Cropping thumbnails

W.W. Webster

The SmugMug Blog is announcing a 'new' feature (although curiously described as a 'notable bug fix') whereby "cropping thumbnails will advance you to the next image in the gallery, rather than just staying on the same photo".

This isn't a new feature as far as I'm concerned - it's been implemented for several weeks. I thought it was a bug that had been accidentally introduced with other changes as there was no announcement, and I expected it to go as quietly as it arrived.

But it's not an advantage for me. Previously, after I loaded a new gallery, because SmugMug thumbnail cropping is so painfully slow, I opened two windows and started cropping images from the front of the gallery in one window and backwards from the back end of the gallery in the other.

In recent times I haven't been able to do this easily any more. I now must find a point midway through the gallery and start the second cropping process from there! :huh

Who asked for this new 'feature'? What was broken? I would prefer that development resources are applied to more urgent and compelling bug fixes and upgrades - like enabling the 'hiding' of images in Journal-style galleries as is possible for the old Journal style and most, if not all, other styles.

Andy

Thanks for the feedback, Ross. We had been getting lots of feedback on the cropping UI and flow.

Allen

I noticed this a few days ago, very difficult to go backwards cropping
thumbnails.

What I would like to see is after hitting "save crop", the processing is thrown
in a queue and processed in the background. Then immediately jump to the
next thumb. This would tremendously speed up the whole process of doing
many thumbs in a gallery. Also make the ratio picked in the first crop sticky
for that run thru.
http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=1608855&postcount=8

W.W. Webster

Andy wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback, Ross. We had been getting lots of feedback on the cropping UI and flow.

I'm pleased about that!

Allen wrote: »

What I would like to see is after hitting "save crop", the processing is thrown in a queue and processed in the background. Then immediately jump to the next thumb. This would tremendously speed up the whole process of doing many thumbs in a gallery.

I think that's how Zenfolio does it!

Allen wrote: »

Also make the ratio picked in the first crop sticky for that run thru.

I've always thought that would be a good idea, but I didn't think it would get any traction among the 'big ticket' change proposals.

WinsomeWorks

Allen wrote: »

I noticed this a few days ago, very difficult to go backwards cropping
thumbnails.

What I would like to see is after hitting "save crop", the processing is thrown
in a queue and processed in the background. Then immediately jump to the
next thumb. This would tremendously speed up the whole process of doing
many thumbs in a gallery. Also make the ratio picked in the first crop sticky
for that run thru.
http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=1608855&postcount=8

Oh wow, Amen Amen Amen to that!! This would be so completely awesomely hot! Shoot, I had that same process that you guys did as well. I wondered too what was going on, as it was happening before it was announced. Weird. And there are several other processes that would be so fabulous if they could just continue their processing while we move on to the next one... regular crops, color, rotating... (yes, rotating does this sort of but there are major glitches because you can't fix multiple types of rotations in one fell swoop; you have to go back into the tool again, etc. etc.) Anyway, I sure hope something comes of your suggestion, Al. Trying to recall if I've seen this on the Feedback Forum? It does not seem, however, like SmugMug should really need its users to suggest something like this... kind of a no-brainer. (I don't mean I think the programming for it should be easy; I mean realizing how handy these types of tool workings are should be obvious to SmugMug, & they shouldn't have to get this from a Feedback Forum).

rolette

Allen wrote: »

I noticed this a few days ago, very difficult to go backwards cropping thumbnails.

What I would like to see is after hitting "save crop", the processing is thrown in a queue and processed in the background. Then immediately jump to the next thumb. This would tremendously speed up the whole process of doing many thumbs in a gallery. Also make the ratio picked in the first crop sticky for that run thru.

+1

I've made the same requests previously. Some as far back as 2008...

http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=954663&postcount=29
http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=1217448&postcount=7

Jay

sskoutas

I am very happy with the speed of thumbnail cropping now... It seems to move right along, so thank you for that. I would love to echo Allen's sentiments about the ratio though. I'd love to either be able to set a default ratio in my control panel (since every single thumbnail on my site is square), or at least have what Allen recommends implemented (whatever ratio you pick for you first crop in a given gallery is sticky for that session).

What are the chances? Going down to pick CROP RATIO > 1 x 1 is the single most time consuming and unneccessary step in the process.

Thanks for considering.

W.W. Webster

sskoutas wrote: »

Going down to pick CROP RATIO > 1 x 1 is the single most time consuming and unneccessary step in the process.

Could be preselected as the default option.

sskoutas

W.W. Webster wrote: »

Could be preselected as the default option.

I'm sorry, WWW, are you saying the feature already exists, or that you like my idea? If it does exist, where?

W.W. Webster

sskoutas wrote: »

I'm sorry, WWW, are you saying the feature already exists, or that you like my idea? If it does exist, where?

I was suggesting an implementation approach. I'm supporting you!

afarber

sskoutas wrote: »

I am very happy with the speed of thumbnail cropping now... It seems to move right along, so thank you for that. I would love to echo Allen's sentiments about the ratio though. I'd love to either be able to set a default ratio in my control panel (since every single thumbnail on my site is square), or at least have what Allen recommends implemented (whatever ratio you pick for you first crop in a given gallery is sticky for that session).

What are the chances? Going down to pick CROP RATIO > 1 x 1 is the single most time consuming and unneccessary step in the process.

Thanks for considering.

BUMP! Yes, yes, yes....if the ratio was "sticky" from the first selection each time the tool was used, it would change the whole outlook of the tool. The speed improvement is an ENORMOUS change...bravo!! Now, please finish the job. I think it's a very slight minority of users who don't make their thumbs pretty consistent in size in a given gallery, so this change would really only be a benefit with little to no downside. I'm certainly no programmer, but I can't imagine this would be too difficult for the Smug Heros.

Thanks!!