ACDSee Pro 3 Beta - General Discussion

Back to Topic OverviewPost New Reply

Can I get an itemized list of new features?

[closed] (39 posts)
1 2

  • malibu
    Member

    Hi there.  I've viewed the site for the beta release of ACDSee Pro 3.  It's all beautiful and splashy and all but I don't really see many new features there, just the fact that it is quicker which I would expect for next gen software anyway.

    Can anyone just give me an itemized list of the new features that make this worth the $100+ upgrade?  I paid $60 for pro 2/2.5 in the first place and I can't really see paying more then my original cost for an upgrade unless there are some really nice features.

    For example, the one-click categorizing sounds intriguing... but what is it?

    Posted On September 4, 2009 - 06:45 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    The big one is the that the non-destructive "Develop" mode now works for JPEG too.  That's pretty huge, actually - makes the program much more competitive with Lightroom, Aperture, Lightzone, and finally gets rid of the one thing that even Picasa had over ACDSee.

    Aside from that, I'd say it's mostly the new layout plus relatively smaller things, but there are some nice new tools in develop mode that were previously not available for either RAW or for JPEG, non-destructive or otherwise.  I think there were descriptions of some of the new features in the Features forum, but I'm not sure where they were moved to when the forum was closed.

    Posted On September 5, 2009 - 08:05 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • tdi
    Member

    I too would like to know what the new feature list is before I purchase.  if I have to drop $110-$120 for an upgrade, and there isn't much new, just made it look like lightroom, it might make sense to just upgrade to lightroom...

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 05:47 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • backslashio
    Member

    Here's the stuff I just copied from the advert in case you missed it:

    New Features Include
    Ground-breaking image processing workflow
    Convenient FTP uploader
    Free online photo sharing
    SMTP e-mail support
    Enhanced intuitive interface
    Flexible non-destructive processing presets
    Improved noise reduction
    Vibrance image processing tool
    Advanced Color image processing tool

    I think the features are great, its becoming less of an image browser (which is basically what Picasa is and that's freeware) and more in tune with Aperture/Lightroom2. I think its better than Lightroom 2 and that costs much more than this. Here's the reasons why I think its better than the US$300 program

    - Much easier to edit photos, less jargon, more words that make sense

    - Presets for resizing images (sometimes I need to resize stuff to 640x480 a lot and I hate typing it in)

    - Non destructive editing which is 1 of the best features from Lightroom 2 (and about the only reason which stops me from not liking it)

    - Similar interface but much, much faster. Sometimes Lightroom 2 takes 0.5secs to load a single image (with an annoying 'loading preview pane' popup) for me despite having a decent PC with Core2Duo and 3gb DDR2 ram. ACDSee loads it 10-50 times faster (starting from 0.01 to 0.07 from the images I've browsed)

    - Similar features to Adobe CS/Elements Photoshop yet still keeps things easy & quick so you'll spend less time using another program to edit your photos

     

     

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 06:17 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • tdi
    Member

    thank you backslash... that's a start...

    In 'edit', can i customize the menu of options?  change the order to match workflow?  some of it makes sense, some not.  it would be nice if it would start at top with the first items in a workflow process, and go down from there and not jump around...

    same issue in develop mode... can you move 'geometry' to be the first tab and not the last?  sharpening (details) should be the last item in a workflow in 90% of cases... and for me, I always align and crop before working on tonal/color corrections...  doesn't make sense to have that last...

     

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 02:59 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • backslashio
    Member

    I noticed inbetween the Develop & Edit tabs there's a cog icon where you can set your own presets but it looks like its not working properly yet - for example - if I say I only want 'Crop' and nothing else, nothing changes. I highly doubt you can change the order of tabs as well, very few programs have customisation like that - forcing everybody to work in a certain way

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 04:40 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • tdi
    Member

    I just don't like that I have to change my workflow to use the new program...  I mean I can get used to the fact that because they took away the customizable toolbars, I now have to jump around rather than have controls in order...  I don't like it, paying more money for less functionality... but now I have to also change the way I store and save original and post-processed files because the program is deciding when and where to save them.

    now there are some new features, one in particular is the ability to change selected colors in the HSL controls.  BUT I just tried that... I opened a finished picture (that I did in 2.5 so it's just the picture and no xml, no 'original' associated with it somewhere) and made a color change to a shirt and tried to save it.  clicked file->save as and left the name the same.  dialog box says 'file already exists, overwrite it?' and I click 'yes' and it THEN tells me the filename is the same (ya, that's why it exists!) and it wont let me save unless I rename.  so now to use it I guess I have to open a pic, modify the pic, save as a different name, then manually remove the one I started with and rename the new to match the first.  God I hope that's a bug someone is going to fix...  and I hope there is a money back policy on this software purchase if I pre-order...  that starts counting when downloaded and not when paid for.  :)

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 08:24 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    tdi said:same issue in develop mode... can you move 'geometry' to be the first tab and not the last?  sharpening (details) should be the last item in a workflow in 90% of cases... and for me, I always align and crop before working on tonal/color corrections...  doesn't make sense to have that last...

