ChronoWatch Plugin

“ChronoWatch — a plugin built by a designer, for designers, to capture work flow for client feedback.”​

ChronoWatch for Photoshop is a professional uptime and billing tracker designed for creative professionals who work inside Adobe Photoshop. It automatically monitors real Photoshop launch time and session length with full billing integrity — no manual editing, no shortcuts. Using persistent local session storage and extended time formats, it provides precise, reliable tracking for both short design sprints and multi-day creative sessions.

The interface has been crafted with Rob Art’s signature visual style — sleek dark panels, LED typography, and animated digital timer elements that evoke precision and control. A three-tier timer system tracks total Photoshop uptime, project-specific time, and user activity, each in distinct color codes for instant readability. Responsive billing boxes display live earnings based on your hourly rate, while the integrated activity log records every Photoshop tool used, creating a complete timeline of your creative workflow.

ChronoWatch’s smart input system and project management tools simplify multi-client setups. Dropdowns remember your previous project titles and rates, modal windows streamline new project creation, and collapsible timer bars keep the workspace clean while still updating in real time. The plugin’s currency system supports automatic formatting and language-based defaults, while the powerful “Nuke” reset feature gives you a clean slate at any time.

Built on UXP Manifest v5, ChronoWatch loads automatically with Photoshop, handling background processes, storage, and API connections seamlessly. Every element — from pulsing connection indicators to debug logging — has been engineered for reliability and visual polish. It’s the most intuitive and visually refined way to turn your creative uptime into accurate, trustworthy billable hours inside Photoshop.

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  • Tracks true Photoshop uptime automatically
  • Persistent session storage with accurate timestamps
  • Extended timer for multi-day sessions
  • Built-in billing integrity — no manual edits allowed
  • Sleek Rob Art dark interface with LED-style display
  • Three color-coded timers for uptime, project, and user activity
  • Live earnings calculator with hourly rate display
  • Auto-formatted currency (€, $, £ supported)
  • Smart dropdowns with autocomplete and saved history
  • Collapsible timers that update in real time
  • Clean project creation and management modal
  • Real-time Photoshop tool and activity detection
  • Auto-pause and resume on idle
  • Scrollable chronological activity log
  • Multi-user tracking within shared projects
  • Animated colon dividers and pulsing connection indicator
  • Quick “Nuke” reset button with confirmation
  • Automatic plugin startup with Photoshop launch
  • Optimized UI performance with refined icons and layout

Requirements:

  1. Minimum PS Version: 24.0.0
  2. Internet Connection
  3. Valid Licence Key from Gumroad/Adobe Cloud Account

*Please note this plugin has the following built in languages: English

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Changelog

ChronoWatch - Version History

Version 1.0.2 Major

2025-11-21
  • ### Document-Project Validation System
  • **Priority: HIGH** - Implement when save/load controls are developed
  • **Issue**: Currently no validation when loading project data vs open document
  • - User saves project for "ProjectA_v1.psd"
  • - Later opens "ProjectA_v2.psd" but loads v1 project data
  • - Creates billing/tracking inconsistencies and data corruption
  • **Required Solution**:
  • - Document name validation overlay when loading saved projects
  • - Compare loaded project document name vs currently open document
  • - Warning modal: "Project was created for 'X.psd' but current document is 'Y.psd'. Continue anyway?"
  • - Smart matching for version suffixes (_v1, _v2, _final, etc.)
  • - Block loading if documents are completely mismatched
  • **Implementation Location**: Save/Load control panel elements
  • **Fallback**: Until XMP integration provides automatic document binding

