Excessive vertical spacing between toolbar and tab bar in 3.x

[hopsayer]

Problem

• The new window layout in Pinta 3.x reduces vertical space efficiency.
• The toolbar is hidden by default, which may reduce discoverability for new users.
• There is excessive unused vertical space in the upper section of the window, especially between the toolbar and the tab bar.

Expected behavior

• Tabs should be visually integrated with the header/toolbar area without excessive vertical spacing.
• The upper section of the window should use vertical space more efficiently.
• The main toolbar (buttons from “New” to “Deselect All”) should have an option to be shown/hidden to optimize space usage.

Actual behavior

• The tab bar appears visually detached from the toolbar, creating large unused vertical space and making the top UI area disproportionately large.

Specs
Pinta 3.1.1
GNOME Shell 49.4
Wayland
EndeavourOS (Arch-based)
GTK theme: Adwaita

Screenshot

[cameronwhite]

There is excessive unused vertical space in the upper section of the window, especially between the toolbar and the tab bar.

This space is used for the current tool's parameters. In the screenshot you're in the Move tool which doesn't have any parameters, but e.g. in the text tool there would be many parameters using that space

Having an option to hide the main toolbar sounds fine to me since most of the other UI elements have similar options in the View menu

[hopsayer]

Its's pleasure that you like suggestion regarding the main toolbar! From the graphical design andd ergonomy point of view, it seems to me that the tabs bar would excellently fit the space which is currently occupied by the main toolbar. It means they can be swapped or the tab bar could replace the main toolbar at all.

Thank you for your thoughtful attention to the Issues section, it admires me!