Custom ML themes/menus!

Started by Kromofone, August 06, 2012, 06:22:31 PM

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Kromofone

As said in the title, could it be possible, in the future, of course, to integrate/install custom Magic Lantern menus (themes, if you will)?

I've seen a lot of progress in the ''Design proposal'' topic, and was wondering if it could be done? I would love to be able to choose between different menu styles every now and then, just like in the old Sony Ericsson phones with  custom flash menus supported!

Current top menu style creators IMO are:
- Novosibirets
- davekatague

SDX

Lets get a bit life into this topic again.
We have seen good ideas for designs, indeed. I would like to discuss how to implement a system for choosing themes.

My thoughts:
- design a file which represents a theme
    * Should contain dimensions of the different areas in the menu (header, footer, scrollbar?, body) - the layout.
    * Should contain textures for the different areas.
    * Define whenever texture should be repeated or stretched to fill
    * Main menu Icons
    * Icons for sub-menus and values
    * Fonts?
    * Color palette for texts, menu items, hovered menu items, ...
    * more?
- create simple application to create these files. A python script or something should be enough.
- write a interpreter on the camera-side
- add stuff to existing menu structure
- add menu item to choose between different theme files

Also, I think the current "menu-engine" would need a system to properly set linebreaks (when reached end of horizontally available space).

I don't think we should use something like xml for this. A from ground up, non-human-readable file design should be good enough.

I have spend a bit time on figuring out, how it could look like.
Look at this file, please read it carefully.
What I forgot in it for now:
- spacing between menu items
- alternative to 31b 31c
- "main Menu selected background texture"
- 3rd option for "stretch and repeat", none.
- to be continued

Tell me what I forgot. It would be nice, if we could get the designers of the currently existing sketches here. They know better than I what is required.

I know, that this is going to be a lot of work. Some parts of the menu are generated "by hand", hardcoded.

Until now, I have not spent a single thought on anything else than the menu. What do you think, what about the LV?

EDIT:
Just to sum it up - these designs exists:
[spoiler]davekatague

Novosibirets

iamtehlolrus

Arthur
[/spoiler]

(excuse me if the images are not up to date) (EDIT: the spoilers aren't working  :()

EDIT: I see that iamtehlolrus is using a very smart method to place the text of the main menu. Maybe we should implement a setting for this, too.

SDX

Okay, twenty fixes later: a updated file.
Added stuff mentioned in previous post.

Up for discussion in design of theme file is:
*What about the LV?
*What about iamtehlolrus way of placing the text for the main menu
*What about the 1100D? I have one here and notice that the screen resolution is... yea.. could be better.
*Need to add sub-submenus (actually they look like windows)
*Scrollbar height value
*Body container width (in percent maybe?)
* .. I forgot things for sure!

Would be cool if some of the designers could come up with things they miss.

EDIT: changed textures to 24bit bmp. Only icons need 32bit. And isn't there a problem with some colors? Afair there was something..

EDIT: updated file to version 0.1.3
*Added LV options
*Placement options for mainmenu text added
*Option added for choosing specific cameras. (So one can choose which camera a theme should work on)
*Sub-submenus added

EDIT: knowledge required:
*How do .FNT files look like and how to generate?
*What is with the colors? Can _all_ colors be drawn? I remember some exceptions.
*What with 32bit textures. Do the existing draw functions support alpha channel?

Meaning from a more experienced developer, maybe?

3pointedit

I believe that the performance is based on their context, that is how easy are the various schemes are to read on the back of a camera, instead of on a computer screen.

Would be nifty to include them as a jpegs in a release so that everyone who downloads it could try them out (for legibility) and rate their favourite style (perhaps returing a .sys file of some sort to devs). Then more advanced testing could occur.
550D on ML-roids

SDX

When the system works as intended the designers are able to modify the theme within seconds and check whenever it works as expected. It should work in way, so that no developer is required to create a theme.

a1ex

Bitmaps need to be just like cropmarks (8-bit with palette, RLE). First 80 colors are safe (same on all cameras). Palette can be customized, but it's hard, so it's better to use the safe palette.

