UI BUG: Icons in the property editor "flicker" when you hover them or click on them #78110

New Issue

Chingiz Jumagulov · 2020-06-21T21:20:24+02:00

Chingiz Jumagulov commented

2020-06-21 21:20:24 +02:00

System Information
Operating system: Windows 10, 64 bits
Graphics card: Geforce 1080 8gb, Geforce 1070 8gb

Blender Version
Broken: blender-2.90.0-874af5301cdf-windows64
Worked: 2.83.0 LTS

Short description of error

Icons in the property editor annoyingly flicker, they change border thickness 1-2 pixels upon hovering over or clicking on them.

Thin:

Then they get thicker:

It's very visible if you use Icon border settings in your theme and many monochrome themes dop use that setting, because not everyone wants to see distracting rainbow colors in their UI.

Exact steps for others to reproduce the error

Go to Blender Preference, Themes.
Open Icon colors tab and set icon border to 1.
Essentially use any bright theme as it is very visible when your theme is bright and icons have borders.

Hover over icons in the property editor, see the flickering.

Here's the video of the bug:

2020-06-22 01-18-44.mp4

**System Information** Operating system: Windows 10, 64 bits Graphics card: Geforce 1080 8gb, Geforce 1070 8gb **Blender Version** Broken: blender-2.90.0-874af5301cdf-windows64 Worked: 2.83.0 LTS **Short description of error** Icons in the property editor annoyingly flicker, they change border thickness 1-2 pixels upon hovering over or clicking on them. Thin: ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8635499/image.png) Then they get thicker: ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8635502/image.png) It's very visible if you use Icon border settings in your theme and many monochrome themes dop use that setting, because not everyone wants to see distracting rainbow colors in their UI. **Exact steps for others to reproduce the error** Go to Blender Preference, Themes. Open Icon colors tab and set icon border to 1. Essentially use any bright theme as it is very visible when your theme is bright and icons have borders. ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8635505/image.png) Hover over icons in the property editor, see the flickering. Here's the video of the bug: [2020-06-22 01-18-44.mp4](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8635515/2020-06-22_01-18-44.mp4)

Chingiz Jumagulov commented

2020-06-21 21:20:24 +02:00

Added subscriber: @MeshVoid

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-06-23 23:26:55 +02:00

Added subscriber: @mano-wii

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-06-23 23:26:55 +02:00

I cannot reproduce this with the current development versions of Blender:

Please try the latest daily build: https://builder.blender.org/download/

I cannot reproduce this with the current development versions of Blender: Please try the latest daily build: https://builder.blender.org/download/

Chingiz Jumagulov commented

2020-06-24 07:40:27 +02:00

It's the same issue hapenning again for me with the latest versions of Blender while it's not present in Blender 2.83 LTS. Maybe, to make things easier, apply my theme to test it out, it is quite visible there. Here: purgatory_v3.xml

It's the same issue hapenning again for me with the latest versions of Blender while it's not present in Blender 2.83 LTS. Maybe, to make things easier, apply my theme to test it out, it is quite visible there. Here: [purgatory_v3.xml](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8640087/purgatory_v3.xml)

Richard Antalik commented

2020-06-24 14:26:47 +02:00

Added subscriber: @iss

Richard Antalik commented

2020-06-24 14:26:48 +02:00

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Needs User Info'

Richard Antalik commented

2020-06-24 14:26:48 +02:00

Can't confirm either, even with theme file.

Can you revert preferences to factory defaults and then switch to your theme to double check?

Can't confirm either, even with theme file. Can you revert preferences to factory defaults and then switch to your theme to double check?

Chingiz Jumagulov commented

2020-06-24 21:13:35 +02:00

In #78110#964246, @iss wrote:
Can't confirm either, even with theme file.

Can you revert preferences to factory defaults and then switch to your theme to double check?

Yeah, you're right it helped. BUT. After thorough investigation and reverting settings back and forth I found out that the issue was particularly in a startup blend file created in 2.83. Moreover, every file that has been created in 2.83 version has this flickering with my theme applied in 2.90. So I guess this is still a bug? Weirdly, every new blend file created in 2.90 doesn't have that flickering. Is it a problem of old blend file compatibility? I don't know. If someone curious to investigate here's the file:

startup.blend

So basically to replicate apply my theme, open the file and click on properties icons and hover over them. Or try opening old 2.83 blend files with my theme applied and repeat the above-mentioned activities to see the flickering. It's weird really.

> In #78110#964246, @iss wrote: > Can't confirm either, even with theme file. > > Can you revert preferences to factory defaults and then switch to your theme to double check? Yeah, you're right it helped. BUT. After thorough investigation and reverting settings back and forth I found out that the issue was particularly in a startup blend file created in 2.83. Moreover, **every file** that has been created in 2.83 version has this flickering with my theme applied in 2.90. So I guess this is still a bug? Weirdly, every new blend file created in 2.90 doesn't have that flickering. Is it a problem of old blend file compatibility? I don't know. If someone curious to investigate here's the file: [startup.blend](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8641157/startup.blend) So basically to replicate apply my theme, open the file and click on properties icons and hover over them. Or try opening old 2.83 blend files with my theme applied and repeat the above-mentioned activities to see the flickering. It's weird really.