Version 1.0.0 Major

2025-10-17
  • ### ✅ Analytics Implementation Complete
  • - **User Card Redesign**: Project title appears once above divider, users listed below without repetition
  • - **Activity Log Fixed**: Resolved timer state checking - now properly tracks tool usage when user timer runs
  • - **Cost Calculation System**: Fixed `calculateUserCost` function scope and cumulative totals
  • - **JSON Export for Manager**: Complete data format with tool usage, billing, and project details
  • - **Overall Analytics Panel**: Document metrics, workflow stats, and time tracking data
  • ### ✅ Statistics Implementation
  • - **Revision Number**: Auto-increments each time project timer starts (tracks work sessions)
  • - **Primary Tools**: Dynamically calculated from activity log - shows top 5 most used tools
  • - **Saved File Name**: Displays current Photoshop document name in analytics
  • - **Document-Specific Metrics**: All placeholder values replaced with real data sources
  • ### ✅ Bug Fixes & Cleanup
  • - **Project Deadline**: Removed hardcoded values, proper show/hide logic, starts at 0%
  • - **PS Timer Removal**: Eliminated irrelevant PS uptime from analytics Time Recap
  • - **Padlock Bug**: Fixed test code causing lock icon to appear before project creation
  • - **Console Cleanup**: Removed excessive debug logging for cleaner development experience
  • - **Tool Detection**: Fixed activity log by correcting timer instance references
  • ### ✅ Data Validation Improvements
  • - **Activity Log Parser**: Properly extracts tool data from HTML content for JSON export
  • - **Tool Usage Analytics**: Real-time calculation of most frequently used Photoshop tools
  • - **Manager Integration**: Complete export format matching ChronoWatch Manager specifications
  • ### ✅ Completed Features
  • #### 1. Core Uptime Tracking System
  • - **True Photoshop Uptime Tracking**: Uses `loadEvent: "startup"` to track actual Photoshop launch time
  • - **Persistent Session Storage**: Stores session start time in `ps-session-start.txt`
  • - **Extended Time Format**: Supports `HH:MM:SS` and `DDd HH:MM:SS` for sessions over 24 hours
  • - **Billing Compliance**: No manual adjustments possible - maintains client billing integrity
  • #### 2. Professional UI/UX
  • - **Rob Art Branding**: Consistent color scheme (#2D2D30 backgrounds, #e0e0e0 text, accent colors)
  • - **Dot Matrix LED Display**: Custom SVG backgrounds (350x40px) with subtle dot patterns (#3A3A3C)
  • - **Orbitron Font Integration**: Local font files for authentic digital clock appearance
  • - **Three-Tier Timer System**:
  • - Photoshop UpTime (Blue #2196F3)
  • - Project Time (Green #14af22)
  • - User Time (Orange #FF6B35)
  • #### 3. Advanced Animations
  • - **Flashing Colon Dividers**: CSS animations make `:` separators flash independently
  • - **Connection Status**: Green dot with pulsing animation (currently CSS-based, needs JS fallback)
  • - **Professional Styling**: Bold Orbitron font (weight 900) for maximum visibility
  • #### 4. Billing Integration
  • - **Live Earnings Calculation**: Responsive billing boxes showing hours and total cost
  • - **Hourly Rate Display**: Shows billable rate ($75.00/hr example)
  • - **Activity Logging**: Text box for recording Photoshop activities
  • #### 5. Smart Input System
  • - **UXP-Compatible Dropdowns**: Solved z-index layering issues with expandable panels
  • - **Smart Combo Boxes**: Project/user/job title dropdowns with auto-complete and history
  • - **Data Persistence**: Stores dropdown options for future use
  • - **External Arrow Controls**: Properly positioned dropdown arrows outside input fields
  • #### 6. Project Management UI
  • - **Custom Project Icon**: Lightbulb with brush filament (creative workflow focused)
  • - **Bottom Controls Integration**: Project management button alongside user controls
  • - **Modal Project Setup**: Clean overlay for entering project details
  • - **Enhanced Icon Sizing**: Increased bottom control icons from 22px to 28px for better visibility
  • #### 7. Technical Implementation
  • - **UXP Manifest v5**: Proper plugin configuration with startup load event
  • - **Background Processing**: Plugin loads automatically when Photoshop starts
  • - **Fallback Systems**: Graceful handling of storage/API failures
  • - **Debug Logging**: Comprehensive console debugging for troubleshooting
  • ### 🔧 Recent Fixes & Improvements (Dec 2024 - Jan 2025)
  • #### ✅ UXP Input Field Issues Resolved
  • - **Fixed**: Dropdown arrows not displaying properly due to z-index limitations
  • - **Solution**: Implemented expandable panel system instead of overlay dropdowns
  • - **Result**: Clean, functional dropdown menus with external arrow controls
  • #### ✅ Project Management Enhanced
  • - **Added**: Custom project icon (lightbulb-brush design for creatives)
  • - **Added**: Project management button in bottom controls
  • - **Improved**: Icon sizing increased from 22px to 28px for better visibility
  • - **Fixed**: Button order in modal (Start Timer left, Cancel right)
  • #### ✅ Collapsible Timer System (Jan 2025)
  • - **Implemented**: Full collapsible/expandable timer functionality
  • - **Features**: Toggle icons, collapsed bars with real-time updates
  • - **Color-coded**: Blue (uptime), Green (project total), Orange (user activity)
  • - **Real-time Updates**: Collapsed timers update every second, not frozen at collapse time
  • - **Smart Display**: Green = TOTAL TIME, Orange = current user activity row time
  • #### ✅ Activity Detection & Logging System
  • - **Photoshop Tool Detection**: Uses `core.getActiveTool()` API for real-time tool tracking
  • - **Activity Mapping**: Intelligent categorization (Painting, Photography, etc.)
  • - **Activity Log**: Scrollable log with chronological tool usage history
  • - **User Activity Rows**: Multi-user project tracking with time display
  • - **Auto-pause/Resume**: 7-minute idle detection (needs optimization to 2-3 minutes)
  • #### ✅ Currency System Implementation
  • - **EUR Default**: Clean €20, €40, €60, €80, €100, €120 increments
  • - **Smart Formatting**: Auto-adds € symbol to new entries (e.g., "25" → "€25")
  • - **Migration System**: Automatically replaces old mixed currency data
  • - **Consistent Display**: EUR symbols throughout interface and activity rows
  • - **Future-ready**: Architecture supports language-based currency defaults
  • #### ✅ Reset Functionality & UI Polish
  • - **"Nuke Button"**: Complete system reset with confirmation modal
  • - **Reset All**: Clears timers, activity log, user rows, totals with warning
  • - **UI Refinements**: Fixed hover states, alignment issues, currency indicators
  • - **Modal System**: Following UI patterns with proper z-index management
  • ### 🔧 Known Issues Needing Future Fix
  • #### Performance Issues (CRITICAL - Discovered Jan 2025)
  • - **Problem**: Plugin becomes sluggish after 1+ hour of continuous use
  • - **Cause**: Multiple timer intervals, DOM updates, memory leaks from SVG rendering
  • - **Impact**: Affects long creative sessions, primary use case
  • - **Fix Needed**: Consolidate timers, implement cache clearing, optimize DOM updates
  • #### Activity Detection Limitations
  • - **Problem**: Auto-resume only works with panel clicks, not actual PS activity
  • - **Current**: Mouse/stylus/keyboard in Photoshop doesn't resume timer
  • - **Impact**: Users must click panel to resume after 7-minute auto-pause
  • - **Fix Needed**: Hook into Photoshop API events, reduce auto-pause to 2-3 minutes
  • #### Connection Status Animation
  • - **Problem**: CSS `animation` property not working in current UXP environment
  • - **Status**: Green dot shows "Connected" but doesn't pulse/flash
  • - **Fix Needed**: Implement JavaScript-based animation using `setInterval`
  • #### Orange Timer Sync Issue
  • - **Problem**: Orange collapsed timer occasionally loses sync after 5-6 seconds
  • - **Status**: Intermittent, needs debugging
  • - **Priority**: Low (cosmetic only)
  • ### 🚧 Deferred for Post-Holiday Development
  • #### Project & User Timer Functionality
  • The remaining two timers require complex implementation:
  • - Manual start/stop controls
  • - Project selection/management system
  • - User switching capabilities
  • - Advanced data persistence
  • - Export functionality
  • - Integration with billing system
Bugs

