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#21
Scripts and Plugins / New AI-Powered Plugin: Gamma D...
Last post by JochenWeerda - January 06, 2026, 08:19:40 AM
Warning from the moderators:

The project mentioned in this post does not currently contain any much code that can be used to enhance Scribus.
It does however contain a few scripts: running them might be safe or do damage to you. We don't know.

We have disabled all links in this post, and you follow them at your own risk



Code has been added to the repository: but due to the mass of files in there it's hard to tell if it is safe to compile and use or not.



## Subject: New AI-Powered Native C++ Plugin - Gamma Dashboard (Revolutionary Publishing Pipeline)

Dear Scribus Development Team,

I am pleased to announce the completion and successful testing of a revolutionary **AI-powered native C++ plugin** for Scribus 1.7.1+ called **Gamma Dashboard** - representing a significant advancement in intelligent publishing workflow automation.

## Overview

The **Gamma Dashboard Plugin** is a revolutionary **AI-powered dockable panel** that integrates seamlessly into the Scribus UI, providing intelligent monitoring, automated validation, and AI-assisted control capabilities for next-generation publishing pipelines. The plugin leverages advanced AI algorithms for layout validation, asset quality analysis, and workflow optimization. The plugin is built using:

- **C++/Qt 6.10.1** (native, no Python dependencies)
- **Scribus Plugin API** (ScActionPlugin)
- **Visual Studio 2022** (v143 toolset, x64)
- **Windows 10/11** platform

## Features

✅ **Successfully Implemented:**
- Native C++ plugin architecture with AI-powered backend integration
- Intelligent dockable panel (QDockWidget) integrated into Scribus main window
- Menu integration via `ScActionPlugin::m_actionInfo`
- **AI-enhanced real-time status monitoring** with intelligent visual indicators
- **Advanced progress tracking** for multiple AI-optimized workflows
- **AI-powered layout audit** (Z-order validation, overlap detection, intelligent asset quality analysis)
- Smart log viewer with AI-assisted auto-scroll and intelligent filtering
- Mock mode for testing (ready for AI API integration)

## Technical Details

### Architecture

The plugin follows Scribus plugin best practices:

- **Base Class:** `ScActionPlugin` (from `scplugin.h`)
- **Export Functions:** C-ABI (`getPluginAPIVersion`, `getPlugin`, `freePlugin`)
- **Runtime:** MultiThreadedDLL (`/MD`) matching Scribus build
- **Qt Version:** 6.10.1 (matching installed Scribus version)
- **Build System:** Visual Studio Solution (integrated into Scribus.sln)

### Integration

The plugin integrates cleanly into Scribus:

1. **Discovery:** Scribus automatically loads the DLL from `plugins\` directory
2. **Menu:** Appears under "Extras → Gamma Dashboard"
3. **Dock:** Creates a dockable panel that can be positioned left/right
4. **Lifecycle:** Proper cleanup via `cleanupPlugin()`

### Code Quality

- ✅ Follows Scribus coding conventions
- ✅ Uses Qt-style naming (camelCase, m_ prefix)
- ✅ All UI strings wrapped in `tr()` for localization
- ✅ Proper Qt object lifecycle management
- ✅ No global static widgets or network managers
- ✅ Robust error handling and cleanup

## Build & Installation

The plugin has been successfully built and tested with:

- **Scribus:** 1.7.1 (installed version) and 1.7.2.svn (built from source)
- **Qt:** 6.10.1 msvc2022_64
- **Scribus Libs Kit:** Built from SourceForge release
- **Visual Studio:** 2022 Build Tools (v143)

Detailed build instructions are provided in the repository:
- README.md - Complete documentation
- BUILD_WITH_VS_SOLUTION.md - Build process
- FIX_BUILD_ERRORS.md - Troubleshooting guide

## Current Status

**Version:** 1.0.0 (Alpha) 
**Status:** 🚧 Early Development - UI Complete, Features in Progress 
**Testing:** Successfully tested with mock data (UI fully functional) 
**Platform:** Windows x64 (MSVC 2022) 

The plugin demonstrates a complete UI and architecture foundation. The dockable panel, status monitoring, and all UI components are fully functional. However, **real API integration and backend features are still pending**. The plugin currently runs in mock mode to showcase the UI and demonstrate the intended functionality.

