Outliner Collection Colors #77777

New Issue

Nathan Craddock · 2020-06-11T20:53:09+02:00

Nathan Craddock commented

2020-06-11 20:53:09 +02:00

Color coded collections are a frequently requested feature in the outliner. They help in visually grouping related collections. While this is a good idea, we still don't have a clear design. There are a few issues:

How to display the color? The simple solution is to highlight the row, but we already have 3+ row highlight colors and adding more would be confusing. Many good ideas have been proposed:
*https:blenderartists.org/t/outliner-layers-colors/1186538 https:*blender.community/c/rightclickselect/54fbbc/
*https:blender.community/c/rightclickselect/WYdbbc/ https:*blender.community/c/rightclickselect/8Pdbbc/
** https://blender.community/c/rightclickselect/VNdbbc/
How should the user pick the color? Supporting 8-10 color options would most likely be sufficient. The selection would likely happen from the context menu, but at the moment there are no submenus that allow picking a fixed set of colors.

Implementation

8-12 color options (alongside no color) could be selected from the context menu. These colors can be changed in the user preferences.

Currently the outliner draws hierarchy lines for objects but not collections. We can change this to draw the lines for collections, and color the lines to show the collection color for each item inside the collection. This is useful because it will be visible even when the parent collection item is not.

We will also draw the collection icon colored, or draw a roundrect behind the collection icon.

Coloring the collection would be preferred because drawing behind interferes with the active indicator. A different (filled) collection icon could make this more readable.

Long term:

Viewport overlay based on collection colors. This is a nice idea. One issue is that objects can be linked to multiple collections.
Object select by collection color
Outliner filter by collection color

Color coded collections are a frequently requested feature in the outliner. They help in visually grouping related collections. While this is a good idea, we still don't have a clear design. There are a few issues: * How to display the color? The simple solution is to highlight the row, but we already have 3+ row highlight colors and adding more would be confusing. Many good ideas have been proposed: **https:*blenderartists.org/t/outliner-layers-colors/1186538** https:*blender.community/c/rightclickselect/54fbbc/ **https:*blender.community/c/rightclickselect/WYdbbc/** https:*blender.community/c/rightclickselect/8Pdbbc/ ** https://blender.community/c/rightclickselect/VNdbbc/ * How should the user pick the color? Supporting 8-10 color options would most likely be sufficient. The selection would likely happen from the context menu, but at the moment there are no submenus that allow picking a fixed set of colors. --- ### Implementation 8-12 color options (alongside no color) could be selected from the context menu. These colors can be changed in the user preferences. Currently the outliner draws hierarchy lines for objects but not collections. We can change this to draw the lines for collections, and color the lines to show the collection color for each item inside the collection. This is useful because it will be visible even when the parent collection item is not. We will also draw the collection icon colored, or draw a roundrect behind the collection icon. | ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8664258/image.png) | ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8664273/image.png) | -- | -- | Coloring the collection would be preferred because drawing behind interferes with the active indicator. A different (filled) collection icon could make this more readable. --- **Long term:** * Viewport overlay based on collection colors. This is a nice idea. One issue is that objects can be linked to multiple collections. * Object select by collection color * Outliner filter by collection color

Nathan Craddock self-assigned this 2020-06-11 20:53:09 +02:00

Nathan Craddock commented

2020-06-11 20:53:09 +02:00

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Confirmed'

Nathan Craddock commented

2020-06-11 20:53:09 +02:00

Added subscriber: @natecraddock

Hans Goudey commented

2020-06-11 23:02:45 +02:00

Added subscriber: @HooglyBoogly

Hans Goudey commented

2020-06-11 23:02:45 +02:00

My personal favorite is coloring the collection icon. I'm not sure how feasible that is, but IMO it looks very elegant.

It would be great to have that color as a shading option in the viewport too, that could be saved for later though maybe.

My personal favorite is coloring the collection icon. I'm not sure how feasible that is, but IMO it looks very elegant. It would be great to have that color as a shading option in the viewport too, that could be saved for later though maybe.

Bartosz Moniewski commented

2020-06-28 01:59:51 +02:00

Added subscriber: @BartekMoniewski

Nathan Craddock changed title from ~~Outliner Collection Colors Design~~ to Outliner Collection Colors

2020-07-04 19:46:57 +02:00

Harley Acheson commented

2020-07-30 18:47:25 +02:00

Added subscriber: @Harley

Harley Acheson commented

2020-07-30 18:47:25 +02:00

Personally I'd like to see the icon we use for collections be changed to one that is filled so it can be drawn in various colors better. That way we still have the option of using an outer field to indicate some other status(es).

I'd also not include the relationship lines. Not only is it hard to get many arbitrary line colors looking good on arbitrary backgrounds, but I also just hate the relationship lines anyway. I'd like to see them gone entirely (except maybe the dashed lines we use for some occasions) since we also indicate relationships with indenting. I don't think many people agree with me here, but that is my preference.

