What is the deal with Sonar and Next

[dougalex]

On 7/22/2025 at 6:48 PM, Noel Borthwick said:

flat look

@Noel Borthwick I am VERY happy with new Sonar including the graphics, but I was just curious to know more about this aspect:
When I expand the QuadCurve Equalizer it seems to have some "3D look" (as opposed to a "flat look" used elsewhere in the GUI).
Just wondered why that is? 
 

Edited Thursday at 03:09 AM by dougalex

[Bristol_Jonesey]

3 hours ago, dougalex said:

@Noel Borthwick I am VERY happy with new Sonar including the graphics, but I was just curious to know more about this aspect:
When I expand the QuadCurve Equalizer it seems to have some "3D look" (as opposed to a "flat look" used elsewhere in the GUI).
Just wondered why that is? 
 

Looks flat here.

There's no fake 3D rendering, no shadows.

Maybe post a screenshot?

[dougalex]

 

 

7 hours ago, Bristol_Jonesey said:

Maybe post a screenshot?

I see "very flat look" on the left and more of a "3D look" on the right (on both the knobs and the buttons)

[Mark Morgon-Shaw]

On 7/22/2025 at 11:48 PM, Noel Borthwick said:

Many if not most users have adjusted to the new theming, some quicker than others.

I don't think it's just a case of needing time to adjust — I've been using the new Sonar on and off for around 18 months now, and I still find the visuals difficult to engage with. And I know I'm not alone in that. (By contrast, my jump from 8.5 to CbB years ago was nowhere near as jarring...and I loved 8.5 dearly.)

I fully understand and appreciate the technical reasoning behind the switch to vector graphics — modern scaling, high-DPI support, cross-platform readiness, etc. That all makes sense.

But here’s the sticking point:
Other modern DAWs also use vector-based UIs, yet they still manage to look polished, inviting, and visually distinctive — without being cluttered or hard on the eyes. So I suppose the question is: why does the new Sonar UI feel so flat and uninspiring by comparison for so many of us?

At this point, I'm wondering — is this more or less the intended aesthetic going forward, or is there still significant design refinement planned?

Because honestly, with the clock now ticking on CbB even some subtle use of contrast, colour, and depth cues would go a long way toward making the interface feel more "alive," and "comfortable" without compromising the scalability and performance benefits of vector graphics.

[AB99]

7 minutes ago, Mark Morgon-Shaw said:

I don't think it's just a case of needing time to adjust — I've been using the new Sonar on and off for around 18 months now, and I still find the visuals difficult to engage with. And I know I'm not alone in that. (By contrast, my jump from 8.5 to CbB years ago was nowhere near as jarring...and I loved 8.5 dearly.)

I fully understand and appreciate the technical reasoning behind the switch to vector graphics — modern scaling, high-DPI support, cross-platform readiness, etc. That all makes sense.

But here’s the sticking point:
Other modern DAWs also use vector-based UIs, yet they still manage to look polished, inviting, and visually distinctive — without being cluttered or hard on the eyes. So I suppose the question is: why does the new Sonar UI feel so flat and uninspiring by comparison for so many of us?

At this point, I'm wondering — is this more or less the intended aesthetic going forward, or is there still significant design refinement planned?

Because honestly, with the clock now ticking on CbB even some subtle use of contrast, colour, and depth cues would go a long way toward making the interface feel more "alive," and "comfortable" without compromising the scalability and performance benefits of vector graphics.

Please read these two sentences from what Noel wrote above and hopefully it answers your question:

That said there are some legit complaints about improving things for users with vision impairments or special contrast requirements and in time we'll do it. There are also plans to add better color customization that should alleviate most of the concerns about contrast etc.

[Wookiee]

2 hours ago, dougalex said:

 

 

I see "very flat look" on the left and more of a "3D look" on the right (on both the knobs and the buttons)

My guess would be that the graphics update to the Quad Curve flyout had yet to be completed. It has been repeatedly stated that the GUI update is an ongoing work in progress. 

Meaning the main PC module, the image on the left, has been changed to vector graphics and the flyout, the image on the right is still using PNG images. Perhaps @msmcleod could clarify.

[msmcleod]

6 hours ago, Wookiee said:

My guess would be that the graphics update to the Quad Curve flyout had yet to be completed. It has been repeatedly stated that the GUI update is an ongoing work in progress. 

Meaning the main PC module, the image on the left, has been changed to vector graphics and the flyout, the image on the right is still using PNG images. Perhaps @msmcleod could clarify.

Got it in one @Wookiee.