Suggestion - Update "Layer preview image" when zooming in

[Snackaroo]

Hey there, long-time Paint.NET user, many mannny years now!

 

Sorry if this is improper ettiquete to just show up and ask for a suggestion.

I rarely ever think of suggestions for Paint.NET, but this one suggestion has been coming up a lot in my mind over the last year, and I thought to finally try asking.

 

This may mostly be relevant for SpriteSheet editing I suppose, and perhaps I shouldn't be using Paint.NET for such things... but I dunno, I feel very "quick" with Paint.NET, fly through things - Whenever I attempt to use Aseprite, I always end up going back to Paint.NET.

 

Anyway! The suggestion relates to the Layer list.

 

Currently, we see our list of layers with a preview image for what the layer contains.

 

Lets say the canvas size is 1000x1000 but you're working on a smaller 64x64 area within the image and are zoomed in to this area - You currently cannot see much in the layer's preview image, as the preview image remains zoomed-out.

 

If the layout preview image could update when you zoom in to reflect the current zoom level and position of scroll, then this would help immensely!

 

Assuming a big canvas size but many small sprites on the image, then this would greatly help with:

1. Identifying which layer the sprite you wish to work on is located (Currently, since the layer preview image is the full size of the image, you sometimes simply see a blank preview for most layers, or a crumb of a pixel lol).
2. Help visualise the layers when working on a multi-layered sprite (For a "person" sprite, could simply see the eyes, head, etc. - Scroll to next sprite, instantly see the updated layer preview).
3. For messy workers (such as myself - Mislabelling layers or accidently drawing on wrong layers), this helps identify quicker if mistakes occur, plus helping find stray drawing data if you did make such mistakes.
4. If forgotten which layer a sprite is on, no need to toggle each layer's visibility to identify the layer, just simply scroll through layer list and find it.

 

I am unsure on the complexity of this and am sorry if I am being ignorant or wishful.

 

Perhaps performance-wise it will be very expensive, especially if scrolling around (not that the preview needs to update whilst scrolling, but "on scroll end" would be absolutely fine).

Although, even if I was waiting 5 seconds for 20 layers to update their preview, I would still see this as hugely benefitial and a major time saver and helper. Although of course performance does matter, perhaps this could be a option toggle to enable?

 

Anyway yes, that's the suggestion, would be curious on other's thoughts on this?

 

Take care!!