ChronoWatch - Known Issues

  • Hourly Rate – Hourly rate/job title of they appear in export
  • Project Details – Project deadlines in export
  • Invoice Creator – Need simple invoice creation, Chronowatch must be self-contained for each file
  • App Data Storage – When project timer is started details about document need to be stored
  • Project Timer – Project time needs to pause as well in inactivity - maybe an overlay appearing saying "no activity!"
  • Timer issue – Seems like timer continues for new user and not new session
  • Costing Issue – Costing seems to run together (total cost is just double each user - but user is wrong)
  • Total Time issue – Total time should be not project but user time combined
  • Overall Analytic issue – Overal Analytics: (Primary Tool Not showing, Revision Number wrong, People Worked Wrong, Total Cost Wrong, Session Count needs to see each user as a new session)
  • User Details Issue – User Details: (Needs smaller card underneath for previous users, with Name Time Cost)
  • Scroll issue – Scroll from activity log appears constantly
  • Budget Progress Bar – Budget progress bar doesn't seem to fill
  • Daily break down – Daily break down only sees to show first user, not combinations
  • Total Time wrong – Total time is wrong
  • Lead contributor issue – Lead Contributor needs to be person with most hours, not first user
  • Export data styling – Export data needs some styling as print. The save is only to save the json to continue. the next day
  • Activity Log – Activity log should be new entries at top

ChronoWatch - Latest Update

v1.0.2 2025-11-21

Release Notes:

Document-Project Validation System

  • **Priority: HIGH** - Implement when save/load controls are developed
  • **Issue**: Currently no validation when loading project data vs open document
  • User saves project for "ProjectA_v1.psd"
  • Later opens "ProjectA_v2.psd" but loads v1 project data
  • Creates billing/tracking inconsistencies and data corruption
  • **Required Solution**:
  • Document name validation overlay when loading saved projects
  • Compare loaded project document name vs currently open document
  • Warning modal: "Project was created for 'X.psd' but current document is 'Y.psd'. Continue anyway?"
  • Smart matching for version suffixes (_v1, _v2, _final, etc.)
  • Block loading if documents are completely mismatched
  • **Implementation Location**: Save/Load control panel elements
  • **Fallback**: Until XMP integration provides automatic document binding

Download:

Gumroad

Requires: Adobe Photoshop 24.0.0 or later

Documentation and Tutorials​

Additional Learning Resources

A detailed PDF User Guide is available for download using the link provided below. This document explains all key features and functions of the plugin, helping you become familiar with its tools and workflow so you can make the most of your creative process.

For hands-on demonstrations and walkthroughs, visit our YouTube channel, where a full series of video tutorials cover everything you need to get started with the app. These videos provide visual guidance, practical examples, and helpful tips to ensure a smooth and productive learning experience.

To stay updated with new tutorials, feature overviews, and upcoming releases, subscribe to the channel here: RobArt Illustration

PDF User Manual Link(s) English

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