KDE Plasma 6.3 optimizes Fractional Scaling
The new version of the KDE Plasma desktop environment caters to graphic designers, but also offers small improvements for all other users.
The KDE Plasma 6.3 desktop has slightly translucent desktop widgets.
(Image: KDE)
The new version 6.3 of the KDE Plasma desktop environment is available on schedule. Once again, there were no major changes. Instead, there have been many small, useful improvements, which are particularly useful for graphic designers and artists.
The most visible change extends directly across the entire screen: In the (fractional) scaling of screen content, Plasma 6.3 attempts to better align the individual elements with the actual pixels of the monitor. This should result in a sharper display and fewer "visual gaps". The pixels can now also be brought very close: The zoom effect enlarges the screen content down to pixel level. This allows you to draw or click on elements with pixel precision using the mouse.
KDE Plasma: Improvements for graphic designers
Owners of a graphics tablet are provided with revised and extended settings. Among other things, the pressure curve of a pen (stylus) can be intervened in and an area of the tablet can be moved to the entire screen. The tablet can also be calibrated more accurately.
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The KDE developers have also tweaked the widgets, which are known as mini-programs in the German version. They appear slightly translucent on the desktop. The system monitor provides more precise information about the workload, the printer widget presents the print queues for each printer and the weather widget taps into the German Weather Service on request. The "Kickoff" start menu, which is used by default, no longer activates the individual categories when hovering over them with the mouse; instead, you have to switch to them specifically with a click.
Many other smaller innovations are hidden in various places. For example, Plasma 6.3 automatically switches off the touchpad on notebooks so that it does not interfere with typing. If you set up a new hotspot with the device, the desktop environment automatically generates a secure password. Finally, the existing control bars (panels) can be duplicated with just a few mouse clicks.
KDE Plasma 6.3 can be tried out without obligation with the Testing Edition of the KDE Neon distribution.
(mack)
