DF Studio incorporates an extensive set of features into a subtle interface that devotes as much space as possible to showcasing the photography it is designed to support. The following overview outlines the placement and functionality of key interface elements. For configuration tips and tricks, see Customize the DF Studio Interface.
The Workspace
The majority of the DF Studio window is devoted to the workspace, which displays any item that is currently the main focus of work. A proofsheet grid of assets ordinarily occupies the workspace, but it can also feature a single asset, or a list of assets or other Library items.
Workspace View Options
Items in the workspace can be displayed in a number of ways. Click the icons in the view menu above the workspace area to switch between views.
Not all views are available in all contexts.
Files View presents items in a list, including details on the amount of storage being used (and, where applicable, whether Active Storage or Cold Storage is used). When displaying stored assets, files view also displays the individual uploaded files which are stored together for each stacked asset. Individual files can be downloaded from this view. The list can be sorted by clicking on the label at the top of any column.
List View shows items in a list, with details about the item within DF Studio (for example, the subject of a Project, the Setup assigned to an asset, or the date an item was created). The list can be sorted by clicking on the label at the top of any column. (When viewing a Project or Collection, this sort will persist when switching to thumbnails view.)
Column View displays the current folder and its contents in adjoining columns, while showing the rest of the upstream folder hierarchy in the same layout. This allows viewing and exploring the folder structure in its broader context, along with faster navigation between folders.
Icon View displays Projects, Collections, and Library folders as a grid of large icons, with the ability to sort or filter the display using menus in the menu bar at the top of the workspace area.
Thumbnails View presents assets in a grid of preview thumbnails, with a filename underneath each asset. If the select level interface is enabled, the select level of each asset will be indicated by a colored border around the preview (green for 1st Select, yellow for 2nd select, and red for Killed). Users with access to modify select levels will see the buttons to do so beneath the asset filename. Assets may be filtered using the menus in the menu bar at the top of the workspace area, and may be sorted by switching to list view and clicking on the label at the top of any column.
Large Thumbnails View is identical to thumbnails view, but uses larger preview images to provide more detail at a glance.
1-Up View occupies the entire workspace with the largest view of a single asset. Moving forward or backward in the proofsheet list to display additional assets in 1-Up View can be accomplished by clicking the navigational buttons at the top of the view, or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. For more details, see the section below devoted to 1-Up View.
The 2-Up Compare perspective displays the selected asset at a large size, alongside the next asset in the proofsheet for comparison. The comparison asset can be changed by using the navigational buttons at the top of the view, or using the arrow keys to navigate forward and backward. For more details, see the section below devoted to the 2-Up Compare.
Group Selector
When assets are viewed in a list or a thumbnail grid, they are broken into sections for faster navigation through the unified, continually scrollable list. The start of each section is indicated with a group header—the group selector at the right of each header can be used to skip directly to a particular section of the proofsheet with a single click.
Assets may be grouped by a variety of attributes. By default, assets are grouped into “pages” of 100 assets apiece. Use the Group menu to choose another attribute: Setups, select levels, or approval states.
Slideshow
Assets can also be presented in a full-screen slideshow interface by clicking the slideshow icon to the right of the view menu.
Outline Navigator
The Outline Navigator can be displayed along the left edge of a Project or Collection workspace view, providing a compact summary of its assets and enabling quick navigation to different areas of the content. Its appearance can be customized to provide the most relevant information to the current workflow.
For more information, see DF Studio Outline Navigator
1-Up View
The 1-Up view presents the largest image preview within the DF Studio workspace. Click the navigation buttons at the top of the workspace view to navigate forward and backward to additional assets, or use the arrow keys on the keyboard.
When multiple assets are selected, the navigation controls move only within the selected assets. To modify the selection, click assets in the filmstrip below the 1-Up preview image. (For keyboard commands, see Select Assets, below.) Click “Select Current” to clear the selection and select the currently active asset instead.
For information about working with the Asset Inspector with multiple assets selected in 1-Up view, see The DF Studio Asset Inspector.
The 1-Up image can be inspected in further detail by activating the zoom tool.
Clicking the “View” button in the lower left corner of the view will reveal the large preview of the asset in its own browser window. The “Download” button will initiate a direct download of the same large preview.
For more details, see Customize the DF Studio Interface.
2-Up Compare
In the 2-Up Compare perspective, larger previews of two images are displayed side by side. The image on the left persists, while new comparison images are displayed on the right. Click the “swap” icon to move the right-hand image into the left space and load the next image on the right. Navigate forward or backward to view additional assets using the navigation buttons at the top of the workspace view, or use the arrow keys on the keyboard.
When multiple assets are selected, the navigation controls move only within the selected assets. To modify the selection, open the filmstrip below the 2-Up preview.
Modify the selection by clicking assets within the filmstrip. (For keyboard commands, see Select Assets, below.) Click “Select Current” to clear the selection and select the currently active asset instead.
The comparison image can be examined in further detail by activating the zoom tool.