Richard Antalik commented

2020-06-25 10:43:29 +02:00

Can you share steps (minimum possible) one need to do to create this flickering?

Though I don't see any flickering with provided blend file and theme.

Can you start blender from command line blender.exe --debug-events and see if there are some events when mouse is static and icons are flickering?
You did not specify GPU driver, can you update it and see if that helps?

Can you share steps (minimum possible) one need to do to create this flickering? Though I don't see any flickering with provided blend file and theme. Can you start blender from command line `blender.exe --debug-events` and see if there are some events when mouse is static and icons are flickering? You did not specify GPU driver, can you update it and see if that helps?

Richard Antalik commented

2020-06-25 10:54:20 +02:00

Added subscriber: @JulianEisel

Richard Antalik commented

2020-06-25 10:54:20 +02:00

Actually mouse move is not printed with debug-events argument so you will likely see nothing anyway. I am not really sure what could cause this. @JulianEisel any idea?

Chingiz Jumagulov commented

2020-06-25 19:21:50 +02:00

Hi! I have updated NVIDIA drivers to the latest versions released in the last couple of days and still have the same issue and I'm not sure if it's GPU driver issue. I know it's not a game-breaking bug, and I can live with it, but at this moment I am just curious to understand the issue and why it happens.

Here's the full video where you can see what's happening it's a bit lengthy tho. 1- I open today's blender release (running it through cmd debug mode), 2- reset everything to default values, and then check icons. They behave correctly as they should, because it is 2.90 startup file now. 3- I apply the theme and check again, it's still okay. 4- I open blend files created with previous blender versions (2,82 and 2,83) and icons flicker then. It's clearly visible in the video. I know it's probably not a high-priority bug/behavior, but it's still kinda weird UX thingie.

2020-06-25 23-05-31.mp4

P.S. Debug log:

Debug_Log.txt

Hi! I have updated NVIDIA drivers to the latest versions released in the last couple of days and still have the same issue and I'm not sure if it's GPU driver issue. I know it's not a game-breaking bug, and I can live with it, but at this moment I am just curious to understand the issue and why it happens. Here's the full video where you can see what's happening it's a bit lengthy tho. 1- I open today's blender release (running it through cmd debug mode), 2- reset everything to default values, and then check icons. They behave correctly as they should, because it is 2.90 startup file now. 3- I apply the theme and check again, it's still okay. 4- I open blend files created with previous blender versions (2,82 and 2,83) and icons flicker then. It's clearly visible in the video. I know it's probably not a high-priority bug/behavior, but it's still kinda weird UX thingie. [2020-06-25 23-05-31.mp4](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8643944/2020-06-25_23-05-31.mp4) P.S. Debug log: [Debug_Log.txt](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8643941/Debug_Log.txt)

Chingiz Jumagulov commented

2020-06-29 09:56:38 +02:00

Changed status from 'Needs User Info' to: 'Needs Developer To Reproduce'

Chingiz Jumagulov commented

2020-07-08 07:24:24 +02:00

Okay, upon further use of 2.90, I have understood that this flickering appears always with any theme with icon borders set to 1. It starts appearing randomly after using some functions in blender and is independent from file versions. Clean installs don't really help, as flickering appears again after a brief period of using various Blender functionality. Truly a weird bug, I have turned off icon borders in all the themes I use just not to experience this flickering for now and will wait for other users to confirm, maybe someone will be able to replicate it more consistently.

Julian Eisel commented

2020-07-08 10:41:16 +02:00

Glitches like this may also be caused by Add-ons not resetting OpenGL state properly. So is it possible that it appears after activating a specific add-on and using features of it?

Also, are you using a hiDPI screen?

Glitches like this may also be caused by Add-ons not resetting OpenGL state properly. So is it possible that it appears after activating a specific add-on and using features of it? Also, are you using a hiDPI screen?

Chingiz Jumagulov commented

2020-07-08 13:56:34 +02:00

Hi! I think I finally got to the bottom of it. No, this flickering is not related to addons, because even when I do a clean install with no addons it is still there.

After numerous attempts, I think I found a missing step that you need to do to replicate that flickering! Yaaay! :-)

With a theme that I provided or any other theme that uses icon border value 1, you need to start switching workspaces. Flickering won't appear when you're in your initial Blender's startup Layout workspace, but when you apply the theme and switch to Modeling workspace and other workspaces like Sculpting, Shading, etc. it is there (At the same time it won't Flicker in Layout, Compositing workspaces). Here's the video where I startup Blender 2.90 with no preferences, addons and then apply my theme with icon borders value set to 1, in Layout mode there's no flickering, but as soon as you switch to Modeling it appears.

