[Andrew Keil]

/[Andrew Keil] “What about the text rendering in the app. broken, ugly and again, words cut off. I’m looking at the user preferences pane now on a 1920×1200 screen and I see the option saying “Internal Pixel for…” followed by a dialogue box saying “..floating point”, hardly the best interface design is it? ”

Honestly don’t even know what you’re talking about here, can’t follow what you’re saying. /

What I’m saying is there are options within Color that are not immediately clear because the text within the interface is cut off because it is not properly formatted for the display, and I am not using some tiny display. I really don’t care whether this is the way it’s always been, it’s bad design, again, you may not think this is a big deal, I think it’s annoying, not the kind of thing that stops me using it, but annoying nonetheless.

I’m afraid that “think like a colorist” attitude doesn’t really wash with me here because if you look at my list of issues with the application they have precisely nothing to do with the actual coloring process within Color. It is primarily with file management and the refinement of the UI.
I think the attitude you’re taking with this is that if you have an issue with the interface, then it’s your problem, not Color’s. I’m sorry, but I really don’t see how this argument applies, how exactly does the open file dialogue in Color make me feel more like a Colorist?

That it has it’s original UNIX interface is not a sign that it’s a high end app, the results that you get with it say that. I don’t get the attitude of “well that’s the way it’s always been, get used to it”, if that were the case, then wouldn’t we all be cutting linear tape to tape?

[Andrew Keil]

Getting into a lot of replies now! Hope this doesn’t look too confusing

[Andrew Keil] “So the file browser in Color doesn’t need an overhaul then? What about viewing folders or files with names anything longer than a few characters in list view? You can’t read the full file name, there isn’t even a tooltip when you mouse over it. “

Sure, maybe. Vaild points. ALthough I never look at the files in folder view, just list view.
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**Still the same problem, you can’t read filenames in list view either.
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[Andrew Keil] “How about the fact that the Open file window acts completely differently to every other application? No sidebar, no nothing, just some legacy interface that is not in keeping with any other app in well, Apple’s entire line of software! “

This is because Apple purchased the software, and didn’t write it from the ground up. Maybe in due time.
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Yeah and they purchased FCP as well from Macromedia way back in the mists of time, they have upgraded and enhanced that many times. So the argument there is that they can buy an app that does not act like their other software, and then proceed to do incremental upgrades for 2 years and that’s it?
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[Andrew Keil] “How about the fact that the way user preferences is set up makes it much more taxing to make a project portable? The way the default project, media and render directory works means that there is a lot of checking that needs done to ensure that a project behaves itself. Why can’t I just save a color project file like any other project file, why the need for it to act differently? “

Again all valid points, you should leave feedback, but this also has to do with the original code was created.
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Again, the original code is Apple’s problem now, they own it, it’s up to them to fix it, and I have left feedback!
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[Andrew Keil] “What about the text rendering in the app. broken, ugly and again, words cut off. I’m looking at the user preferences pane now on a 1920×1200 screen and I see the option saying “Internal Pixel for…” followed by a dialogue box saying “..floating point”, hardly the best interface design is it? “

Time for a bigger monitor? 🙂
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🙂 I am such a cheapskate, but this is a 17″ MBP I’m working on here (and I know I shouldn’t be CC on it, outputting the canvas to an external monitor”) it’s no slouch, it’s not an entry level machine, it’s the top of the line, too much to ask for text to fit?
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[Andrew Keil] “but there is a little bit of a fight with it and there absolutely doesn’t need to be. “

I am just happy i have to do less prep work when going from FCP to COlor. That in itself is a huge time saver.
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Again, these are bugs! bugs! I don’t see them fixing something that was wrong in the first place as a new feature, that’s just lazy.
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[Andrew Keil] “Can you honestly say that in this update there was absolutely nothing for them to address? “

No, I didn’t say that. There’s always stuff to address as nothing is perfect. Ever.
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True, but there’s a little bit of apologising going on here, c’mon admit it, I’m not pulling things out of the sky here, these are valid concerns and there’s every reason to be a little annoyed that they haven’t been addressed.
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[Andrew Keil] “Either Apple has an interface design standard or it doesn’t, why should FCS be any less intuitive than other Apps?”

Because they bought it and didn’t design it.
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Again, you bought it you own it, lame excuse for not fixing things.
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[Andrew Keil]

So the file browser in Color doesn’t need an overhaul then? What about viewing folders or files with names anything longer than a few characters in list view? You can’t read the full file name, there isn’t even a tooltip when you mouse over it.
How about the fact that the Open file window acts completely differently to every other application? No sidebar, no nothing, just some legacy interface that is not in keeping with any other app in well, Apple’s entire line of software!
How about the fact that the way user preferences is set up makes it much more taxing to make a project portable? The way the default project, media and render directory works means that there is a lot of checking that needs done to ensure that a project behaves itself. Why can’t I just save a color project file like any other project file, why the need for it to act differently?
What about the text rendering in the app. broken, ugly and again, words cut off. I’m looking at the user preferences pane now on a 1920×1200 screen and I see the option saying “Internal Pixel for…” followed by a dialogue box saying “..floating point”, hardly the best interface design is it?

I just feel that there is a little bit of excuse making for Apple here. Color is a fine application and like you, I have had a lot of very good results with it, but there is a little bit of a fight with it and there absolutely doesn’t need to be.

It’s a fond saying that the application needs to get out of the way in order for us as professionals to focus on creativity. Can you honestly say that in this update there was absolutely nothing for them to address?

Either Apple has an interface design standard or it doesn’t, why should FCS be any less intuitive than other Apps?

