Re: Suggestions for Curvy 4
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 3:33 pm
I'll start by saying that I think visuals for UI can be very subjective. I tend to like the darker UI's that tend toward dark grays. But that's not for everyone. As a result, I like the modern Photoshop dark UI, MODO's UI colors are really appealing to me, too. I don't like UI's with a lot of color because I find them distracting. I don't want the UI to get in the way of me creating my art. But the UI does need to be functional and the icons/text need to be readable so the end-user knows what they are (or can easily learn what they are supposed to be).
As far as the MODO UI, it can be altered. In the screen shot you posted, it is open to a particular layout for Mesh Fusion, so all the Mesh Fusion tools are visible for quick access to the end-user.
I agree, I like icons better than text. I'd prefer to see a brush than to read "brush". I think the eye can scan through icons more quickly than reading text. So, icons should make for a quicker workflow ... once the end-user knows what they mean.
As with any tool, the keyboard shortcuts can really make or break it. I know that I am zillions of times faster in Photoshop, MODO, etc., when I know the keyboard shortcuts. So, I can mostly avoid clicking icons for the majority of my work because I will be using keyboard short cuts.
One of the things I like in MODO (and I have seen it in other software, too) is the Properties Panel. It's a dock-able panel that changes based on the tool that's selected. So, if I click the icon to create a cube, the Properties Panel shows me all the properties that can be set for creating a cube (x, y, z dimensions, number of divisions per side, etc.). If I activate the Bevel Tool, then bevel properties are displayed there. This eliminates the need to have many pop-up windows, etc. The majority of what you need quick access to is right there in the Properties Panel.
Another thing I like about MODO is the ability to PIN floating pop-up panels. Let's say that a certain action in MODO summons a pop-up panel providing detailed options. Once I click outside of that window (i.e. in the view port or on another panel) that pop-up panel disappears until I summon it again. However, if I like it and find that I need to access it frequently do to my particular workflow, I can PIN it by clicking a little on/off circle at one of the corners. When pinned, the pop-up window does not ever disappear (until un-pinned). The end-user can also grab and move it around if they want to, moving it out of the way. This allows for the end-user to further customize how they work in MODO based on their particular workflow.
One developer created a pretty cool UI replacement (well, more of an augmentation) for MODO called ZEN. You can see it here:
http://www.mechanicalcolor.com/modo-kits/zen
Zen does many things, but one thing that it does is provide icons that are shortcuts to altering the UI a bit. For example, if you want to access MODO's quick render window and workflow, there is an icon that slides that open on the right-side. Another click hides it. You want access to the UV window and all its tools? There's an icon that does that, too. So, instead of switching layouts from Model, to Render, to UV, to Animate, etc., you can use the ZEN icons to open the parts of MODO you need at the moment, dismissing them when you don't need them. It's quite brilliant, actually.
One of the best parts of ZEN is the developer created a single shortcut (it's the V key) that opens a pop-up. This pop changes based on what you were doing when you summoned it. For example, if I am in EDGE mode, then pressing V brings up all my edge tools (and a slew of other tools that may be useful). If I am in polygonal mode, then pressing V brings up all my polygonal tools, etc. This means I have basically have ONE shortcut to memorize for MOST of what I want to do. The developer did an excellent job of thinking this through and implementing it.
What ZEN allows you to do is work almost completely in a full-screen viewport .... or not. It's up to the end-user. If you want to hide the layers, then you hide them. You want to see them, you show them and anything else you want to have present while working. This not only makes it great for each person's particular workflow, but it's makes for a customize-able UI for various screen sizes, too. If I have a large screen, I might like several tool panels open. If not? Then I might want to keep them hidden, bringing them into view when needed.
I hope this helps.
As far as the MODO UI, it can be altered. In the screen shot you posted, it is open to a particular layout for Mesh Fusion, so all the Mesh Fusion tools are visible for quick access to the end-user.
I agree, I like icons better than text. I'd prefer to see a brush than to read "brush". I think the eye can scan through icons more quickly than reading text. So, icons should make for a quicker workflow ... once the end-user knows what they mean.
As with any tool, the keyboard shortcuts can really make or break it. I know that I am zillions of times faster in Photoshop, MODO, etc., when I know the keyboard shortcuts. So, I can mostly avoid clicking icons for the majority of my work because I will be using keyboard short cuts.
One of the things I like in MODO (and I have seen it in other software, too) is the Properties Panel. It's a dock-able panel that changes based on the tool that's selected. So, if I click the icon to create a cube, the Properties Panel shows me all the properties that can be set for creating a cube (x, y, z dimensions, number of divisions per side, etc.). If I activate the Bevel Tool, then bevel properties are displayed there. This eliminates the need to have many pop-up windows, etc. The majority of what you need quick access to is right there in the Properties Panel.
Another thing I like about MODO is the ability to PIN floating pop-up panels. Let's say that a certain action in MODO summons a pop-up panel providing detailed options. Once I click outside of that window (i.e. in the view port or on another panel) that pop-up panel disappears until I summon it again. However, if I like it and find that I need to access it frequently do to my particular workflow, I can PIN it by clicking a little on/off circle at one of the corners. When pinned, the pop-up window does not ever disappear (until un-pinned). The end-user can also grab and move it around if they want to, moving it out of the way. This allows for the end-user to further customize how they work in MODO based on their particular workflow.
One developer created a pretty cool UI replacement (well, more of an augmentation) for MODO called ZEN. You can see it here:
http://www.mechanicalcolor.com/modo-kits/zen
Zen does many things, but one thing that it does is provide icons that are shortcuts to altering the UI a bit. For example, if you want to access MODO's quick render window and workflow, there is an icon that slides that open on the right-side. Another click hides it. You want access to the UV window and all its tools? There's an icon that does that, too. So, instead of switching layouts from Model, to Render, to UV, to Animate, etc., you can use the ZEN icons to open the parts of MODO you need at the moment, dismissing them when you don't need them. It's quite brilliant, actually.
One of the best parts of ZEN is the developer created a single shortcut (it's the V key) that opens a pop-up. This pop changes based on what you were doing when you summoned it. For example, if I am in EDGE mode, then pressing V brings up all my edge tools (and a slew of other tools that may be useful). If I am in polygonal mode, then pressing V brings up all my polygonal tools, etc. This means I have basically have ONE shortcut to memorize for MOST of what I want to do. The developer did an excellent job of thinking this through and implementing it.
What ZEN allows you to do is work almost completely in a full-screen viewport .... or not. It's up to the end-user. If you want to hide the layers, then you hide them. You want to see them, you show them and anything else you want to have present while working. This not only makes it great for each person's particular workflow, but it's makes for a customize-able UI for various screen sizes, too. If I have a large screen, I might like several tool panels open. If not? Then I might want to keep them hidden, bringing them into view when needed.
I hope this helps.