    I agree, although I think the reason they did it this way may be that the previews for the other tabs take longer to render.

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 06:31 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    backslashio said:

    I noticed inbetween the Develop & Edit tabs there's a cog icon where you can set your own presets but it looks like its not working properly yet - for example - if I say I only want 'Crop' and nothing else, nothing changes.

    Can you be more specific about what you are trying to do, what you are expecting to see happen, and what is happening instead?  The Presets should be available for each tool individually, as well as a global one for Develop mode as a whole and and "semi-global" ones for each tab.  If you want a preset for crop only, you can either make it within the crop tool itself - in which case it will be visible only within that tool - or else you can make a global preset but only put a checkbox next to "crop" to make a global preset that applies only your crop setting.

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 06:34 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    tdi said:

    now there are some new features, one in particular is the ability to change selected colors in the HSL controls.  BUT I just tried that... I opened a finished picture (that I did in 2.5 so it's just the picture and no xml, no 'original' associated with it somewhere) and made a color change to a shirt and tried to save it.  clicked file->save as and left the name the same.  dialog box says 'file already exists, overwrite it?' and I click 'yes' and it THEN tells me the filename is the same (ya, that's why it exists!) and it wont let me save unless I rename.  so now to use it I guess I have to open a pic, modify the pic, save as a different name, then manually remove the one I started with and rename the new to match the first.

    Why go to all that trouble when you actually need to do is hit Done - no explicit save required? What you are trying to do doesn't really make sense in develop mode, which work non-destructively - Save As is pretty much by definition something you only do to create a new copy of a file.

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 06:37 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • tdi
    Member

    Marc Sabatella said:

    Why go to all that trouble when you actually need to do is hit Done - no explicit save required? What you are trying to do doesn't really make sense in develop mode, which work non-destructively - Save As is pretty much by definition something you only do to create a new copy of a file.

    I used 'save as' because I wanted a new copy of the file.  Why make excuses about some thing that is broke?  Why not fix what's broken?  and If you don't want to hear about whats broken and don't want to fix it, why beta test?

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 10:01 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    tdi said:

    I used 'save as' because I wanted a new copy of the file.

    OK, but I thought you said you didn't change the name of the file?  That's why I am confused, and that's why I'm asking for clarification as to what you are doing. It sounds like you are trying to use Save As to overwrite the *original* file, not to make a new copy (and that's why you're talking about working around it by saving under a different nam and then renaming it).  So I'm not understanding the problem.  If you want to make a new copy, use Save as an give it a new name.  No subsequent renaming required.  Whereas if you don't want to make a new copy, don't use Save As at all - simply hit Done or move on to the next image.

    It's certainly possibly I'm misunderstanding something.  Again, that's why I'm asking for clarification.

    Why make excuses about some thing that is broke?  Why not fix what's broken?

    I'm not making excuses.  I'm trying to make sure you undestand how Develop mode is designed to be used, because in many cases, people post about problems they are experiencing that turn out to be simply a matter of not understanding how Develop mode works, so they are trying to do something that doesn't make sense (like using "Save As" to save the file with the same filename).  Assuming something is broken, of course it should be fixed, but at this point, I don't understand the problem well enough to say if something is broken or not.  Once again, that's why I'm asking for clarification.

    If you don't want to hear about whats broken and don't want to fix it, why beta test?

    Note I am just a fellow user.  I have no particular interest in hearing about what's broken - it would be all the same to me if the reports went straight to ACDSee without my ever seeing them.  But one of my functions as a forum moderator here (I'm not an employee of ACD) is to help make sure that when people do report problems, they do so in as clear a manner as possible, so the folks at ACD don't have to then turn around and ask the same questions I am in order to understand the problem.  And if a problem report looks like it could be a simple user misunderstanding, I can also try to help clarify.

    Posted On September 12, 2009 - 09:46 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • tdi
    Member

    Marc Sabatella said:

    OK, but I thought you said you didn't change the name of the file?  That's why I am confused, and that's why I'm asking for clarification as to what you are doing.

    ok I'll give you that.. I wasn't clear. I did mention I had processed this in 2.5.  which means I have my files folder, process the files, save to a 'pp' (post-processed) folder.  I opened a post-processed file, changed a shirt color, and wanted to save it.  there was no 'save' option (now just found it is at the bottom separate from the save as... normally it's always the option before save as) so I clicked the save as, which said 'file name exists' and asked if I want to replace it.  since I did want to replace it, I clicked 'yes'.  it then says that the file is the same (because I didn't change the name) and and I have to choose a different name... so why the hell did it ask me to replace it if it never intended to allow me to replace it?   'that', is a bug. (or a programmer with an attitude issue)  :)

    Posted On September 16, 2009 - 06:37 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    tdi said:

    ok I'll give you that.. I wasn't clear. I did mention I had processed this in 2.5.  which means I have my files folder, process the files, save to a 'pp' (post-processed) folder.

    I'm still confused.  HYou posted this in the pro 3 forum.  How much of what you are describing here are steps you are taking with 2.5, and how much is using 3.0?