Proportional fonts should have the same format as Canon's: http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Fonts (this is implemented). Trammell implemented scripts to generate them, it should be one of his latest changesets. This has to be merged with current codebase.

A lot of menu entries need to be no longer hardcoded; custom display logic should send strings to menu engine rather than printing things directly. Menus should be split in two parts: name and value, not a single string as it's now. This is quite a bit of work.

I don't think I'm able to tell what's missing, until actually implementing this.

Marsu42

Quote from: Kromofone on August 06, 2012, 06:22:31 PMI would love to be able to choose between different menu styles every now and then, just like in the old Sony Ericsson phones with  custom flash menus supported!

Themes are nice and all, but my 2cents is to ask for a default theme that looks as similar to the Canon menus as possible. From what I'm reading, ml is still widely considered a "hack" by seasoned photogs and a seamless integration might help to change this, allowing the user base to grow.

bart

I'm thinking of a new official project regarding several things. Where we set goals, work out scenarios and come with working options the community can choose from.

Topics are
- Improve whole menu setup.
    - Maybe define maintabs, secondary tabs in 5D mark III style with two top lines lines (see image)
    - Define operational menu items, preferences. What needs to be accessed fast and what are set-once options
- Are the right buttons used. Personally I think [Menu] is better for prefs and submenus
- What about presenting scripted functions as single page programs. These are task driven. For example I want to make a timelapse I goto the timelapse page with all relevant items in one page, maybe make a wizard to setup your timelapse. Same goes for bulb ramping, rack focus, focus stacks, hdr video, hdr photo. In some of these pages items appear double but that doesn't matter. The goal is to have everything you need to achieve your goal in one place.
- Design menuskins that fit every structure. Personally I like some of the menu designs but i'm also perfectly happy with the current one. Only add an extra topline with the dots and we have space for loads of extra items.


5D mark III menu with 2 toplines. One icon and a set of dots

We need a default theme for the tutorials and manual and articles. I don't want to update a lot of menu screenshots all the time because of some new fancy menudesign. So there is a lot of work to do and I have no problem if it will lead to a whole new menustructure and look of Magic Lantern as long as it improves usability and is flexible enough to last a couple of months/years.

I can't run this project now because I have my hands full with the video tutorial project. Somebody else should lead this one and come up with a decent project proposal. I'll try to provide you with your own project space in the forum and other facilities you need.

SDX

Okay, wow. This turns out to be a bigger thing than expected.
I totally agree with you on every mentioned point!

A new system would require a lot of work, since the current way the menus are generated isn't very flexible. Lots of hardcoded stuff as far as I can see.
But I think it would definitely be worth it.

This project would definitely require more than 1 or 2 developers and don't know if I would be ready to be some sort of leader - which of course doesn't in any way mean that I wouldn't help.

What I see what needs to be done:
-Design a new structure and implement it. (You mentioned the 5DIII menu, which is a great inspiration!)
-Port the current menu entries into this system (this is a lot of work)
-Implement some sort of theme system, which only has effect to the visual side of things - how things are drawn (colors, sizes, fonts..). (As discussed here). This also includes the development of a tool for creating themes.

bart

Yes it's a lot of work and some tasks have different priority.
So I think we should split it up but keeping all goals in mind.

