Files
SnapOtter/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-03-23-resize-rotate-redesign.md
T

3.5 KiB
Raw Blame History

Resize & Rotate/Flip UX Redesign

Problem

The before/after comparison slider is a poor fit for resize and rotate/flip tools:

  • Resize overlays two different-sized images — doesn't communicate anything useful. Users care about "how big will it be?" not pixel-level comparison.
  • Rotate/Flip transformations are self-evident. A slider adds nothing.

The resize settings also use technical jargon (contain, cover, fill, inside, outside) that confuses layman users.

Design

Resize: Tab-Based Settings with Presets Front-and-Center

Replace the current mode toggle (Pixels/Percentage) with three tabs:

Presets Tab (default)

  • Grid of cards grouped by platform (Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn)
  • Each card shows: platform icon, preset name (e.g., "Post", "Story", "Header"), dimensions (e.g., "1080 × 1080")
  • Clicking a card selects it (highlighted border), clicking again deselects
  • Selected preset populates the dimensions automatically
  • Process button at bottom

Custom Size Tab

  • Width and Height number inputs
  • Aspect ratio lock toggle between them (link/unlink icon)
  • Fit mode as 3 plain-language options:
    • "Crop to fit" (maps to sharp cover)
    • "Fit inside" (maps to sharp contain)
    • "Stretch" (maps to sharp fill)
  • Remove "inside" and "outside" fit modes — they confuse laymen
  • "Don't enlarge" checkbox
  • Process button at bottom

Scale Tab

  • Percentage number input
  • Quick-select buttons: 25% | 50% | 75%
  • Process button at bottom

Resize: Side-by-Side Result Display

Replace the before/after slider with side-by-side thumbnails:

  • Two image thumbnails side by side, each fitted within its half
  • Left: "Original" label, the original image, dimensions below (e.g., "3000 × 2000"), file size (e.g., "2.4 MB")
  • Right: "Resized" label, the processed image, new dimensions below (e.g., "1080 × 720"), file size (e.g., "340 KB")
  • File size savings shown between/below (e.g., "86% smaller")
  • Checkerboard background for transparency (same pattern as current viewer)
  • Review panel (undo, download, continue editing) remains unchanged

Rotate/Flip: Live CSS Preview

Replace the "process then compare" flow with live preview:

  • When a file is loaded, it shows in the image viewer as normal
  • As the user adjusts controls (rotate buttons, angle slider, flip toggles), CSS transforms update the preview in real-time — no server call
  • Controls stay the same: quick rotate 90 left/right, angle slider 0-360, horizontal/vertical flip toggles
  • The "Process" button label changes to "Apply" to signal finality
  • Clicking "Apply" sends to the server, produces the final file

Rotate/Flip: Result Display

After applying:

  • Result shows in the standard ImageViewer (no before/after slider, no side-by-side)
  • The transformation is self-evident
  • Review panel appears with undo/download options

Files to Modify

Frontend

  • apps/web/src/components/tools/resize-settings.tsx — rewrite with tab-based UI
  • apps/web/src/components/tools/rotate-settings.tsx — add live CSS preview controls
  • apps/web/src/pages/tool-page.tsx — conditionally render side-by-side for resize, skip before/after slider for rotate/flip
  • New component: apps/web/src/components/common/side-by-side-comparison.tsx — reusable side-by-side thumbnail comparison

No Backend Changes

  • Resize and rotate API routes remain unchanged
  • Image engine operations remain unchanged
  • Only the frontend presentation and interaction model changes