Suggestion : Layer Select-Deselect

[alfanders]

Hi I have a suggestion regarding selecting and deselecting Layers.
This might be a rather long thread and I kinda feel bad so I kinda want to apologize in advance 💦💦

First of all, I think this might be a bug, if I try to select multiple layers, and deselect multiple layers, if I do it with "swipe right to deselect", once I selected one layer, it closes the multiselect mode. But if I do it with tap, once I selected one layer, it doesn't close the multiselect mode. I believe making this consistent would be great, so if it's alright, I do prefer the one where if there's one layer left, it automatically closes the multilayer selection mode.

Here's the video showing what I meant above.

https://youtu.be/vI24Sd1TrEg

Now for the suggestions :

1. Instantly turns to multiselect once user swipe right on a layer.



Currently, to do multiple selection, you either have to wipe right a little, and press select. Or do a big swipe right to automatically select the layer. My guess is that it is because the dev wants to communicate to the user that "Hey, this swipe right gesture would select the layer". And that is why the dev uses the button with "Select" text for it. I believe this is not really necessary. I believe the user would "get it" once they try swiping the layer once, and it turns out that swiping right would select layer. Because of this, I want to suggest instantly using multiselect once the layer is swiped right.

I made a mockup that illustrates what I mean

https://youtu.be/Cz8AhapKVhs

--

2. Select initial layer to deselect layers

As you might notice in the video above, within the mockup, there's one layer that gets a white outline when other layers are selected.



I have a suggestion to make this outlined layer acting to be an additional "bigger deselect button". I feel like this gesture would be quite intuitive. Here's how I come to that conclusion.

When you're drawing, you tend to select the layer you want to multiselect first, before selecting any other layers. For example, say, the Eye layer. Then, you want to select other layers like the hair, the ear, and the nose. It is pretty unusual for you to deselect the first layer you selected. Instead, I feel like it's pretty natural to "come back" to the initial layer that you selected, to activate only that layer, after you're done with selecting other layers. I feel like this would be pretty intuitive, and that's why I suggest this be added in addition to the existing selection button on the upper side of the panel.

Here's how I imagine this in action

https://youtu.be/7K1Yys8o_Io

2. (little addition) Group layer button



A little addition to the above suggestion. Since grouping layers are used all the time, I feel like having this button appear only when multi-select mode activates would be rather beneficial. I think it would make sense contextually as well.

--

3. Swipe Right smaller buttons (and additional duplicate button)



Currently, I believe quite similar to the "Select" button when you swipe right, the dev would like to communicate clearly that swiping left would delete the layer instead. That's why currently you would see a "Delete" button when you swipe right, and it'd Delete the layer once you do a bigger swipe left.

However, quite similar to the "Select" button, I believe the user would understand the usage of the swipe left once they try it for themselves. However, quite the contrary to the Select swipe gesture, I suggest to not delete the layer once you do a swipe or a big swipe left. Why I said this is because, deleting is quite destructive, and I believe, having the user "click" the delete button would make sure that they are aware of what they are doing. I feel like this makes sense UX-wise.

Also, I believe having the buttons use icon instead of text would decrease the needed space, yet still, be quite intuitive for the users. They literally uses the same button, I believe it is quite consistent, and the users who got confused would be minimal.

Additionally, from looking at my own experience and my artist friends around me, I noticed that a lot of us use "Add layer via copy" (which duplicates the layer onto a new layer) quite a lot.



That's why I think, along with the reduced size, we could add an "Add layer via copy" button beside the delete button.
Just like the delete button existing when you swipe left even tho the lower-right delete button is there, I think this also would be a comfortable place for a button alongside the "duplicate layer" one below.

--

I think that's all. Thank you so much for reading this far! Again I still kinda feel bad for the long thread so again I apologize 💦
Would love to hear your opinion! 💖✨

[Icezimy]

+1 for most of these suggestions, they could really help make everything a bit more fluid! Except for these ones:

However, quite the contrary to the Select swipe gesture, I suggest to not delete the layer once you do a swipe or a big swipe left. Why I said this is because, deleting is quite destructive, and I believe, having the user "click" the delete button would make sure that they are aware of what they are doing. I feel like this makes sense UX-wise.

I think it’s really nice to just have to swipe far left to quickly delete layers, it’s easy enough to just use undo if it was by accident. The extra step of having to actually press delete after swiping, I already found annoying in other apps, like procreate

When you're drawing, you tend to select the layer you want to multiselect first, before selecting any other layers. For example, say, the Eye layer. Then, you want to select other layers like the hair, the ear, and the nose. It is pretty unusual for you to deselect the first layer you selected. Instead, I feel like it's pretty natural to "come back" to the initial layer that you selected, to activate only that layer, after you're done with selecting other layers. I feel like this would be pretty intuitive, and that's why I suggest this be added in addition to the existing selection button on the upper side of the panel.

Sometimes one might want to deselect the first layer, especially when working with many layers, maybe you didn’t pick the right one at the start. Then you would have to deselect and then reselect everything again. Or I sometimes just swipe right to quickly start the “selection mode” on a random layer, which I then deselect again after selecting the ones I actually wanted. So I definitely prefer the current way where you can always go back to every layer at any point in time to de-/reselect

—

Currently, to do multiple selection, you either have to wipe right a little, and press select. Or do a big swipe right to automatically select the layer.

You can also just swipe right on the first layer and then simply touch the other ones, no need for swiping all of them. Just incase you didn’t know already, I think that’s  currently the fastest way to select multiple layers

I’ve suggested ideas for faster selection in the past here https://www.luckyclan.com/forum/index.php?topic=2820.0 maybe you also have some new ideas in that regard?