For me first priority is designing a new flexible menu structure with improved logic and space for additional features. So start with the menu content. A lot of this work can be done by defining main categories of features and if they are operational/submenu items or prefs. I already have a list of all features in the menus. It's a google docs sheet I can share with you. A big menu change was not schedules for version 2.3. So it had to wait.
I want to avoid little changes with every new version. Because people have to learn the interface over and over again and search for their setting on different places. I'd do one major well thought through change and stick with that.




nanomad

Since the 1100D port is near completion (only two structs missing that should hopefully solve the last few bugs) I can invest some development time into this. My suggestion is to come up with a proof of concept of the theme file and drawing routines using SDL and a PC. Setting up a development environment is straightforward, just follow this tutorial: http://lazyfoo.net/SDL_tutorials/index.php
The drawing routines are similar and porting this system to ML should be trivial.
EOS 1100D | EOS 650 (No, I didn't forget the D) | Ye Olde Canon EF Lenses ('87): 50 f/1.8 - 28 f/2.8 - 70-210 f/4 | EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 | Metz 36 AF-5

Kromofone

@B4rt
I understand, I'm glad you guys are taking this into consideration. Also I might have to talk to you about something. I'll send you a PM with the subject in my mind.

@Nanomad
Exactly, what I was thinking in the first place! One question though, is this kind of programming hard to do, can I learn to do it easily or is it complicated?

nanomad

Unless you're developing complex things, working with SDL is as easy as calling drawRectangle and such (provided you create a bit of initialization code first)

While we are here I'd like to suggest a soft-limit of 18px to the min font height
EOS 1100D | EOS 650 (No, I didn't forget the D) | Ye Olde Canon EF Lenses ('87): 50 f/1.8 - 28 f/2.8 - 70-210 f/4 | EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 | Metz 36 AF-5

SDX

SDL is a good idea.

I already have so bunch of ideas and can feel that my inner usability and UX designer wants get cracking..
Should we stick with sketches and descriptions first, until we find something that works (usability-wise)? Afterwards that can be realized with SDL.

Or should everyone who's interested and has the time simply realize his ideas with SDL? We could then show the work to the others, discuss and justify it until we find something, that everybody likes.

nanomad

Before we start working on our menus idea I think it should be wise to define a common menu structure (what is what) and how to handle long menus. Do we want scrollbars? Or menu-pages? (From a programmer's standpoint drawing pages is much easier than handling menu scrolling).

EOS 1100D | EOS 650 (No, I didn't forget the D) | Ye Olde Canon EF Lenses ('87): 50 f/1.8 - 28 f/2.8 - 70-210 f/4 | EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 | Metz 36 AF-5

SDX

Scrollbars aren't a good idea. We should keep it as simple as possible (K.I.S.S.). If one menu is filled, we can add another one.

I think the design of the 5D III is fantastic.
I wanted to draw a simple sketch to show my idea (pretty much the same as nanomad just posted). I think I worked a bit too much on the 'sketch', so please ignore the graphic work.




What you see:

You see the 6 main menus. The icons should be clear enough, so that no text is required. That would fill too much on the little screen and confuse the user. The following groups exists:
-Shoot
    Here is everything that is relevant for shooting. That includes what's found in the current shoot menu as well as the current focus menu. The current exposure menu would also go in there.
-Movie
   Here is everything relevant for filming. The current movie menu and some things from other menus.
-Audio
   This includes the current audio menu, audiometers and sound recoreder.
- Draw
  Since I think, that we will see even more functions in future which now would go into the overlay menu, I created a whole group for this.
- Settings
  Here are all those set-once-and-forget-about-it things. This includes e.g. Image review settings, shortcuts. Also the entries of the custom menu can be set here.
- Custom menu
   Your own stuff

The main groups are placed in a order, so that the less used are far away from the default start point (shoot menu). So that shoot, movie and custom can be accessed fastest.
Also I think that those (as I call them) sub-submenus aren't required anymore. That makes it quicker to access all functions.
Currently there is place for 11 entries in each menu. I reduced this to 8. That gives more space, less (confusing) to look at and makes the content clearer for the user to understand.

