Release notes for 1.6.0

source/releases/stable/1.6.0.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,276 @@
+.. _release-1.5.0:
+
+############################
+Synfig 1.5.0 Release Notes
+############################
+
+Rewritten TimeTrack Panel
+-------------------------
+
+Now working with waypoints is so much easier - you can select multiple
+items using \ `bounding box selection <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/761>`__\ ,
+duplicate and scale them, navigate to next or previous waypoints using
+"n" and "b" keys (holding Shift skips 5 waypoints).
+
+|image0|
+
+|image1|
+
+Also, the new Timetrack Panel now indicates \ `segments
+when value of parameter remains constant <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/790>`__\ .
+
+|image2|
+
+Improved Sound Panel
+--------------------
+
+Sound Panel now has a list of available sound layers. This way it’s much
+easier to choose which waveform to show in the panel. See \ `issue
+1346 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/1346>`__\  for
+details.
+
+|image3|
+
+New Skeleton Tool 
+------------------
+
+The new intuitive Skeleton Tool allows users to easily create bones.
+With this tool it is also possible to easily change the structure of
+skeletons by re-parenting bones.
+
+|image4|
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+  <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8qawMmSN55o" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br><br> 
+
+See this documentation page to learn more about this feature -
+\ `https://synfig.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tools/skeleton.html <https://synfig.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tools/skeleton.html>`__\ .
+
+
+Rewritten Text Layer
+--------------------
+
+|image18|
+
+- Text Layer fully rewritten and optimized, which results in much faster rendering (`#2362`_).
+- Text Layer now have proper support for RTL languages (i.e. Arabic) (`#2232`_). Please notice that if you use a string which mixes RTL and LTR text, then you might need to set a “Direction” parameter in Text Layer to indicate the proper order.
+
+|image19|
+
+- Text Layers now visible when workarea displays its content in Draft mode (`#631`_).
+- Fixed issue with "jumping" letters in animated text (`#389`_).
+- Fixed issue with quality regression under Text Layer (`#831`_).
+- Fixed glitched rendering output when Text Layer is combined with Perspective Layer (`#1566`_).
+- For Text Layer it is now possible to select font family from drop-down menu in Parameters and Tool Options (PR \ `#1432 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/1432>`__\, `#2355`_).
+- the list shows all fonts available in your system, so it is so easy to
+choose one now!
+
+|image12|
+
+Optimized Perspective Layer
+---------------------------
+
+The Warp Layer was completely rewritten and ported to the Cobra render
+engine. We also renamed it to Perspective Layer, as it sounds more
+intuitive for users.
+
+As result, the new Perspective Layer works much faster than the old Warp
+Layer (see \ `detailed report about speed
+tests <https://forums.synfig.org/t/please-help-with-testing-of-new-warp-layer/10687>`__\ )
+and also fixes some old nasty bugs (see issues
+\ `#318 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/318>`__\  and
+\ `#418 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/418>`__\ ).
+
+Some other improvements in Perspective Layer:
+
+-  Perspective Layer is rendered with simplifications when the workarea
+   uses Preview or Draft mode. This allows to achieve more than 3x speed
+   increase.
+-  Perspective Layer now has a new parameter - "Interpolation" - which
+   allows you to optimize quality for final Render.
+
+|image5|
+
+Reworked Plugins Infrastructure
+-------------------------------
+
+Now anyone with knowledge of Python language can write plugins which
+allows Synfig to export/import new formats and those formats will become
+available
+
+In this version the Plugins system was
+\ `improved <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/1313>`__\  to
+allow writing import/export functions using Python language. Now anyone
+with Python knowledge can extend Synfig’s capabilities to import or
+export new file formats!
+
+Such import/export plugins are not displayed in the regular “Plugins”
+menu, their functionality is available through “File -> Import” or “File
+-> Export” menu commands instead.
+
+With this change, the Lottie Exporter now called through “File ->
+Export” menu.
+
+|image6|
+
+As another notable example, you might want to check \ `this awesome
+plugin <https://forums.synfig.org/t/my-import-export-plugin-svg-telegram-sticker-lottie-dotlottie/10929>`__\ ,
+which adds capabilities for import/export of SVG, Telegram Animated
+Stickers (TGS) and Lottie (alternative implementation). The image below
+shows a sample “tiger.svg” file imported into Synfig using this plugin.
+
+|image7|
+
+For more information about the improved plugins system
+check \ `this
+documentation
+page <https://synfig.readthedocs.io/en/latest/plugins.html>`__\ .
+There are also relevant discussions
+\ `here <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/1289>`__\  and
+\ `here <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/1313>`__\ .
