Preview of version 0.3

Hello all,

I want to thank all of you that helped me to make this program what it is now by testing it or giving me great suggestions, especially the guys from the IrfanView forum.
With your help we will have a very useful tool for webdesigners or enthusiasts, clean, simple, yet powerful and effective – and first of all – FREE.

Here are as I promised some screenshots with the upcoming version – 0.3

This new version adds interesting interface changes as well as the ability to automatically store program options on exit.
In the center toolbar a new function: in place compare (allows to display the original image over the optimized image to see small pixel changes as long as you keep this button pressed)
Automatic preview checkbox is in the menu now.

The metadata options are moved from the format specific options to a separate tab now.

The new version 0.3 has several options to handle transparency.
An issue has been identified with the way RIOT converts files with alpha transparency to 24 bit.
Alpha is discarded when converting to 24 bits. All transparent pixels are set to opaque. This may lead to unexpected results when converting alpha transparent PNGs to JPEG or when using color quantization.

In the future versions from branch 0.3 alpha compositing will be used and a matte color can be chosen.

Some parameters will be set using an Options dialog.

For the options I was thinking about these:

• remember last settings checkbox (default unchecked) – leaves the user find his last settings
• auxiliary data from original filename: ask to import / discard
  When used as plugin the image is sent as DIB that is not containing any other informations than RGBA pixels. Unfortunatelly IrfanView does not use 32 bit data, only 24 – and the transparency is not sent. If a file exists, metadata, transparency and ICC profile from original file will be imported if the program is set to do it.
• checkbox: ask first to resample pictures with a resolution greater than (enables a text edit) : 1..20 Megapixels
• checkbox: automatically check for program updates

There will be no suport for skins so this would be the only RIOT look.

I am waiting for your comments. I also would highly appreciate contributions for an unique logo/icon and the program documentation.