I have not included the help menu anywhere. I think that that should be opened via the "Info." button and be separate.
If someone has questions, I can explain my ideas more in depth - just ask!

ilguercio

Canon EOS 6D, 60D, 50D.
Sigma 70-200 EX OS HSM, Sigma 70-200 Apo EX HSM, Samyang 14 2.8, Samyang 35 1.4, Samyang 85 1.4.
Proud supporter of Magic Lantern.

nanomad

EOS 1100D | EOS 650 (No, I didn't forget the D) | Ye Olde Canon EF Lenses ('87): 50 f/1.8 - 28 f/2.8 - 70-210 f/4 | EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 | Metz 36 AF-5

SDX

I know, that some groups can end up being quite big. E.g. the shoot menu would require the following entries/submenus/points/whateverwecallit:
-General (Basically just the rest)
-HDR
-Timelapse 1
-Timelapse 2
-Traps (motion detect and trapfocus)
-Flash
-Focus (Rack/Stack/Follow -focus)
-White Balance
-ISO

That are 9 points and I haven't included PictureStyles (they are hard to place somewhere)


What we need to consider now:
What is better? To have sub-submenus again or having a whole bunch of points/entries.

EDIT: okay, followfocus could go into the key-menu in the Settings group.

How I think we from now on should call the different levels:
-Groups (the 6 main 'things')
-Points (calling it points is possibly the best idea, since they are visualized as points in all sketches so far)
-Entries (The different values you find under a point)
-Subentires (I used to call them sub-submenus. They are those things I discussed in this post)

scrax

I'm so used to the actual ML menu that it's difficult for me to think in another way to set it up. But at the same time it's a bit slow to change something quickly.
Find out what are the set once then forget options also is not easy because probably that list is not universal, each one can have his options.

How other program like 400Dplus works? I think it's faster to set up because it has a lot of shortcut instead of a big menu with all the function, so it's a bit more easy and quick to use once learned but it's not so self explanatory like ML.
400Dplus has three main menu, one for setting up the various scripts (HDR, intervalometer, etc..), another for starting them quickly and one for loading presets (in settings menu you can chose what has to be saved, only 400Dplus, canon, CFn settings etc...), other two minor menu are the one for naming presets and one for saving them.
Only one button is used to access them (PRINT button on 400D), it changes what menu to open based on what the display is showing when pressed.
So when in canon menu pressing PRINT will open "SETTINGS 400DPLUS" menu
When pressed in  "SETTINGS 400DPLUS" menu it will open a SAVE SETTINGS menu (used for saving current settings in one of the nine slot in the list, they can also be named from that screen pressing JUMP)
with the display in LCD mode (all camera settings shown) pressing PRINT will open "QUICK START" menu and from there one can enable or start scripts.
Pressing PRINT when "QUICK START" menu is shown will open up "LOAD PRESET" with the list of the nine preset we can recall.
Other thing that are not script but unlocked feat like focus pattern, spot metering, intermediate/higher ISO, kelvin WB are enabled again with the PRINT button when in each individual setting menu (for example after pressing ISO button canon will show the iso selection screen, if we press PRINT 400Dplus will set ISO to 3000 when on that camera max ISO from canon is 1600, another example is how to set spot metering; after showing up metering selection screen, with the canon button, pressing PRINT will set the mode to spot even if it's not in the options from canon).

I like a lot how 400Dplus work but ML is too different for a similar approach I suppose (first it has to deal with different buttons on different cameras). The big difference is the quick access menu (this could be added as an user defined menu in ML) and 400Dplus opening from canon menu, that make sense to me because without it I'm used to press menu for changing something then if need more option i'll also press PRINT (or TRASH for ML).

what I want to say? Nothing in particular, only  thinking out loud so maybe someone (that never used 400Dplus) will have a great idea for this.
I'm using ML2.3 for photography with:
EOS 600DML | EOS 400Dplus | EOS 5D MLbeta5- EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro  - EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM - EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM - 580EXII - OsX, PS, LR, RawTherapee, LightZone -no video experience-

SDX

Those who worked with MagicLantern for months and even years will of course have some problems with a new menu system. But I think that the current has two major problems that require the changes we discuss here:
-The current menu is full. There simply is no more space left in it!
-The current isn't very userfriendly. Once you are used to it, you won't recognize it anymore, but it is. It also gives a dissuasive impression. Its not only the visual, the look, but the entire menu system.

