Version: (using KDE KDE 3.5.8) Installed from: Gentoo Packages OS: Linux Next to the existing concepts of Albums, Tags, Dates and Search operations, I would like to propose to add 'Prints' to the list. A 'Print' could be defined as a set of printing settings associated with one or more images in the image collection. The set of settings is sufficiently complete to allow the user to create an exact reproduction of an existing print, made several months ago. From the user point of view, a 'Print' is simply a virtual piece of paper that you can turn into a real piece of paper any time you want. The set of settings that make a 'Print' should be settings like: * Which images from the database are on the print * The size and position of each of the prints (in a grid for instance) * The unsharp masking settings that should be applied to the image prior to printing * The color management settings used * Which printer was used * Printer settings used (DPI, paper size, margins, driver settings) * An overlay transparancy, containing the name of the photographer, copyright, watermark and so on * User notes, like the type of paper used. Some sort of print editor is needed to create and adjust the 'Prints' in the database.
Couldn't this sort of task solved by extended KROSS backend?
Also there are two way how to print - use my own printer and some minilab. In case, that You use minilab, You have to send at least some count of photos to get better price, free shipping etc. So we have to define some ?tags? with appendable values, like photo9x13 - 2 pcs, photo30x45 - 1 piece, opaque paper. In preferencies should be possible to define how many pieces of photo You have to print to get reasonable price and if the tag is attached in this count of occurences, digikam should ask about sending photos to minilab. Now should start some photo upload wizard, which is other bug/issue. After the photos are send to minilab, the tag should be changed to value like "Printed on 2007-11-17", this prevents from ordering photos next time and also makes easier to find printed photos in archive. This issue is very similiar to the text above. Also the tags can be very similiar, except the values array, which is for minilab different. But if You are printing 4 photos on one A4 paper, it will be useful to have prepared count which can be divided by 4. There is definietly need to be able to display all photos ready for print over all the albums.
Minilab printing/management is rather task for kipi-plugin. Too many settings specific for one place. Compare it with flickr upload and other similar services.
This file can be closed with this kind of workflow : 1/ use color labels. Define one color to use with item to print. Color lable are free to use as you want. A view is dedicated to sort items by color labels. There are 10 color labels ready to use. item tagged with color labels are visible also on isocn view with a colored frame about the thumbnail. 2/ use the new Print Creator tool from digiKam core. This one provide standard page layout to print items together and can be easily customized without to recompile the application : XML data files a used to declare new layout. 3/ finaly, you generate PDF file to send to print web service. You can also of course send to your local printer. Gilles Caulier
Note : I forget to said that Print Creator from digiKam core support color labels at item selection stage. So it's very easy to manage this wkind of workflow. Gilles Caulier