[Andrew Keil]

I know that when someone complains about the quality of the user interface, it is seen as a pretty shallow request, as if you’re more interested in how an app looks than how it acts.

However not in this instance. Yes ultimately it’s just a tool, but we’re talking about a company that puts ease of use as the biggest seller for pretty much everything it makes.

As for UI interface improvements, how about these to get an idea where I’m coming from on this.

1. More resolution independent. FCP was made long before HD 30″ displays and the UI doesn’t reflect that. It’s not a massive problem for me but I do feel there needs to be a little more than making the browser text bigger.

2. Quicklook direct from the browser window, it would allow you to quickly skim through a lot of shots without having to load into the browser

3. Alternating shading of rows in the browser a-la-finder list view, there’s a lot of info in there and it would help you better identify at a glance.

4. How about an FCP floating dashboard just like in motion? Do we have to go into the filters and motion tab every time for basic functions? yes it’s only saving a few seconds here and there, but it adds up.

5. group moving of audio tracks in the patch panel, why do you have to move tracks individually?

6. Much more detailed safe zones, Motion has cinema safe, why not Final Cut?

7. Mentioned before, but Guides and rulers on the canvas window

8. Again mentioned before, but search fields and spotlight in the browser, heck the sequence window too, how good would it be to type in a quick search in the sequence to zoom to that specific clip in the timeline? Or “show me all clips with x effect applied” etc

9. A progress bar on the icon in the dock to indicate renders and export, with a sound played when finished

10. Again as mentioned before, direct text editing in the canvas. The text tab is horribly outdated.

Now that’s ten off the top of my head, I’m not trying to turn this into a feature request thread, I’m just saying that when I say the interface needs an overhaul and that the apps need to start working more like each other, it would improve my productivity, and I’m pretty sure other peoples too.

And yes, a little upgrade to the look of the app, a little cleaner, a little more polished would be nice, heck we look at it all day, it may as well be pretty, I mean yes my Macbook Pro may not work any better because it’s beautiful and shiny, but damn I’m glad it is.

[Andrew Keil]

One thing I am bitterly disappointed about is the lack of a real search function within FCP. It’s already there in Soundtrack and Motion so why it hasn’t made it into FCP is anyone’s guess.

A search field in the browser, so you can search footage and effects quickly and easily. Create smart bins to take a lot of leg work out of project management. Who wouldn’t have found it useful to have bins automatically created for images, for the last import you made, for everything that was used in a particular sequence? That would be an incredible improvement. I mean the functionality is in the finder, why can’t it find it’s way into the file management of FCP?

The way I look at it, this is a point release, and anybody hoping for a re-write after snow leopard is kidding themselves I think, this is it for the next two years at least and Apple have left a hell of a lot out that really should be there. It is not sour grapes to ask that they provide a compelling solution rather than cursory upgrade, that labels bug fixes as features (I mean come on saying “hey media manager now works like it’s supposed to” is not a feature)

Nope, count me among the very disappointed, we have every right to expect a lot more from Apple, this is still an expensive software suite regardless of the value that it gives, and the last two updates are not enough. They are neglecting a very important market and it’s just not good enough because we know they can do a lot better than this. FCS as it stands is fragmented and uneven, it needed a big overhaul and we didn’t get it.

[Andrew Keil]

Obviously an update is welcome, but I do think it has left a lot to be desired and it’s not whining for the sake of whining.

Firstly, lack of a search bar in the browser is unforgivable in my opinion. There is no excuse. This is a feature that I have longed for, just a simple spotlight interface that allows you to search bins and effects. Also an implementation of smart bins (just like smart folders and playlists) would have been incredibly useful and a real time saver. Search fields are already in Motion and Soundtrack, why aren’t they in FCP?

Why is the text generator from motion not integrated into FCP to replace the text tool? This is simple stuff, the ability to type directly onto the canvas would be a huge improvement and hardly a big deal to implement. What about rulers and guides in the canvas? Nope 3rd party workarounds will have to do.

Whether you think Blu-Ray is here to stay or not is irrelevant. It is a standard that FCS is not supporting in any real way. DVD Studio Pro has received no updates now in the last two versions of FCP, not one improvement. Is it still going to support HD-DVD? A dead format? If you want to author Blu-Ray you have to look elsewhere, because Apple is treating its Pro-sumer market like the consumer market, they want downloads and that’s it.

A lot of the big features that have been touted are really quite minor, is it really worth trumpeting automatic upload to MobileMe when this can already be done through Quicktime? You can already screen share in iChat, so is this really a banner update?

The Interface of Color did need an overhaul. It’s text is appalling and its file browser is terrible, It is a very powerful piece of software but it was a very common bug bear that it’s interface leaves a lot to be desired (a continued reliance on 3-button mice for one, would it kill them to add a slider?). I have no problem with the overall room structure and layout, but was it too much to ask to bring it in line with the rest of the pro-apps? In fact, is it too much to ask to bring all the FCS apps in line with each other? This is not window dressing, it needed addressing and they haven’t done it. The App has barely changed since they bought FInal Touch and re-named it.
I’ve heard plenty of comments about how FCP needs to stay familiar so that Editors do not get a culture shock from a brand new look. Come on, we’re professionals not luddites, I’m pretty sure anyone posting on these boards would be able to handle some interface changes, otherwise we’d all be using Avid because we don’t want to try anything different.

I know I am really complaining about this, and any improvement is welcome, but to me FCS should be light years ahead of Premiere and the likes of Vegas, we know Apple can do it. For two versions now they have treaded water when they could be trailblazing. I am so disappointed and I believe it’s for valid reasons. I’ll still be using FCS, but it seems to me that it is just not a priority for Apple anymore.