But I think that it is worth it. If done correctly, the oldies will not have to spend more than an hour before using the system is as intuitive as walking. Also, I'm convinced of that this can make the user base of ML grow alot!

a1ex

So, rather than having submenus, you say it's better to have separate tabs?

I've been playing with 5D Mark III during the last few days and I found it hard to use.

- There are 21 tabs to scroll through; even with the top scrollwheel, it's still slow. On 5D2 there are 9 tabs.
- Related settings are scattered all over (e.g. you have a page with HDR items, but to set the number of frames you have to go to custom functions).

Now, if you want to setup zebra thresholds, you go to zebra entry, then to the associated submenu. Should be pretty straightforward.

As I understand, with the new layout you will have one tab with operational things (on/off settings: zebra, peaking, false colors etc), and then one tab with zebra preferences, another tab with peaking preferences and so on? Or a few preference tabs with everything squashed in?

The number of submenus is huge, here's a list of them, just before 2.3: http://a1ex.magiclantern.fm/bleeding-edge/menus/MENUS.LOG

SDX

That is right and was also my concern. That was the reason for asking.

My idea includes, also as shown on the sketch, that eg. the zebra setting has its own point. That is where you both set it on/off and adjust the threshold.

But I think you are right. Subentries/submenus are required in order to not end up with too many points. That also makes it easier for us to put all relevant stuff into one point. For example Timelapse has got 2 tabs. The reason for that was, that all relevant subentries/submenus got expanded.

By the way: what framerate is the menu usually running with or is the drawing event triggered? Could be cool if we could utilize simple animations in order to make more sense of what is going on. I know most advanced ML users will hate me for saying that :) . But I think a setting for turning that off wouldn't be hard to implement.
And what about that color thing? Do I remember right, that not all colors could be drawn?

a1ex

Now menu is refreshed whenever a change is made from the menu (so it reacts fast to things changed from there) and also 3-4 times per second (to cover a few parameters read from Canon firmware or from some other tasks, and also to "fix" Canon code drawing over ML menu). It's double-buffered, which is kinda slow for animations. It also has some tricks to do partial redraws when you turn the wheels faster than it can handle, or if you hold the +/- buttons pressed.

In current implementation, only the first 80 colors are used ( http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/File:Palette.jpg ). The palette can be changed (see the color scheme feature), but it's a bit of work and will cause some flicker while the palette is changed (since there's a Canon menu in background that need to be masked somehow).

SDX

Thank you for sorting out that with the colors.
The animations were just a quick 'n' silly idea.

After some thinking I came to the result that the submenus are required no matter what. Now it's just a question on how they should fit into what has been discussed here. I must admit that I don't like 5DIII menu on that point at all. It' a divided layout. On the left you still can see the menu you are coming from, while the submenu is on the right half. It's separated by a line that fits the length of the text on the right side. In my opinion it simply looks stupid and doesn't make any sense at all. At least this is how I see it. Also I don't have a 5DIII here to check it out, play a bit with it and experience it.
Long in short: We need to figure out how to present submenus.

Another thing is the custom menu. I have no idea whatsoever on how the user should be able to manipulate it. How should all entries the user can choose from be presented? How should the user be able to add points? How to remove? Lots of stuff to think about.

So, please come with our ideas and opinions, no matter how silly they are!

a1ex

My idea for the custom menu would be via a "context menu":

- select some entry (say HDR video)
- press MENU
- a small context menu appears, with these entries:
    - Add to my menu
    - Hide this item
    - Show all (hidden) items
    - Restore default value (maybe)

Richard

Yes! I like the context menu idea!
It aligns with the current implementation. In de "my menu" or "custom menu" tab the context menu can have the "remove from my menu" instead of "add to my menu". The last three entries would be obsolete in the "my menu" context, instead options to change the position could be added.