Personally I'd like to see the icon we use for collections be *changed* to one that is **filled** so it can be drawn in various colors better. That way we still have the option of using an outer field to indicate some other status(es). I'd also not include the relationship lines. Not only is it hard to get many arbitrary line colors looking good on arbitrary backgrounds, but I also just hate the relationship lines anyway. I'd like to see them gone entirely (except maybe the dashed lines we use for some occasions) since we also indicate relationships with indenting. I don't think many people agree with me here, but that is my preference.

Nathan Craddock commented

2020-07-30 19:50:59 +02:00

Added subscribers: @WilliamReynish, @pablovazquez

Nathan Craddock commented

2020-07-30 19:50:59 +02:00

In #77777#987846, @Harley wrote:
Personally I'd like to see the icon we use for collections be changed to one that is filled so it can be drawn in various colors better. That way we still have the option of using an outer field to indicate some other status(es).

@Harley I'm also in favor of a filled collection icon. @WilliamReynish and I had some ideas for solving the roundrect collection colors and the active status roundrect, but those failed. I'll be addressing that soon.

I'd also not include the relationship lines. Not only is it hard to get many arbitrary line colors looking good on arbitrary backgrounds, but I also just hate the relationship lines anyway. I'd like to see them gone entirely (except maybe the dashed lines we use for some occasions) since we also indicate relationships with indenting. I don't think many people agree with me here, but that is my preference.

In the screenshot above I've actually rewritten the relationship lines, here is a comparison:

I find this simplified relationship lines to be a good balance between what we had before, and no lines at all. However, I'm also in favor of removing the lines, the outliner does use indentation to convey relations. The only downside to removing them is that they can convey the collection color when the collection is not visible. Still not critical though.

I'm curious to hear what @pablovazquez thinks here.

> In #77777#987846, @Harley wrote: > Personally I'd like to see the icon we use for collections be *changed* to one that is **filled** so it can be drawn in various colors better. That way we still have the option of using an outer field to indicate some other status(es). @Harley I'm also in favor of a filled collection icon. @WilliamReynish and I had some ideas for solving the roundrect collection colors and the active status roundrect, but those failed. I'll be addressing that soon. > I'd also not include the relationship lines. Not only is it hard to get many arbitrary line colors looking good on arbitrary backgrounds, but I also just hate the relationship lines anyway. I'd like to see them gone entirely (except maybe the dashed lines we use for some occasions) since we also indicate relationships with indenting. I don't think many people agree with me here, but that is my preference. In the screenshot above I've actually rewritten the relationship lines, here is a comparison: ![ol_hierarchy_lines_comp.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8731274/ol_hierarchy_lines_comp.png) I find this simplified relationship lines to be a good balance between what we had before, and no lines at all. However, I'm also in favor of removing the lines, the outliner does use indentation to convey relations. The only downside to removing them is that they can convey the collection color when the collection is not visible. Still not critical though. ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8731272/image.png) I'm curious to hear what @pablovazquez thinks here.

Pierre Schiller commented

2020-07-30 20:33:59 +02:00

Added subscriber: @PierreSchiller

Pierre Schiller commented

2020-07-30 20:33:59 +02:00

The relationship lines are the only "map" to something that resembles anything close to a "schematic" view. Just a glance and you can make sure your dynamic 26 hair bone chain is correctly parented early in production.
Relationship lines are a savior when doing drivers on bones as well (mechanical rigging).
No need to remove them.
As for the "filled icon collection", I think it would be a distraction to have a dispair "checkbox - checked" and a similar filled collection icon off right on the side.
It works well -ergonomically- to quickly land a checkmark on the only icon that has to appear "filled" when active (the checkbox).

The relationship lines are the only "map" to something that resembles anything close to a "schematic" view. Just a glance and you can make sure your dynamic 26 hair bone chain is correctly parented early in production. Relationship lines are a savior when doing drivers on bones as well (mechanical rigging). No need to remove them. As for the "filled icon collection", I think it would be a distraction to have a dispair "checkbox - checked" and a similar filled collection icon off right on the side. It works well -ergonomically- to quickly land a checkmark on the only icon that has to appear "filled" when active (the checkbox).

PawelP commented

2020-09-02 01:57:30 +02:00

Added subscriber: @Zuorion-4

Nathan Craddock commented

2020-09-19 22:54:41 +02:00

Changed status from 'Confirmed' to: 'Resolved'

Nathan Craddock closed this issue

2020-09-19 22:54:41 +02:00

Roel Koster commented

2020-09-21 10:04:47 +02:00

Added subscriber: @kostex

Roel Koster commented

2020-09-21 10:04:47 +02:00

please check your additions against the light theme..
I've tried to get your attention here already:
https://developer.blender.org/rB452a1c7b38383fd3f51532c429912677864e4a33

please check your additions against the light theme.. I've tried to get your attention here already: https://developer.blender.org/rB452a1c7b38383fd3f51532c429912677864e4a33

Diogo Valadares Reis dos Santos commented

2020-10-21 15:12:54 +02:00

Added subscriber: @Diogo_Valadares

Diogo Valadares Reis dos Santos commented

2020-10-21 15:12:54 +02:00

I don't know if I can comment it here but wouldn't it be better if instead of 8 fixed colors the user could select the color in a color wheel? and I don't know if this is because of my theme but the color 7 is the same as "no color" by default

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Outliner Collection Colors #77777

Implementation