2020-07-08 17-41-26.mp4

So the steps to replicate the flickering effect would be to:

1 - Start with clean blender 2.90
2 - Apply the supplied theme, or just apply any theme with Icon borders set to 1
3 - Start switching workspaces to Modeling workspace and then press icons in preferences as shown in the video
4 - Witness this weird bug :-))

P.S. As for monitors I have 3 of them, 2 standard super old 1080p full HD SDR monitors and an old wacom cintiq13hd, I think if it was an issue with a monitor it wouldn't pop-up after changing workspaces in Blender? Or can it, I don't know. I have tried plugging off all monitors but one and can still replicate the bug after a restart.

Hi! I think I finally got to the bottom of it. No, this flickering is not related to addons, because even when I do a clean install with no addons it is still there. After numerous attempts, I think I found a missing step that you need to do to replicate that flickering! Yaaay! :-) With a theme that I provided or any other theme that uses **icon border value 1**, you need to start **switching workspaces**. Flickering won't appear when you're in your initial Blender's startup **Layout workspace**, but when you apply the theme and switch to **Modeling workspace** and other workspaces like Sculpting, Shading, etc. it is there (At the same time it won't Flicker in Layout, Compositing workspaces). Here's the video where I startup Blender 2.90 with no preferences, addons and then apply my theme with icon borders value set to 1, in Layout mode there's no flickering, but as soon as you switch to Modeling it appears. [2020-07-08 17-41-26.mp4](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8678085/2020-07-08_17-41-26.mp4) **So the steps to replicate the flickering effect would be to:** 1 - Start with clean blender 2.90 2 - Apply the supplied theme, or just apply any theme with Icon borders set to 1 3 - Start switching workspaces to Modeling workspace and then press icons in preferences as shown in the video 4 - Witness this weird bug :-)) P.S. As for monitors I have 3 of them, 2 standard super old 1080p full HD SDR monitors and an old wacom cintiq13hd, I think if it was an issue with a monitor it wouldn't pop-up after changing workspaces in Blender? Or can it, I don't know. I have tried plugging off all monitors but one and can still replicate the bug after a restart.

Hans Goudey commented

2020-07-08 14:46:04 +02:00

Added subscriber: @HooglyBoogly

Hans Goudey commented

2020-07-08 14:46:04 +02:00

I tried that by duplicating the Blender Light theme and setting the icon borders to 1 on Linux with a Nvidia GTX 1080 and didn't see that same flickering, but I think I did see something.

1	2	3
{F8678158 size=full}	{F8678161 size=full}	{F8678163 size=full}

Mouse outside of tab panel
Mouse moving to the tab panel, on a single pixel boundary before it highlights a single tab
Mouse inside the tab panel

I tried that by duplicating the Blender Light theme and setting the icon borders to 1 on Linux with a Nvidia GTX 1080 and didn't see that same flickering, but I think I did see something. |1|2|3| | -- | -- | -- | |{[F8678158](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8678158/Screenshot_from_2020-07-08_08-39-58.png) size=full}|{[F8678161](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8678161/Screenshot_from_2020-07-08_08-40-03.png) size=full}|{[F8678163](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8678163/Screenshot_from_2020-07-08_08-40-06.png) size=full} 1. Mouse outside of tab panel 2. Mouse moving to the tab panel, on a single pixel boundary before it highlights a single tab 3. Mouse inside the tab panel

Chingiz Jumagulov commented

2020-07-09 07:04:33 +02:00

In #78110#975293, @HooglyBoogly wrote:
I tried that by duplicating the Blender Light theme and setting the icon borders to 1 on Linux with a Nvidia GTX 1080 and didn't see that same flickering, but I think I did see something.
|1|2|3|
|{F8678158 size=full}|{F8678161 size=full}|{F8678163 size=full}

Mouse outside of tab panel

Mouse moving to the tab panel, on a single pixel boundary before it highlights a single tab

Mouse inside the tab panel

This is probably the same thing. The "Flickering" appears when I click on the icons or hover over them (in the video I basically click on the icons multiple times to show the effect), so I guess it is the same thing you're experiencing.

> In #78110#975293, @HooglyBoogly wrote: > I tried that by duplicating the Blender Light theme and setting the icon borders to 1 on Linux with a Nvidia GTX 1080 and didn't see that same flickering, but I think I did see something. > |1|2|3| > |{[F8678158](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8678158/Screenshot_from_2020-07-08_08-39-58.png) size=full}|{[F8678161](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8678161/Screenshot_from_2020-07-08_08-40-03.png) size=full}|{[F8678163](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8678163/Screenshot_from_2020-07-08_08-40-06.png) size=full} > 1. Mouse outside of tab panel > 2. Mouse moving to the tab panel, on a single pixel boundary before it highlights a single tab > 3. Mouse inside the tab panel This is probably the same thing. The "Flickering" appears when I click on the icons or hover over them (in the video I basically click on the icons multiple times to show the effect), so I guess it is the same thing you're experiencing.

Richard Antalik commented

2020-11-26 23:59:58 +01:00

@MeshVoid I am looking at older reports, is this still an issue? Or have anything changed?

Philipp Oeser removed the

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UI BUG: Icons in the property editor "flicker" when you hover them or click on them #78110