View source for Kdenlive/UI Review

During UI review with newcoming video editor and UI designers, we highligted several UI issues.
We gathered these issues by topic

__TOC__

= Finding functions without even looking for it =

* Toolbar standard actions are not so pertinent : New/Open & Copy/Paste not often used (see kate: no toolbar)
** Designer note: (toolbars) add space in the layout even if not so useful...
** rather offer to navigate between project steps: import clips, add transitions & effects, export (Première: changes layout, eg popping the color grade panel or the export panel)

: &rarr; What we plan to do:
: Rework toolbar and tool placement - remove uncommon actions and emphasize most useful tools. For example, main toolbar could contain following actions: Save/Undo&Redo/Add Clip/Add Effect/Add Transition/Export

== For newbies: common habits of any software ==

* Beginner layout : make timeline larger ; don't use tabs? ("Combine Classes of functions in combined views")
* Import ? (not in toolbar, nor file menu, but Project / Add clip)
* Drop transition from a list?!
* Effects => preview. beginners need some help (experts will like filter); Pan & Zoom should stand out
* Publish : Render => "File / Export" (render is sometimes "calculate effects") + should stand out in toolbar (cleaning the latter)
* Render widget should only show codec & presets + start(queue), all other options hidden. Preview quality à la HandBrake?
* Direct send to youtube etc?



== For users of competings apps: habits in the video field ==

* Usual layout : effects list behind project bin ; effects stack behind Clip monitor or on Timeline side
* Start playing project clip in monitor: Double click? Space bar OK
* In/out zone OK, but then a shortcut to queue on timeline + pbm to put at 0 time !!
* Resize : roll edit tool (move touching clips ends simultaneously) or resize one end + delete gap
* Transition on track (ctrl-T) ?
* Adding titles: hard to find, should appear in project toolbar

= Making the workflow smooth and efficient =

* Zoom
** factor too sensitive? Linear not most effective (frame / clip / project)
**  should keep center on playhead (except fit all)
* Thumbnails allover timeline clips?
* Video scrubbing on bin thumbs hover !?

= Removing visual glitches =

== Proper sizes on any screen dimension ==

* Monitor & Timeline toolbar tiny on highDPI ('''tools''' should be on top rather than bottom, which is for status?)
* Balancing panels sizes (=> sidebars?)
* Splitter to adapt timeline height hard to see & catch

== Having everything properly aligned ==

* Always display tabs as titles => better alignment between panels, drag tabs
* Align texts in project bin table (should filename be a different field from description? could be the default description)
* Indent effects stack top line to lower sections

== Informative feedback for tools state and possibilities ==

* Timeline: use more informative '''cursors'''
** resize: green blinking arrow uggly + shows only 1 direction => use splitter cursor (2 directions)
** over clip : 4 direction or hand cursor (ready to move)
** Point for fade too small => rather use hover icons in corners (à la Dolphin)
* Ctrl+Wheel (zoom) & other mouse shortcuts: should be noticed in status bar when pressing special keys?
* Track labels ("Video" and "Audio") give wrong info (both are generic... except for split audio !)

* Bin properties surprizing, how to close?
** add a info icon in prj toolbar (hover icons on thumbnails? no if we add scrubbing)
* Project search/filter => Label (HIG) ?

* Effects stack: header could be more informative
** "effects for [source]" is the same for all cuts => add track & timecode

* Effects list
** Click on group name should expand
** Right click should popup context menu with "add to current clip", "bookmark"

== Centralizing Customization ==

* Wizard => more frigtening than helping
** check install? => popup in case of important miss
** default profile? => rather always adapting to clips! (keep raw material quality) + add project bin action "Adapt profile to this source"
** in case of profile overriding (project close yo your target) & export settings, give more explanations (eg FrameRate by country?)
* Get Hot New Stuff: not in download menu but in Settings

= Adapting UI for touch =

* Getting leaptap controller from Shotcut
* Achieving precise actions with taps ? 1st tap to focus area, then...