+
+Improvements for Import and Export
+----------------------------------
+
+Lottie Exporter now has new mode, which exports outlines without
+variable widths (see
+PR\ `  <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/1647>`__\ `#1647 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/1647>`__\ ).
+This greatly reduces the size of exported files and we advise to use it
+if your animation does not have outlines with variable widths.
+
+|image8|
+
+Import image dialog now has "Scale to fit canvas" option (PR
+\ `#1507 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/1507>`__\ ).
+
+|image9|
+
+"Import Sequence" function now allows to detect duplicate frames in
+image sequences. In case if a duplicate frame is detected it doesn’t put
+extra waypoint, which results in cleaner timeline and better
+readability.
+
+|image10|
+
+Synfig now capable to import TSV and XML file formats, generated
+by \ `Rhubarb Lip Sync <https://github.com/DanielSWolf/rhubarb-lip-sync>`__\  (see
+issue \ `#2169 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2169>`__\  for
+details). It works in the same way as Papagayo Lipsync import, shown
+in \ `this
+video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3D-Y0Ox0cnlL4>`__\ .
+
+|image11|
+
+AnimatedFile Converter got support for more data types - String, Angle
+(degrees), Bool, Integer, Real, Time and Vector. This is useful for
+cases when you have animation data (like object coordinates along time)
+generated by another software and you wish to use that data in Synfig.
+See
+issue \ `#2211 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2211>`__\  for
+details.
+
+Usability Improvements
+----------------------
+
+New option for Onion Skin allows to choose between Keyframes and Frames (`#2166`_).
+
+|image20|
+
+Now it is possible to create a new vertex on a Spline with double-click (`#2312`_).
+
+In this version it is possible to merge/split tangents for multiple
+vertices. See \ `issue
+#2010 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2010>`__\  for
+details.
+
+|image13|
+
+Now it is possible to set the number of rendering threads from
+Preferences dialog
+(\ `#1999 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/1999>`__\ ).
+
+|image14|
+
+Eyedropper Tool now has the ability to select fill color using
+Ctrl+click.
+
+|image15|
+
+Added possibility to stop rendering process.
+
+|image16|
+
+Icon themes
+-----------
+
+Now it is possible to change icon theme for Synfig Studio. Icon set
+(theme) can be placed in a folder inside “share/synfig/icons/” path (eg.
+share/synfig/icons/new-theme-folder) and then activated by setting the
+SYNFIG\_ICON\_THEME environment variable (eg.
+SYNFIG\_ICON\_THEME=new-theme-folder). See \ `PR
+#1483 <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/1483>`__\  for
+details.
+
+|image17|
+
+Please notice that this is just a first step in ongoing work on
+implementing theming support for Synfig Studio. You can check \ `this
+discussion <https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/1458>`__\  for
+details.
+
+CMake build system
+------------------
+
+This version introduces the possibility to build Synfig using CMake.
+Although this build method is not yet suitable for creating packages, it
+greatly simplifies the build process for those who wish to compile
+Synfig for development or testing purposes. Please check \ `this
+documentation
+page <https://synfig-docs-dev.readthedocs.io/en/latest/building/Building%2520Synfig.html>`__\  for
+instructions.
+
+.. |image0| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image15.png
+.. |image1| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image18.png
+.. |image2| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image6.png
+.. |image3| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image13.png
+.. |image4| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image8.png
+.. |image5| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image10.png
+.. |image6| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image2.png
+.. |image7| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image9.png
+.. |image8| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image7.png
+.. |image9| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image14.png
+.. |image10| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image-sequence-duplicates.png
+.. |image11| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image1.png
+.. |image12| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image4.png
+.. |image13| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image16.png
+.. |image14| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image11.png
+.. |image15| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image12.png
+.. |image16| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image3.png
+.. |image17| image:: 1.6.0_dat/image17.png
+.. |image18| image:: 1.6.0_dat/text-layer-rewritten.png
+.. |image19| image:: 1.6.0_dat/text-rtl-option.png
+.. |image20| image:: 1.6.0_dat/onionskin.png
+
+.. _#2362: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2362
+.. _#2232: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2232
+.. _#631: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/631
+.. _#389: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/389
+.. _#831: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/831
+.. _#1566: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/1566
+.. _#2355: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2355
+.. _#2166: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2166
+.. _#2308: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2308
+.. _#2312: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2312
+.. _#2357: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2357
+.. _#2289: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2289
+.. _#2301: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2301
+.. _#2354: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2354
+.. _#2309: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2309
+.. _#2329: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2329
+.. _#2317: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2317
+.. _#2320: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2320
+.. _#2366: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2366
+.. _#2350: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2350
+.. _#2332: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2332
+.. _#2314: https://github.com/synfig/synfig/issues/2314