Clicking the “View” button in the lower left corner of the view will reveal the large preview of the asset in its own browser window. The “Download” button will initiate a direct download of the same large preview.
For more details, see Customize the DF Studio Interface
Navigational Sidebar
The left sidebar of the DF Studio interface contains tools for navigation. It begins with a search field for quickly finding assets, Projects, Collections, and folders.
Below the search field are a series of buttons for quick navigation to useful areas within DF Studio.
This sidebar can be collapsed to make more room for the DF Studio workspace. See Customize the DF Studio Interface for more details.
The Dashboard (personal/pro accounts only) provides at-a-glance information about the latest Projects, Folders, and Collections being used in the account.
The Activity Monitor displays the current status of any tasks being executed in DF Studio, along with a list of previously completed tasks and their outcomes.
The buttons for Projects and Collections will list all Library items of those types in the main workspace.
The Storage button displays an overview of how storage is being used in the DF Studio account, with total usage amounts for Active Storage, Cold Storage, and Project Storage. (For more information, see Asset Storage.)
Below this area, two dynamic lists provide access to recently accessed items and bookmarked items. These lists can be hidden by clicking their labels, or cleared using the contextual menu accessible from the icon at the top right of each list.
Using the contextual menus, items from the Recent list can be added to Bookmarks with a click, and the Bookmarks can be arranged or removed individually. See Manage Navigational Shortcuts for more information.
When assets are selected in the workspace, quick-access buttons appear alongside Projects and Collections in this area, allowing the selected assets to be added or moved with a single click. For details on these features, see Use Quick-Access Buttons to Organize Assets Instantly.
Pinned to the base of the left sidebar are two buttons for handy access from any screen within DF Studio. Move the mouse pointer over the “+New” button for links to create a new Project, Collection, or Folder. Click the “Bin” button to access the Bin, or empty the bin by moving the mouse pointer over the button, then clicking “Clear Bin”, and then “Confirm”.
Inspector Sidebar
The right sidebar of the DF Studio interface houses the Inspector, which provides details and action buttons related to the currently displayed or selected item. When one or more assets are selected, the Asset Inspector occupies this space, with many contextual controls available based upon the asset, user access, and workflow.
This sidebar can be collapsed to make more room for the DF Studio workspace. See Customize the DF Studio Interface for more details.
Tab Bar
At the very top of the DF Studio interface is the tab bar, with tabs for accessing the main work areas of DF Studio.
The Library tab is where most work in DF Studio is done. It displays the folder structure of the Library for the DF Studio account, which can be navigated to access individual folders, or the Projects and Collections stored within them.
The Assignments tab (not available on personal/pro accounts) lists Assignments that have been created, with links to the Projects where their assets were uploaded.
The Messenger tab lists Messengers that have been sent, and provides access to review their details or re-send Messengers.
The Publish tab displays Web Portfolios that have been created from Collections, as well as any assets that have been published to a remote service.
In the top right corner, beside the tab bar, a few administrative links are provided.
The current user’s Inbox lists any messages regarding Messengers that have been sent, including feedback submitted by Messenger recipients.
The Contacts link displays all contacts and groups for the DF Studio account.
The Settings link provides access to user-level and account-level settings for DF Studio.
The Help icon opens a small overlay with an opportunity to search the DF Studio knowledge base or send a message to DF Studio Support.
Menu Bar
Just above the workspace area, a menu bar contains menus for modifying the view or selection in the workspace below. Menus aligned towards the left side of the menu bar can be used to filter the content displayed below, while icons and controls at the right edge allow for searching or selecting/deselecting assets.
Navigation Path
When the Library tab is active, the space below the tab bar and above the menu bar contains the view menu on the right, as described above. At the left, a navigation path displays the folder hierarchy from the root Library folder of the DF Studio account to the current folder, Project, or Collection. Clicking any folder icon in this path will load that folder’s contents in the workspace. (Move the mouse pointer over a folder icon to see its name.)
Toolbar
A toolbar across the bottom of the workspace contains buttons for working with assets displayed in the workspace area. Depending on the context, buttons will allow for uploading files, sending a Messenger, printing a proofsheet, downloading files, publishing to a remote service, or adding assets to the Bin or to a Collection.
At the extreme lower right corner of the DF Studio window are account links enabling the user to log out of DF Studio or toggle the display of VSP.
Overlays
Many DF Studio features and workflows begin by opening an overlay atop the main interface, where options are configured or additional information is collected. Overlays can be closed by clicking the icon in the top left corner, by clicking the “Cancel” button within the overlay (if present), or by clicking in the DF Studio window outside of the overlay area.
Select Assets
Click any item in the DF Studio workspace to select it, which will outline it with a light blue border. To select multiple consecutive items, click the first item, then hold the Shift key while selecting the last item—the selection will include all items in between.
To select multiple non-consecutive items, or to add or remove individual items from an existing selection, hold down the Command key (Mac) or Control key (Windows/Linux) while clicking additional items.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Several interface features can also be accessed using Keyboard Shortcuts.