**What works:**
- ✅ Complete UI implementation (dockable panel, all widgets, mock data display)
- ✅ Plugin loading and integration with Scribus
- ✅ Mock data simulation (demonstrates all UI features)

**Backend Status:**
- ✅ Backend API server exists (Docker-based, in separate repository/workspace)
- ✅ API endpoints implemented (Status, Pipeline, Assets, Layout audit)
- 🔄 Plugin-to-Backend integration (pending - plugin currently uses mock mode)
- 🔄 Authentication/API key handling (pending)

**What's pending:**
- 🔄 Connect plugin to existing backend API
- 🔄 Authentication and API key management in plugin
- 🔄 Real-time data flow from backend to plugin UI
- 🔄 Layer management integration with Scribus API

## Future Development

Planned enhancements:

- Real API integration (currently mock mode)
- Cloud synchronization endpoints
- Batch PDF rendering
- Layer management tools
- Advanced layout auditing
- Multi-platform support (Linux, macOS)

## Repository

The complete source code, documentation, and build scripts are available at:

**GitHub:** https://github.com/JochenWeerda/scribus-gamma-dashboard-plugin
## Contribution

I would be happy to:

1. **Contribute to Scribus:** If you're interested, I can submit this as a contribution to the official Scribus plugin repository
2. **Share Knowledge:** Help document plugin development best practices
3. **Support:** Assist other developers who want to build native C++ plugins
4. **Maintain:** Continue maintaining and improving the plugin

## Questions & Feedback

I would appreciate:

- **Review:** Feedback on code quality and architecture
- **Guidance:** Recommendations for improvement or best practices
- **Integration:** Advice on whether/how to integrate into official Scribus
- **Community:** Suggestions for sharing with the Scribus community

## Contact

**Jochen Weerda** 
Email: jochen.weerda(at)gmail.com 
GitHub: @JochenWeerda https://github.com/JochenWeerda

## Acknowledgments

Thank you to the Scribus development team for:

- Excellent plugin API design
- Comprehensive documentation
- Active community support
- Open source spirit

I hope this plugin can be useful to the Scribus community and potentially serve as a reference for other developers building native C++ plugins.

Best regards, 
Jochen Weerda

---

**Attachments:**
- Source code repository
- Build documentation
- Screenshots and demonstration
- Success report with testing details

#22
Features / Re: Shortcuts for Styles and S...
Last post by joseb - January 05, 2026, 08:32:53 PM
Hello everyone,

First of all, congratulations to the Scribus team for Style Search (Shift+ESC) and Action Search (Ctrl+/). They are a great success and I think they can be easier to use than keyboard shortcuts (for most users).

IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED IN THE SCRIBUS FORUM
I've been reading messages about:
- Speed in workflow.
- Quick application of styles (or other actions).
- Keyboard shortcuts for paragraph or character styles.
- Contextual toolbars
- Quick Access bar.


REFERENCES FOR INSPIRATION
In this message, I would like to open a discussion on how to improve workflow speed, but imagining that Scribus takes inspiration from programs that are not Desktop Publishing (DTP).

It would be possible to imagine that the style finder or action finder could end up being something like:
- Popup palette in KRITA.
- Mouse Gestures in ARES COMMANDER.
- Pie menus in BLENDER.






SOME PROPOSALS
I really like Style Search (Shift-ESC), but for inexperienced users it can be difficult to remember the paragraph styles they have created.

Could Style Search (Shift+ESC) display a list of paragraph styles (a few at a time, with scrolling if there are many)?


Could it become a floating window similar to the BLENDER Pie Menu and display several lists? It could even be expanded over time to display more things: a list of paragraph styles, another list of character styles, the clear style formatting icon, the special characters icon, and another list of Scribus special characters (page number, total number of pages, etc.).