[alfanders]

I think it’s really nice to just have to swipe far left to quickly delete layers, it’s easy enough to just use undo if it was by accident. The extra step of having to actually press delete after swiping, I already found annoying in other apps, like procreate

hmm, I feel like it would prevent accidental deletion tho, I think it goes well with Apple's UX principal as well. Tho you have a great point (which is to also be able to undo your unwanted deletion). I think left-far swiping might still work since it's pretty unlikely for the user to accidentally far swipe. I still think that it'd be better to be prevented myself 🤔

Sometimes one might want to deselect the first layer, especially when working with many layers, maybe you didn’t pick the right one at the start. Then you would have to deselect and then reselect everything again. Or I sometimes just swipe right to quickly start the “selection mode” on a random layer, which I then deselect again after selecting the ones I actually wanted. So I definitely prefer the current way where you can always go back to every layer at any point in time to de-/reselect

Thanks for letting us know your opinion on this! I feel like having this would encourage the users to be more deliberate with the layer selection. Just like while using keyboard, you tend to select the first layer you'd like to "multi select" and then use cmd key to select the others. ✨

--

You can also just swipe right on the first layer and then simply touch the other ones, no need for swiping all of them. Just incase you didn’t know already, I think that’s  currently the fastest way to select multiple layers

I’ve suggested ideas for faster selection in the past here https://www.luckyclan.com/forum/index.php?topic=2820.0 maybe you also have some new ideas in that regard?

Oh, my apologies I didn't notice this thread!! Thank you for pointing this out! ✨

as for the swipe and click, yes I'm aware of that! Thank you for pointing that out!
Tho there's this bug which I've mentioned on the start of the thread ✨
https://youtu.be/vI24Sd1TrEg

as for the drag, I personally haven't really encountered such needs since I tend to just select multiple layers by tapping as you mentioned 💖. I think if you do want to implement that, Apple's Files app might be a great reference!

Here's how draggable selection works on the Files app
https://youtu.be/QYTbZv3cJUo

And here's how I imagine it might be able to be implemented on Artstudio Pro
https://youtu.be/YjVhihXSROs

So first you have to enter the "Multiple Layer Selection" mode. And while you're within that mode, the eye icon would now act as a selection icon. And you could freely drag on the eye icon. You might wanna have an animation where the eye icon turns into a selection icon to add clarity and intuitiveness ✨

Thank you for your response! ✨

[Icezimy]

Thanks for letting us know your opinion on this! I feel like having this would encourage the users to be more deliberate with the layer selection. Just like while using keyboard, you tend to select the first layer you'd like to "multi select" and then use cmd key to select the others.

When using a keyboard and using shift (or ctrl) its also possible to select/deselect any layer at any time, no need to be deliberate. It wouldn't be "encouraging", more so it would be restraining a certain kind of workflow like mine. Same with the extra step for deletion, especially since like you said, it's already very unlikely to accidently delete a layer by swiping far left, never had any problem with it. So again why find a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist

tho there's this bug which I've mentioned on the start of the thread ✨
https://youtu.be/vI24Sd1TrEg

Yes would be great if it was fixed

And here's how I imagine it might be able to be implemented on Artstudio Pro
https://youtu.be/YjVhihXSROs

So first you have to enter the "Multiple Layer Selection" mode. And while you're within that mode, the eye icon would now act as a selection icon. And you could freely drag on the eye icon. You might wanna have an animation where the eye icon turns into a selection icon to add clarity and intuitiveness

Thanks for that suggestion and the nice mockup! It's an alternative to what I suggested in the past, though it then wouldn't allow to hide/unhide layers during selection mode anymore, which is actually often needed to see at which layer you're currently on, or to hide/unhide other layers, or to confirm you’re on the correct ones etc. - while in select mode.

Maybe that row of check marks could appear next to the eye icon (only when in selection mode) that would address both and could possibly be easier to implement than what I’ve suggested on the other thread. But might not look as good, since it would change the UI within the selection mode and could look too cluttered or incohesive.

Btw/tldr also would still love the option to slide over the eye icons - in addition to just tapping them, like also explained on the other thread.

-

Really appreciate your input! Curious what lucky clan will think about all of these

[alfanders]

When using a keyboard and using shift (or ctrl) its also possible to select/deselect any layer at any time, no need to be deliberate. It wouldn't be "encouraging", more so it would be restraining a certain kind of workflow like mine. Same with the extra step for deletion, especially since like you said, it's already very unlikely to accidently delete a layer by swiping far left, never had any problem with it. So again why find a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist

Hmm fair enough, aigthy thanks!!

Thanks for that suggestion and the nice mockup! It's an alternative to what I suggested in the past, though it then wouldn't allow to hide/unhide layers during selection mode anymore, which is actually often needed to see at which layer you're currently on, or to hide/unhide other layers, or to confirm you’re on the correct ones etc. - while in select mode.

Maybe that row of check marks could appear next to the eye icon (only when in selection mode) that would address both and could possibly be easier to implement than what I’ve suggested on the other thread. But might not look as good, since it would change the UI within the selection mode and could look too cluttered or incohesive.

Btw/tldr also would still love the option to slide over the eye icons - in addition to just tapping them, like also explained on the other thread.

I've tried and I couldn't seem to find a solution for the selection icon next to eye button. This is the best I could came up with. Maybe you could try making your own version that you find ideal ✨



-

Really appreciate your input! Curious what lucky clan will think about all of these

I'm curious as well! Thanks for your response! ✨

[Icezimy]

I've tried and I couldn't seem to find a solution for the selection icon next to eye button. This is the best I could came up with. Maybe you could try making your own version that you find ideal ✨

Didn’t think of that, this would be great!