Does it help Spritato to read PSDs that use fancier Photoshop features if you save the PSD in compatibility mode? That stores a bitmap for each layer in the PSD, so Spritato may be able to work.

I think this could help if it is a text layer other layer don't get to know. For adjustment layer, unfortunately, saving in compatibility mode does not auto apply them to the normal layers down below. The only work around is to encapsulate them into SmartObject or merge them directly to normal layer.

We are also unhappy with the current state of the Spine export scripts. We don't like that Photoshop is the script with the most features. We also don't like that the Photoshop script is so slow. There is a way to make it faster, but it's difficult, makes the code messy, requires rewriting the script which is a lot of work, may not work as well with older Photoshop versions, and even after all that it still doesn't help with the first issue: we don't want to force Spine users to use Photoshop.

Agree. It sucks when I only use CSP to draw but require me to have PS to do the export. The best case is to have full control of the export tool without depending on any other software like Photoshop not just because it require a monthly fee but Photoshop also limited what can be done. That's why, I decided to do it from ground up. Since I got full control of the app, I can do whatever I want when writing the app. The reason I could get the export speed so fast is because I could make use of many optimization techniques which is not possible when running a script inside Photoshop.

Beside export speed, I created the tools primarily for the Pixel Adjustment Layer feature which is very cool.
It solved an annoying export scenario that I feature requested a year ago ( Just an idea about a new tag for the PS export script ). When a normal layer of any kind of blend mode is placed across different attachments, I just need to tag that layer as pixel adjustment and it will be treated like a adjustment layer. It will auto merge with the attachments below it. This feature save me a lot of time when dealing with the export. I think it can also be done in the export script too.

As an alternative, we are considering having Spine process a folder of images. The images would come from an image editor script, but it would be very simple, only saving a full frame image for each layer and keeping the "groups" as a directory structure. Spine would see tag names in the image file names and process them similar to the Photoshop script, trim the images, and write the new images elsewhere. This means each image editor script doesn't need to do so much, as all image editors could benefit from using tags.

It will only work for some drawing software. For an instance, the Clip Studio Paint I use don't even have the option to export each layers as standalone image. The only way is to save to PSD because the (.clip) file format they use don't even have a file specification available.

Nate wrote

it may be much easier to get them to add exporting layers to full frame images.

Did you forget that you need extra information to recreate the result? :smirk:
At least you need to know the blend mode used for each exported layers which is not saved inside the png file. Not to mention any folder mask clipping is also lost because it does not export to anything.

Hi TheWorst, Thank you for trying out the app.
Let's me response to the issues one by one.

1- The software automatically hides folders with the [ignore] tag, so you need to make sure your source file has none before opening it into Spritato;

You can open the setting dialog (via menu or just press F3) and turn off "Skip loading layers with [ignore] tag". It is on by default to increase performance.

2- For the love of me, I couldn't get the "origin setup" feature to work. I can visualize the custom origin on the canvas, but it always imports it at 0,0 (default);

I actually got this bug fixed yesterday. You can update to the latest version (1.0.25) via Microsoft Store. I also added update notification in the latest version. The next time when there is a new version, users will get notified.

3- GUI makes impossible to edit path once set. So if for whichever reason you need to change it, there's no other way but to restart Spritato;

Oops. I am going to fix this...Didn't expect this to happen.

4- Black font on a Dark theme is...Just don't (and is there a way to change it, anyway);

This is the 1st time I saw this happen. I wonder it is related the color theme of the windows OS. Is your windows running in light mode? I am using dark mode all the time so this could be related. Anyway, I am going to fix color in the next version.

Thank you for your feedback.

Just a tip for CSP user, don't forget to set the profile in setting dialog from "Photoshop" to "Clip Studio Paint" if you use Hue/Sat/Lum adjustment layer in the file. Normally even if you save your work in PSD and export in Photoshop, some color could be off from the original color you see in CSP. This is because their calculation of Hue/Sat/Lum filter is different. In this case, Spritato is producing more accurate color for PSD saved in CSP when you choose the right profile. 8)

@[deleted]

Version 1.0.26 is live with the text color and export dialog issues fixed.

Btw, I also noticed one weird thing from Microsoft Store. I try to update my app from another PC via MS store. Although it looks like to have downloaded from the store UI, it actually didn't get installed. I have to uninstall the app completely and reinstall it from the MS Store to have it to update to the latest version. :confused: I don't know if this is also happening to other user. Thus after update, please check the version from top menu [ About | Version Information ] to see if it is really the latest version.

However, i know this is not gonna fall in the "constructive critique" ballpark, but I gotta tell you this: do yourself a favor and dump MS store. Seriously, I guess even itch.io would be a better place to share your gem with the world. Because yes:

Its good to know anything that can improve the situation. Unfortunately, Spritato is developed based on the UWP (Universal Windows Platform) SDK, which means it is tied to the Microsoft Store. The work to detach it from MS Store could be huge. :tear: I am contacting their staff asking about the update issue and still waiting for their response. I hope this is just something that I did wrong causing the update to fail as this is the first time I made and published an UWP app. I do agree that the experience of using MS Store is not very good.

Not sure this is due to the "free trial" nature of my version, but the way MS store deals with the whole installing process is "shady", to say the least: no progress bar, no "done installing" prompt, nothing.

It should not be related to the free trial nature. :think: I am also just installing the free trial from my other PC.
Can you tell me more exactly what you mean you couldn't install the app anymore?
It there a warning message saying that you cannot install the app or is there an error pop up with an error code?
Normally, once you uninstalled the app via "Add or Remove programs", there should be no issue to install it again from MS Store. It should just be like installing a new app.

- install on my devices > selected my PC > Install now > Thank you! We’re attempting to install on your selected device(s) > clicked "OK" > nothing happens;

It sounds different from what I see. Is that you are using the website version of MS Store?

If you use the MS Store app right from the Windows start menu,

you should be able to see something like this image:

and you just need to click the [ Install Trial ] button. No need to select device or anything.

:grinteeth:

@[deleted]
I can still found it from MS Store in my PC and the page (https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/spritato/9N7S13TC32QJ?hl=en-us&gl=us) is also showing correctly. I don't know why it doesn't show up in your store.

Btw, if you just want to skip the Adobe subscription fee and use the official export script, you can also consider using the Adobe Photoshop Elements version which don't require a monthly free. It just that it require the user to drag the script to the application to initiate the export which is not as convenient as the subscription version but it still works the last time I tried it (~ year ago before I wrote Spritato).

@[deleted]
Can you help me lock this thread and let it sink? move it to Off-Topic sub forum is also fine.
I don't want it to occupy any space on the Editor sub-forum.