Guerrilla

Ok, thanx for reply !!!

Hey !!! That works much better !!! Yes, the grids must be displayed during "adjustments" and yes, they have to disappear after final rendering !!! COOL !!! Now couple remarks: 1) if possible, preset aspect ratio down-drop menu: the default option must be "same as original" 2) the final step will be highly appreciated - when "OK" button has been pressed and the "unnecessary" part of the image has been cut-off, then "Crop to selection" function is still missing ... now it is necessary to select Magic Wand, select transparent space, press Ctrl+I to invert selection and then Ctrl+Shift+X to perform "Crop to selection". When OK is pressed, you know the image size and you move it to the upper left corner ... maybe it is possible additionally apply "Canvas size" function and change the canvas size exactly to the image size. Then it will be the perfect tool !!! If you have some time, please, thing about these 2 remarks. Your job is very appreciated !!! ... thanx a million !!!

Just have tested it now ... everything looks OK apart from grids - there are no grids displayed ... no matter what I choose from "grid type" menu . But this Betta2 is much better as the first one !!! Well done Red ochre !!!

Red ochre - thanx a million, will try to test it within next couple of days and will report to you !!!

Red ochre - thank you for reply !!! 1) Yes, please, degrees are required and it must be precise 2) if it is not possible to rotate the image, then it is pointless to rotate the grid ... from my point of view ... sorry to say that but that can be much more comfortable to rotate the image from inside of your tool, align it, then move Rule of Thirds grid as desired, crop and here we go - final result !!!!!! It doesn't make much sense to me to rotate the grid and then to rotate cropped image once again to have the photo straight ... don't you think so ??? There is a Rotation Plugin ... I have tested it before but have not seen any difference with Built-in rotation tool ... that should be possible to rotate the image from the plugin 3) agree with you ... no need to put the grid to 100% of the image ... maybe 70% will be OK with automatic detection of the canvas orientation ??? 4) I believe that adding couple of really necessary checkboxes will not make the plugin screen much bigger ... it is always possible to slide this window to the side if looking at the original image is required. But would be very helpful to have a checkbox for "Apply inverted colors for grid lines" 5) even if it is not possible to crop the image from the Plugin (sad but ...) , that will be not a big problem if the image alignment can be done by plugin ... means if the rotation of the image will be done by plugin 6) adding "Crop guide" will be fantastic !!! That means it must be one more checkbox to activate/deactivate the "Crop guide". Back to rotation issue ... if that will be possible to rotate the image and not the grid - that will be very very cool !!! if not ... I don't think I will be using this tool ... but maybe someone else will ... for me the main thing is a time spent per one photo ... currently I have to create new layer, apply the grid every 100x100 pix, go back to first layer, open Rotation tool, align (very often it is less then 1 degree but without alignement it's possible to see that Horizon is not straight), then I delete 2nd layer. These are the alignment steps ... For croping: menu Layers->Import from file ... import "Rule of thirds" template, resize, move it to final position, use Magic Wand to select the space outside the grid, press "Ctrl + I" to invert selection, go back first layer, apply "Crop to selection" and delete 2nd layer with the grid. ... That's it ... I am looking for easier and faster way to do all of this ... hope your plugin will be able to be easier and faster, that all people, who works with photography, will be using this tool.

Hi Red ochre !!! Thanx a million for your participation in this subject !!! Your Plugin looks very prommissing !!! I have tested it and ... either I do something wrong or ... but here are my comments, if you don't mind: 1) "angle" section: if I change from 0.00 to 0.50 that will turn the grid to 90 degrees !!! The value in Input field must be dergees (like in normal Rotation tool) and not something else. 2) changing the angle should rotate the main layer (photo) but not the grid !!! The photo processing sequence I always follow is: first I need to align the photo and only then I apply template with Rule of Thirds or Golden Section, rescale (proportionaly !!!), reposition and only then I crop. 3) The plugin can, probably, detect the Canvas/Image size and orientation (Landscape or Portrait) and being applied automatically to the full "frame" with correct proportions You have probably seen that Ego Eram Reputo has a "Croping Guide" with "Aspect Ratio" menu and "Orientation" in his Plugin ... I find it very useful. if it can be possible to implement "Aspect Ratio" menu in your plugin to automaticaly adjuct the grid size - that will be perfect !!! I think one checkbox "Keep proportions" will be also required to accompany the "Aspect Ratio" options. Means if this checkbox is activated then manual adjustments of grid's width (or height) will be proportionally changing height (or width) accordingly. 4) As you can see on my photo ... I have dark horizon now ... and I have black horizontal line which I need to use for aligning. Hhmmm ... that cab be difficult to do. One suggestion - if possible, add a checkbox "Invert colors". That can be applied to all colors you are using: Black, Red and Yellow - invert to -> White, Blue and Green for example. In that case will be no problems to see the lines on any photo !!! http://forums.getpaint.net/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/boltbait.wink.png 5) As has been mentioned before - angle option must turn the photo and not the grid. Because after rendering I get the image like this: By looking at this screenshot I can suggest one more thing: when OK button has been pressed in your Plugin and the rest of the image has been deleted, then it make sense (maybe also using additional checkbox) to apply like "Crop to selection" function to have a final aligned and compositioned part of the original photo. In the current version I need to rotate the layer to have it horizontal, then make an image selection and apply "Crop to selection". I hope all these steps can be skipped by improving your very nice Plugin as I have mentioned above ... or maybe you will have even better ideas !!! The biggest benefit of your Plugin is: no need to create any separate layers !!! That is COOL !!! Let me summarize a bit: 1) "angle" field must have degrees and turn the layer but not the grid. Value "90" must turn the image on 90 degrees. 2) grid must be applied to full image with auto detection Landscape or Portrait type. 3) must be a checkbox "Keep proportions" for proportional changing the width or height of the grid. 4) "Aspect Ratio" menu would be very nice to have ... I have 2 cameras ... one is making pictures 3:2 and another is 4:3 but I always scop to 3:2. First option in this menu must be "Current" or "Actual" - as actual ratio of the photo/layer. Please, check Ego's plugin regarding this menu ... maybe it will be possible to implement the same ... will be really very useful feature !!! http://forums.getpaint.net/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/boltbait.tongue.png 5) when layer has been turned/aligned and composed based on Rule of Thirds or Golden Section and OK button has been pressed - image must be cropped to "selection"/grid to have the final result for any further processing. Well ... these are my comments !!! Feel free to comment/ask/send_me_to_hell ... but I hope that you will keep improving your tool and it will be very useful for people who works with photorgaphy. And thanx again !!! http://forums.getpaint.net/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/boltbait.tongue.png

