export To' "-- will appear to be a barrier to nervous new adopters.

I sell LibreOffice, by pointing out that not only can it OPEN almost everything, including DOCX and old Works 
files, It also allows the option of setting default SAVES defaults to DOC --which can be read by everyone-- 
though with a "you will lose formatting" warning (that can be disabled).  

I sell the GIMP to (non-"professional") Photoshop users with GimpShop.

If one of the goals of the GIMP is to expand our user base, I believe we need to keep familiarity and 
interoperability in mind as we make changes and not push too strongly in directions which will frighten off 
new adopters, casual OR professional.  While I will adopt the new Save/Export workflow in order to get the 
much-anticipated-and-improved new text functionality and the new colorspace, I would respectfully ask the 
devs to look at the following options, in the interest of balancing the needs of the professionals with the 
needs of evangelism:

1) An option (as has been suggested multiple times) to set Save/Export back to previous functionality.  That 
way, those of us who can benefit from the improved workflow can use it, but new users can still have the 
comforting familiarity of the "tried and true."

2) An option to set a default save/export option, as in LibreOffice, possibly in conjunction with an XCF save 
(maybe either as a "Save/Export Multiple" in preferences, ie. CTRL-S saves an XCF file, a PSD file AND an 85% 
JPG file, all with the same filename)  This would be a real timesaver for those of us who frequently nip off 
to the printer or save comparison samples.

3) A heirarchal file offering in the save/export menu:  save to XCF always offered first, export to similar 
filetypes (PSD, PSP, PDN) second, but always available in the same menu, and the more limited filetypes last, 
as in the previous version's "search for other extensions," which would be hidden unless called for.  
Frequently used filetypes would remain visible as options.  This would focus attention on the correct and 
preferred option, but allow the unfortunate necessary

4a) Timed autosaves in XCF format that are differentiated from the primary file, possibly multiple copies (up 
to a limit, set in preferences), in the interest of preserving history.  This could be in combination with 1) 
or 2), above.  

4b) Timed autosaves which preserve history (up to a limit, set in preferences), in XCF format, and  
differentiated from the primary file.  This could be in combination with 1) or 2), above.  

As many have said before, I have nothing but appreciation for the devs and the massive amount of work they do 
for those of us who can do nothing more than spread the Word of the GIMP, and I look forward, eagerly, to our 
future advances and inevitable domination.

Excelsior!



> > What we _are_ doing is _focusing_ on a group of users who are
> > underloved by free software. We are building workflows around their
> > needs. We are _targeting_ those users.

> New users will benefit from immediate exposure to the "professional
> paradigm" and start paying attention to file formats from day one.

> Long time users who often (or always) find no use for the XCF
> format, will have to relearn or remap a keyboard shortcut or two to
> keep the same speed & convenience they are used to.  Long time users
> who routinely save their work in XCF won't notice a major difference.

> And really... guise... If you don't need the new GIMP color model,
> you don't need the new version of GIMP.  I am guessing that is
> approximately 100% of users who don't routinely save most files in
> XCF as "part one" of their usual workflow.  It's not like you need
> to keep your GIMP version current for the sake of security patches
> or compatibility with external applications.  Keeping the "old" GIMP
> also means that all your favorite plugins and scripts will keep
> right on doing exactly what you expect them to do.



-- 
darnkitten (via gimpusers.com)