Re: [Gimp-user] A Sad case of regression

[Daniel Hauck <daniel yacg com>]

On 06/15/2013 01:53 PM, Grue wrote:
> Wow, just wow. Here are the facts: every time you "save" your image as 
> JPEG, you lose information. It is by design a lossy image format that 
> uses an algorithm to conserve your disk space via throwing away some 
> "insignificant" information (which works well for photos, but ruins 
> many other types of images). Worse yet, if you edit a JPEG image and 
> resave it, you lose even more information. This results in very 
> noticeable artifacts in the image. And GIMP actually tries to prevent 
> you from this destructive workflow, yet you keep doing it anyway, and 
> you're complaining about GIMP instead of your own ineptitude. Please, 
> if you work with images, learn about image formats and how they work. 
> The eyes of people who look at your images will thank you later. 

Well?  It seems for all the reasons this Save As... behavior has been 
established, it's not working.  Culture and expectations will out.

Personally, I have gotten used to the change.  It's still a bit of a 
"tick" with me but it reminds me the difference between a work file and 
a published output file... I remember it each and every time I edit an 
image.  However... I don't feel any more professional than I did 
before.  My workflow?  Not quite as flowing as it is in other software 
which uses a consistent behavior.  Inkscape, another program I use for 
image editing and creation, allows me to "Save as..." any supported 
image format just fine which is interesting because of the two programs, 
Inkscape would actually make more sense to have exhibit this behavior.  
And when I close the program afterward, I am prompted with:

 ''The file "drawing.png" was saved with a format 
(org.inkscape.output.svg.inkscape) that may cause data loss!  Do you 
want to save this file as Inkscape SVG? [Close without saving] [Cancel] 
[Save as SVG]''

(This sort of reminds me of "Smoking causes cancer" labels.)

The reason I say the GiMP behavior is more suited to Inkscape is that 
when using a program like Inkscape, a user is using a variety of 
primitive tools to compose an image which requires many, many steps and 
manipulations.  But also, Inkscape has export functions such as "save as 
copy" and "export bitmap."  It allows me to do what I want to do, but 
then reminds me I might be making a big mistake if close the program 
without saving in the native format.

This approach, Inkscape's that is, actually comes closer to 
accomplishing the purpose described by GiMP's developers without 
enraging the the user.

Apologies all around... I realize this is a wasted effort... I've seen 
this conversation go on multiple times and I've even started and 
participated in one myself.  But when I see an example of people doing 
what they want to do regardless of warnings and speed-bumps and 
preventative measures, it just goes to show you can't beat stupid and 
you can't force smart.   A simple warning that "you may be screwing 
something up" is probably the best approach.