Temporary Solution of the UI for 4K Displays

[amirvf]

To make the applications 4K Friendly there are generally two available solutions:
1. Optimization of the UI by the "Application"
2. Optimization of the UI by the "Operating System"

At the moment, the available UI in XYplorer is not fully compatible with 4K displays and I believe it takes some time for the developer to redefine a fully compatible template for 4K displays. Meanwhile, the second option comes in handy which is the UI handling by "Operating System".

Earlier, Microsoft Windows 10 had a lot of issues regarding the adjustments of UI for 4k displays. As it was virtually useless, I had not tried it for the last few months. Today, after several recent 4k display issues, I gave the second option another try and I was surprised by Microsoft's new improvements on UI enhancements. After the adjustments, now I have an amazing XYplorer UI in 4k which is Crystal Clear, Sharp, and with Excellent Button & Menu Sizes.

Here are the steps to resolve the issue through Microsoft Windows 10:
1. Set the size of text, apps, and other items to 250% which is the recommended value for 4k displays. Settings could be found here:

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Settings > System > Display

2. Locate the shortcut of XYplorer. The default location of the shortcut is here:

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C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\XYplorer

3. Select System (Enhanced) from the dropdown list here:

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Properties > Compatibility > Change Settings for all users > Change high DPI settings > High DPI scaling override > Override high DPI scaling behavior. Scaling performed by: System (Enhanced)

4. Restart XYplorer. Adjust all size settings from the scratch. Now you will notice that everything is scaled properly and you need to revert your previous upsizings in XYplorer. For example, toolbar buttons at Large (32×32) look quite fine now. But earlier, toolbar buttons even at Extra Large (64×64) looked quite small.

Note: If you set your button sizes to Extra Large (64x64), they will be large enough, but at a low resolution. The reason behind this is the low resolution of default icon sizes in the database. I recommend the inclusion of higher resolution of default icons in the database which results in crystal clear and sharp icons at Extra Large (64x64) size in 4k displays.

Here is a comparison of my custom buttons (with icons in 512 Pixels x 512 Pixels) and default buttons (with icons in 64 Pixels x 64 Pixels) at Extra Large (64x64) button size:

Toolbar.jpg (270.72 KiB) Viewed 4187 times

[admin]

I recommend the inclusion of higher resolution of default icons in the database which results in crystal clear and sharp icons at Extra Large (64x64) size in 4k displays.

That would be great. But it's too many buttons. Maybe if the winter lockdown is enough I find the time...

[amirvf]

I recommend the inclusion of higher resolution of default icons in the database which results in crystal clear and sharp icons at Extra Large (64x64) size in 4k displays.

That would be great. But it's too many buttons. Maybe if the winter lockdown is enough I find the time...

You could pass them to me. I'll send you high resolution version.

[admin]

See attached image. These are all the buttons and some other stuff (I already created some space at the bottom for higher resolution versions but never found the time to make them). I wonder how you will do that.

[amirvf]

See attached image. These are all the buttons and some other stuff (I already created some space at the bottom for higher resolution versions but never found the time to make them). I wonder how you will do that.

Should they be all in a single PNG?

[WirlyWirly]

@amirvf

I don't know what the process would look like to make these icons larger, but if you need help I'll pitch in. I'm looking to upgrade to a 4k screen soon so this will also be affecting me eventually.

I've got experience with Photoshop if that matters.

[admin]

See attached image. These are all the buttons and some other stuff (I already created some space at the bottom for higher resolution versions but never found the time to make them). I wonder how you will do that.

Should they be all in a single PNG?

They will be finally. But it does not matter much to me if they come one by one. It's no big deal to join them finally.

So you really want to try it? Is that manual work or do you have some software support?

[amirvf]

See attached image. These are all the buttons and some other stuff (I already created some space at the bottom for higher resolution versions but never found the time to make them). I wonder how you will do that.

Should they be all in a single PNG?

They will be finally. But it does not matter much to me if they come one by one. It's no big deal to join them finally.

So you really want to try it? Is that manual work or do you have some software support?

No. I'm doing manually. I have already grouped similar icons. 1024×1024 is fine? Maybe sometime you need to work to make the app 8k friendly

[amirvf]

See attached image. These are all the buttons and some other stuff (I already created some space at the bottom for higher resolution versions but never found the time to make them). I wonder how you will do that.

Should they be all in a single PNG?

They will be finally. But it does not matter much to me if they come one by one. It's no big deal to join them finally.

So you really want to try it? Is that manual work or do you have some software support?

I did the arrow section and sent you the images. Let me know your feedback.

[admin]

Wow, that was fast!

But wait a minute! I have a better idea. You know, I'm extremely picky with graphics, and it's virtually impossible satisfy me. But there is a hidden feature (not in the Help file) that I had almost forgotten about, that offers the perfect solution: You can patch the toolbar images already now! That way everybody can make his own images, in any crazy resolution she wants, and you could even make the whole package and sell it! I'll post a screenshot later... just need more coffee now...

[admin]

OK, here we go.

Toolbar-96x96.png (471 KiB) Viewed 4098 times

For demo purposes I defined two patch images, each 400x400 pixels, one JPG and one PNG (with transparency), and named them in a way so that they are used by particular toolbar buttons: I prefixed the button keys "dice." and "sync.". And I stretched the toolbar by factor 4 using Ctrl+Shift+Wheel, and you can clearly see the blurry ugliness of the native buttons and the beautiful sharpness of the patched buttons.

I placed those patch images in a subfolder of the application data folder (which in this instance happens to have the name "appdata_screenshots"; normally it's just "appdata"). That subfolder I called "Patch".

Now the last thing to do to make it work is to tweak this INI key and set it to "Patch" (or to whatever you called that subfolder):
PatchImagesPath=Patch
(BTW, it does not have to be a subfolder of the application data folder, you can also use a full path pointing to any location.)

[amirvf]

That's a very good idea. I'll take a look at this patch and tweak and let you know.
Did you try the PNGs I sent you? Assign them to the toolbar button, stretch the toolbar to 4-6x and compare the graphics with default icons.

[admin]

I saw your images, thank you. You came pretty close to the originals! I'm sure they look sharp (did not have to try it).

[amirvf]

I saw your images, thank you. You came pretty close to the originals! I'm sure they look sharp (did not have to try it).

Yes. I tried to simulate the original icons and color codes. Your suggestion is very good.

I think it's the best we prepare a high resolution icon set as default, included in the default theme. Then, additional icon packs could be developed by users, graphic designers, etc. to enhance the flavor of app for geeks.

Additionally, you could make a template for icon packs for graphic designers so they could prepare the icons in a standard zip file. Then you add a menu in the UI so regular users could easily upload their icon packs (either purchased or downloaded from forum).

You could also add a section in the forum, so users could share their own XY icon packs.

[admin]

Yes, there are possibilities. But note that I get very few complaints about the icons at the moment. 4K is only just beginning.