Additional notes:
- If the subsubmenus are not abandoned , it would be great to have subsubmenu items e.g. contrast or HTP to be added to the "my menu" tab without the hierarchy above that item, this would result in quicker access to that function.
- A structural reconsideration with the 5DIII menu in mind would -in my humble opinion- of much less importance and a lot more work.


Malcolm Debono

I like the context menu idea! I think that's the best way to implement all those options.
Wedding & event cinematographer
C100 & 6D shooter
New here?  Check out the FAQs here!

SDX

I like that idea, too.

I want to make you all aware of that the new menu system - at least how it looks like right now - requires a new use of keys. Not a big deal for me and the most ML users, but I think that it can result in a bit confusion for many users in the beginning. Worth it, I believe.

Here are my Ideas:

Scroll wheel: unless submenu opened or a main tab selected, always used for iterating through the points. In submenu used for changing values. When main tab selected, iterating through main tabs.
Up/Down: Going through the menu entries, the point selector and main-tabs. (In that order: 1=main-tabs, 2=points, 3=1st-entry, 4=2nd entry, 5=3rd entry, ...)
Left/Right: changing value of entries, changing point in point-selector, changing tab in maintabs.
Menu: open context menu. Here you find add and remove from mymenu, as well as a setting for the point it should be added to in the my-menu.
Q: open/close submenu

I don't think, that more buttons are required. We should try our best to minimize the things the user has to remember in order to use the interface.

The points of the my-menu and their names can be set in a sub-menu in the setting tab.

Also, I don't think that adding only one parameter from a submenu to the my-menu is a good idea. Would be very confusing to find out in which context the setting is, where it comes from and so on. Also, you would mostly need to go somewhere else to activate the function afterwards.
And example: You have added the 'amount of frames'-variable from the HDR function to the my-menu. When you want to use it, you then have to go the HDR entry in the shoot tab first to active HDR.
And adding the entire submenu also only takes 1 entry space of the my-menu (since it's a submenu, obviously).


Another thing:
I don't think that a function to hide entries is required anymore. Now that we have points and the my-menu.

Another, another thing:
We still need to find out how submenu should be visualized. As windows (as it is right now) that overlays the interface to some extend or as a screen-filling, new interface. Or maybe something else?

1%

Another level of submenu? 1 level is not enough for me. Maybe its just me :)

SDX

Just to clear this up:

Main tabs -> points -> entries
                                `-> entries with own menu -> submenu

So yea, another level.
But the cool thing about these points is that they allow this extra level without loosing the overview of the UI.

I'm believing that the design we slowly are coming up with here is even more userfriendly than the current one and at the same time creates more space for functionality and future stuff.

nanomad

Just remember that some cameras Don't have a wheel in the back...just 4 directional buttons and the top wheel
EOS 1100D | EOS 650 (No, I didn't forget the D) | Ye Olde Canon EF Lenses ('87): 50 f/1.8 - 28 f/2.8 - 70-210 f/4 | EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 | Metz 36 AF-5

SDX

I was just thinking of the top wheel.
But i think a good thing would be, if we treat both wheels as the same. I can't really see a reason for adding additional control options to some camera models.

a1ex

In 5D it's hard to use the little joystick for navigation, the quickest way is top wheel = left/right and back wheel = up/down.