Rick !!! Thanx a million for paying your attention to my post !!! ... and thanx a million for Paint.Net !!! Well ... as for implementing the grid lines ... I think it is only necessary to extent the Rotation tool with options to display a grid with desired number of lines or gaps between them as I have suggested in my first post ... then it will be not required to create a separate layer for this operation !!! then the rotation process for aligning Horizontal or Vertical lines will be very easy !!! ... and maybe a chance to add a selection of few colors for the grid And thanx for adding "Rule of thinds and Co." to your "to-do list" !!! Appreciate it very much !!! ... yes, that will be very useful feature !!!

I agree ... that can be very handy to show only active layer when desired. Another ideas about Layers ... hope can be also supported and voted as "Yes, would be nice to have": 1) Layer Properties, menu Mode must be extended !!! Currently I always use BlendModes Pluse Plugin, which has much more options in Mode menu. Would be really nice to include this list (or maybe even add some new options) in standard Layer Properties window. 2) Photoshop has a possibility to define a Layer as "Smart Object" ... would be nice to have the same feature in Paint.Net. That will also allow to do UNDO operations applicable only to active layer. I think that can be a very cool feature !!! These are my suggestiong regarding Layers.

Hi !!! Ok, now it is clear about Cropping Guide !!! Excellent tool !!! ... That was not just obvious that Croping Guide and Aspect Ratio belong to the same group ... it looks like Croping Guide check box belongs to "Rule of Thirds" section ... therefore maybe it makes sense to reposition a "sections splitters" somehow like this: in that case it will be totally clear which options and checkboxes belongs to which section. When I apply the Rule of Thirds grid to the second layer, then do CTRL+A to select the layer, press SHIFT, resize and reposition as I need, then I take Magic Wand and click outside of selection ... it still marks the area inside the grid ... see the screenshot: That means the frame around the grid is required. Of course it is possible to draw a black frame using Rectangle tool ... but maybe it is possible to integrate the frame into your plugin. That will make the croping process faster. As for positioning of Horizontal line ... when I press DOWN button at the number field (not on the slider) then horizontal line moves UP !!! It is very confusing ... if I need to move the line DOWN then I need to decrease the number in the input field ... if I need to move UP - then I increase ... that is logical. It is working opposite now.The same to Left and Right ... Left must be negative and Right - positive. And as you can see - I have added a color selection to the plugin's screenshot for Central Lines and for Rule of Thirds also ... that will make the photo processing easier ... will be no need to create a separate layer for Central Lines and for other lines. If that is possible to do - then it will be fantastic !!! Well ... thanx again for spending your time for developing this tool !!! I am sure at the end that will be very nice and useful tool for everybody who is working with photos.