      I opened a post-processed file, changed a shirt color, and wanted to save it.  there was no 'save' option

    Assuming you mean you are talking about using Pro 3.0 here, and that you are changing the color using Develop mode, then you are correct that there is no Save command - because as I said, it is never necessary to save from Develop mode.  Develop mode saves everything automatically as soon as you hit Done or move on to the next image (but does so non-destructively, so you can always revert to your original at any time). The only time you need to explicitly "save" anything is to make a *new* copy of the image, which is why the command is actually called Save As, not Save.  You should not be using Save As to save the image under it original name - you should not be hitting the save button at all.

    Anyhow, you are right that the program is a bit misleading in that at first it appears it might allow you to "save as" over the original but then it turns out not to allow you to do that at all. But it should be a "no big deal" bug, because you shouldn't be trying to do that in the first place.  Once again, unless you are trying to create a new copy of the file - meaning a new filename - you should n't be hitting save or save as at all.  Develop saves automatically.

    So in particular, when you say "so now to use it I guess I have to open a pic, modify the pic, save as a different name, then manually remove the one I started with and rename the new to match the first", that's not true at all. To use Develop mode, you make your changes and hit Done, period.  no save, no save as, no change of filename, no manually remove the one you started with, no rename the new to match the first.  Just make your changes and hit Done.

    Posted On September 17, 2009 - 04:44 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • tdi
    Member

    Marc Sabatella said:

    Assuming you mean you are talking about using Pro 3.0 here,

    Yes Marc, we are talking about Pro 3 here.  This is the Pro 3 forum.

     

    Marc Sabatella said:

    you are right that the program is a bit misleading in that at first it appears it might allow you to "save as" over the original but then it turns out not to allow you to do that at all. But it should be a "no big deal" bug,

    it's not 'misleading'.  It says you can do this, asks you if you want to do this, then when you say 'yes I do want to do this', it doesn't work.  It's 'broken'.  It will be interesting to see if ACDSee releases it's software with a known broken (read: 'bug) issue, or if they feel 'bugs' in the program are 'no big deal' as you say...

    Posted On September 17, 2009 - 06:49 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    I have no idea if it will get fixed or not, but I'd much rather see ACDSee concentrate on fixing the bugs that actually get in the way of doing work as opposed to spending their time on the ones that never show up in normal use.  I just want to make sure you realize this bug is in the latter category, since your initial post made implied you didn't realize the bug only shows up when trying to do something you should never need to do to in the first place.

    Posted On September 20, 2009 - 09:16 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • BrettB
    Member

    I think I follow this now. It is only a 'bug' in the sense that the message is misleading - It shouldn't ask the question whether you want to overwrite the original file when it has no intention of letting you - but is is not a 'bug' in the sense that the program is not functioning as it should.

    It should preferably be 'tidied up' at some point - when one of the things that is new about the program is the non-destructive develop mode it is not particularly helpful - but it's not a major issue.

    I can't imagine it would take a great deal of time to change the messages and take away the overwrite option (a message to tell you that you need a different name and an 'OK' to click instead of a Yes/No option).

    only shows up when trying to do something you should never need to do to in the first place.

    I wouldn't have come across it if I hadn't read this thread. 

    Posted On September 20, 2009 - 09:49 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • tdi
    Member

    most every other program that allows you to save work has a save as where it will ask if you want to overwrite and then allows you to, and it works.  but no you don't HAVE to do things this way.  but if you are going to offer it, it should work.  and to say that "we know about this bug that has been reported in beta testing, but we don't care enough to fix it" would say quite a bit behind the mindset of the company putting out the software.  yes we know, you aren't ACDSee Marc... but they have seen fit to make you their forum mod, and time will tell what the mindset is of the company about putting out 'bug free' software.

    Posted On September 21, 2009 - 01:44 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • BrettB
    Member

    most every other program that allows you to save work has a save as where it will ask if you want to overwrite and then allows you to, and it works

    You can do this in Edit mode. 'most every other program' does not have a non-destructive mode like develop. It might be considered strange to give you a non-destructive mode and then allow you to destroy the original.

    There would be people reporting this as a bug when they lost their original files. I repeat, the bug is in offering the option, not that it doesn't work.

    If you are designing software you have to make some assumptions or decisions about workflow.

    Posted On September 21, 2009 - 06:11 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • tdi
    Member

    BrettB said:

    There would be people reporting this as a bug when they lost their original files. I repeat, the bug is in offering the option, not that it doesn't work.

    And that is fine, the point is if you are going to ask me if that's what I want, and allow me to say yes, then it should do it.  Otherwise remove the question.  As it stands now, it's broken.  A 'bug'.  Doesn't work right. And it irritates me to think that someone who is (not employed by ACDSee, but) representing ACDSee is saying 'sure it's a bug, but it's ok' and I'm really curious to see if that's just his attitude, or if the company that just took my money a couple weeks in advance of releasing a product also doesn't care if they supply a program with a known 'bug'.

    Posted On September 21, 2009 - 06:21 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

Subscribe to this topic via RSS

1 2

Topic Closed

This topic has been closed to new replies.