This is how Canon menus work, and current ML key combinations works very similar. Except that I didn't like to press 3 keys just to toggle a boolean setting.

nanomad

Set will toggle boolean settings if they are so, there's no need to open any submenus for that I think
EOS 1100D | EOS 650 (No, I didn't forget the D) | Ye Olde Canon EF Lenses ('87): 50 f/1.8 - 28 f/2.8 - 70-210 f/4 | EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 | Metz 36 AF-5

SDX

Exact, but you still have to navigate to the option. But that is a general problem. How do we provide enough structure and overview of the functions and at the same time make it fast (fast: using as few keyspresses as possible). (Just to illustrate the problem, that wasn't a real question. But you're allowed to answer it anyways ;) )

I still think that points are a good thing, since scrolling with the scrollwheel feels like ways less 'work' than pressing buttons in order navigate. At least for me

nanomad

By implementing a "favorites" menu :P
EOS 1100D | EOS 650 (No, I didn't forget the D) | Ye Olde Canon EF Lenses ('87): 50 f/1.8 - 28 f/2.8 - 70-210 f/4 | EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 | Metz 36 AF-5

a1ex

Go to some camera store and try a 5D Mark III. Scrolling through 21 tabs is not funny at all (yes, with the scrollwheel).

SDX

We already discussed that about a page ago.
That's why we have chosen to use submenus again. The shootmenu would have created about 10 points, ways too much. Using submenus we get approx 3 to 4.

I personally think, that we also should keep it at 6 points max. I can image what a pain it is to scroll so much.

1%

I don't use the top wheel much. Mostly arrow keys. The hack to make the wheel work is worse than not having it.

SDX

Which wheel are you talking about? The wheel on the arrow-keys or the topwheel.
Hasn't anyone managed to get the arrowkeys-scrollwheel working jet?

1%

Topwheel. Its the only one I have.

SDX

Okay.

As described above my idea includes that scrollwheel is fully optional. If you like, you can switch between points and change values with the arrowkey too.

SDX

While I was checking changes in the docs I found the liveview page which shows a full color image of a cat. Are that just colors from the palette? And if so, does someone have a script to map colors of images to that palette? Would be quite cool to apply that to the designs currently out there and see what they actually are going to look like.

I have thought about the submenu. I wanted to create a few sketches that show different ideas. I started with making the windowed submenu since that one was quite straight forward and it would be usefull to compare it to the new ideas.
But after having spend some time I figured out that windows are the only thing that works. Everything else just looked totally confusing.

Here is what i've got. It's is pretty much what we have at the current moment. Again, please ignore any graphical work. Currently we are only talking about layout and its usability, not colors 'n' fancy stuff. (At least that is how I see it)



Hoping for some ideas.

1%

Scrolling for both menus and submenus. Right now I add something extra and it gets cut off because too many settings already on that page. Or window of submenu gets broken.

a1ex

http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Remap.py

With this script you can convert the existing designs to cropmarks. You can tweak it to include unsafe palette entries as well, if you want.

SDX

Thanks A1ex.

1%: The point with using points is to avoid scrollbars. But I can see a need to add them to submenus.
On the other side though: A submenu should really not have more that 8 points in order to stay userfriendly. Everything above 8 would indeed require a scrollbar. They are technically a bit complicated to implement in a away that stays usable. For example we could use a little, smooth scrolling animation for making clear, that the upper entries did not vanish into another dimension when selecting the last, visible entry.

mert gundogdu

Hi Everybody,

I'm Mert from Turkey. I am the founder of one of the biggest photography website in Turkey. Which is called CanonTURK.com. Our aim is to union all Canon users around the Turkey and inform them the lastest news about photography.

Me and my team wants to translate Magic Lantern in Turkish Language if it's possible.
There are a lot of people using Magic Latern in Turkey but, some of the people couldn't use because most of the Turkish people doesn't know English.

I will be waiting for your  reply.

Cheers!

theBilalFakhouri

Quote from: SDX on August 26, 2012, 11:45:12 PM
EDIT:
Just to sum it up - these designs exists:
[spoiler]davekatague

Novosibirets

iamtehlolrus

Arthur
[/spoiler]

These are really good and beautiful user interfaces, it should be alive . .

I was thinking for designing new user interface but these are great!