Hi Ego Eram Reputo. Ok, thanx for explanation ... I have tested once again. There are some comments: 1) Positioning of horizontal line is clear now, works just fine !!! 2) Positioning of vertical line would be also very nice to have, if possible 3) Making Rule of Thirds grid works also, but somehow that makes a black box on the right side (if Black is selected as main color), keeping the rest quadratic. Is that done on purpose? If yes, can you, please, explain what for. Changing options in "Aspect Ration" menu makes the black area bigger and it runs over the image from right to left. I think this menu suppose to rescale applying grid accordingly, but it doesn't work ... or I do something wrong again 4) The "Rule of thirds" grid must have a frame around, like the red one on my screenshot. That will allow to use Magic Wand to select everything around the "prepared for cropping" area, then I press "Invert Selection", go back to main layer and crop. 5) If image is big (I have Canon 600D - 18 MP) then all lines are very thin and they are difficult to be recognized on the image. If possible, maybe add an option to make the lines thicker? 6) And even with average size pictures the plugin is working VERY SLOW !!! Every change in settings page of the plugin makes you waiting for these changes to be displayed. I have tested some other plugins (Grid Maker) with original 18 MP photo and it works really much faster. Here some results: Your Plugin: opening the plugin, it starts to draw the lines: from the beginning, till it finish drawing is took 64 sec !!! .................: if I change position of Horizontal line or something else - it also took 62 sec .................: if I press "OK" button to implement changes - took 10 sec to apply the grid to the layer Grid Maker: opening the plugin, it starts to draw the lines: from the beginning, till it finish drawing is took 7 sec !!! .................: if I change position of Horizontal line or something else - it also took 7 sec .................: if I press "OK" button to implement changes - took 9 sec to apply the grid to the layer I hope it is possible to increase the speed ... otherwise will be no fun to wait for so long for every change in settings. Some ideas ... Maybe it is also possible to add "Golden Section" option additionally to "Rule of thirds" ??? You can take my templates from the post above. And maybe it is also possible to add a combined template ... but both grids must be different color The center lines ... would be nice to have a chance to change their color ... to be different from other lines ... it is a bit confusing now ... well these are my remarks ... hope they are OK for you and will help to improve your very nice tool !!! I guess I will be using it a lot And thanx a million for spending your time on it !!!

Hallo Ego Eram Reputo. Thank you very much for your efforts !!! ... but ... I could't make the plugin working as I thing it should work. I have tried to apply it to main layers, also to the empty new layer and also to a duplicated main layer. Look at the screenshot ... to adjust the Horizon (or Vertical lines) it is necessary to display the Grid (as I have suggested above to display a grid during Rotate operation. As for Rule of Thirds - it is necessary to integrate a Rule of Thirds lines to the Rectangle Selection tool ... or to similar tool, when it will be possible to select necessary part of the image, reposition if requested and then apply "Crop to Selection". Now in your plugin I couldn't apply any changes for fixing the horizon (slider on Adjust Horizontal was not making any changes ... and +-500 - what is that? Is that Degrees? Sometimes I need to apply, for example, -0,48 degree in rotation tool to fix the horizon). And to fix the horizon - you need a line(s) very close to the horizontal (or can be also vertical) line of the photo. And Cropping image based on Rule of Thirds or Golden Section must be a separate tool. These two cannot be applied together to the photo at the same time. Maybe I was doing something wrong ... but I hope you can explain to me what need to be done for proper rotation of the image to fix horizontal or vertical lines and how to select part of the image for proper crop. Now once it is applied - it is not possible to reposition the grid or to rescale. But thanx for developping the tool ... hope you will manage to make it working !!! And hope I can help you with testing

In Topic "Popular Feature Requests" has been mentioned to add a Plugin Manager. That is very necessary !!! ... I have installed one Plugin-Pack with 140 different plugins ... but now it is difficult to find the one I need ... just was thinking that would be great to have a small feature in Plugin Manager - "Favorite Plugins" to create a separate folder with all favorite and frequently used Plugins to have them all in one place ... something like that: Hope Development Team can read this post and think about this feature !!! ... made some modifications now ... I think it should be enough to have two options in Plugin Manager: "Add New" and "Favorite Plugins" Would be nice to have a chance to move Plugins up and down in the Favorite List for better sorting. To Add or Delete Plugins to Favorite List or to remove the Plugin completely - maybe that can be done via Right Mouse Click on a Plugin to get a sub-menu and choose the desired option. Hope this will help in improving of Paint.Net !!!

That sounds optimistic !!! Thank you very much !!! ... and also, if possible, maybe you can develop a Plugin for Horizon alignment ... Thanx a million in advance !!! Yes, thank you for your tip on using template to add it to the new layer from the file ... that is cool !!! ... but hope this cropping operation can be done easier without adding a new layers. Will be waiting for new tools from Ego Eram Reputo

Hey guys ... was busy today with "Golden Section" and "Rule of Thirds" as minners71 has suggested (thanx a million for that ) ... and I made some templates, in case if someone need them ... please, feel free to download and use them and here one photo I made today using first template

Hey guys, thanx for your replies. As for aligning the Horizon - yes, I've tried this way: created a new layer, used GRID Plugin to create a grid (will try to draw just one horizontal line next time ), aligned the Background level, deleted new layer with grid, cropped the background layer and saved the aligned image. But if the grid can be displayed during rotation, as I have suggested above, then it will be much easier !!! Or I can say - that will be the easiest way to align the horizon. I hope you agree with me. As for the second suggestion - thank you for your suggestion !!! Will try it. I have also tried to find an appropriate Plugin for this but without any luck ... Googled for hours and hours for info how to crop the image based on "Golden Section" or "Rule of Thirds" ... have found similar suggestion here on the forum ... but it also include creating a new layer. I guess there are several ways to do this or some other tricks but would be nice to have it in the easiest and fastest way ... maybe as I have suggested above: implement the option to display the "Golden Section" or "Rule of Thirds" grid during Selection operation ... More comments are appreciated.