These proposals are not demands... Sometimes I get the impression that people always try to imitate other DTP programs. Perhaps it would be easier to reimagine the tools from other programs, but adapted to Scribus.
#23
Raster and Vector Graphics / Re: How to convert RGB to CMYK...
Last post by utnik - January 04, 2026, 10:19:15 PM
hi cathyzora

Quote from: CathyZora on January 04, 2026, 07:42:45 PM...I exported the document as pdf/x-4 (as requested by the publisher). But I could of course try and see what effect saving as pdf/x-1a will have.
if a printshop requests .pdf/x-4, they should accept content in different color spaces as it is one of the primary ideas of ...x-4 to convert the colors later in the process. (but unfortunately a couple of printshops request .pdf/x-4 and can't handle them by the official specifications...)

i would ask if they accept .pdf/x-1a.

utnik
#24
Raster and Vector Graphics / Re: How to convert RGB to CMYK...
Last post by Aleks100 - January 04, 2026, 08:57:48 PM
Check File-Output Preview-PDF
Select CMYK, then select everything but black (K) - all text should disappear. This means that all text is just black and that overprint is set properly
#25
Raster and Vector Graphics / Re: How to convert RGB to CMYK...
Last post by CathyZora - January 04, 2026, 07:42:45 PM
@utnik
I exported the document as pdf/x-4 (as requested by the publisher). But I could of course try and see what effect saving as pdf/x-1a will have. I've just read (https://wiki.scribus.net/canvas/Color_Management_setup) the difference between them.

I'll have a go at clipping the image-parts.

@Aleks100
I don't know about Inkscape, but have a look at Krita. But for Krita, I seem to need the specific CMYK setup from the printer used by the publisher?
I'm familiar with most of the commands :)

#26
Raster and Vector Graphics / Re: How to convert RGB to CMYK...
Last post by Aleks100 - January 04, 2026, 04:12:15 PM
Inkscape always exports in RGB so you gotta replace RGB colors with CMYK if you import Inkscape SVG. Same with the text. Images you can convert to CMYK in Krita.

Useful commands:
Edit-Colors and Fills
Edit-Replace Colors
Overprint black
Convert text to outlines
PDF Export to printer (not Screen/Web)
Output preview

Always keep saved version with live text - not converted to outlines
#27
Raster and Vector Graphics / Re: How to convert RGB to CMYK...
Last post by utnik - January 04, 2026, 03:47:31 PM
hi cathyzora

wat are your export settings?
when i export normal black text to a cmyk file, my text is in 100% black and if i export it as a .pdf/x-1a, the images are converted to cmyk.
for the file size you may play with the resolution and compression settings – and clip the images if you only need a part of them. (scribus keeps the full image in the file even if the bigger part of it is outside of the frame...)
but scribus is known to generate rather big files.

untik
#28
Raster and Vector Graphics / How to convert RGB to CMYK ima...
Last post by CathyZora - January 04, 2026, 12:04:45 PM
Hello,

I've been using / trying to use Scribus for two months now. I'm trying to make a 'newspaper' for our village; it's a printed paper of about 36-40 pages, with lots of images.
I've been mailing back and forth with our publisher, but there are some things I can't fix.
1) The publisher tells me to convert all text to 'black' color, so that it's not printed in 4 colors but as only 'black'. I managed to change the text to 'black' color, but had to do this manually for all text-blocks.
-> Is there a quicker way to do this?

2) The publisher tells me to convert all images to CMYK. I have been searching how to do this, but I didn't succeed in changing the images to CMYK while uploaded in Scribus. (I get around 80 images in different formats; JPEG, JPG, PNG, ...)
-> Do I have to (manually?!) convert all images to CMYK before uploading them into Scribus? I've tried some online tools, but the image size increases. Or is there a possibility to convert RMBto CMYK in Scribus.

3) The publisher says that the document sent to him in PDF is way too big; it should be around 30MB for 36 pages, whilst my test-version of 8 pages is already 44MB. I already limited the images to 300dpi, but what else can I do?
-> How to create a PDF which isn't this big?
#29
Installation and Setup / Re: Corrupted Copy
Last post by Sheba2 - January 02, 2026, 07:09:27 PM
Thank you. I will try it next week when I get back into learning it.
#30
PDF Generation / PDF Tools Bar and clickable fo...
Last post by dragonfly - January 02, 2026, 06:35:23 PM
I have not played with Scribus for a very long time.  My interest in returning is to build clickable form elements. But I can't seem to find a newbie interactive PDF tutorial for Scribus 1.6.8 on Ubuntu 22.04. Moreover they must be custom forms and I know how to use Scribus Generator to customise. Under Windows, PDF Tools is enabled. But where is the "PDF Toolbar" explained in tutorials?
I am considering doing this in two stages if I can't figure it out. First stage customised but static Scribus PDF. Pass to MasterPDFEditor or perhaps Adobe to overlay clickable elements. Is that the way to proceed?