What's New in KDE Plasma 6.2.0: A Leap Forward for Digital Artists and Everyday Users

KDE Plasma 6 has done fine on the last two releases, ironing out the wrinkles typical of a major migration. Plasma 6.2.0 pivots toward realizing promises made for the new Qt 6 and Wayland tech platforms. This release aims to create a more artist-friendly environment while enhancing user usability. Let's dive into what's new in this release!

Enhancements for Digital Artists

One of Plasma 6.2's standout features is the plethora of tools designed specifically for digital artists. For users of drawing tablets, the System Settings now includes a dedicated section for configuring their tablet, making it easier than ever to tailor the experience to their needs.

New Features for Drawing Tablets

- Tablet Calibration Wizard: Easily calibrate your tablet for precise input.

- Test Mode: Test your settings to ensure everything works perfectly.

- Define Active Area: Choose whether your tablet covers the whole screen or just a portion.

- Re-bind Pen Buttons: Customize pen buttons to function like different mouse clicks.

The best part? These features come built-in with Plasma 6.2, so there’s no need to install additional drivers or software. If your tablet isn’t supported yet, the community-driven initiative "We care about your Input" aims to expand support for unique devices.

Colour Management Improvements

To ensure a consistent visual experience across different displays, Plasma 6.2 has implemented comprehensive support for the Wayland colour management protocol, enabled by default. This enhancement benefits not only artists but also gamers and video watchers.

• Brightness Handling for HDR and ICC Profiles: Enjoy improved HDR performance and accurate colour representation.

• New Tone Mapping Feature: The KWin compositor’s new feature addresses images with brightness or colour ranges exceeding what your screen can display, reducing the "blown out" look.

  
  

Power Management Features

Plasma 6.2 introduces several new capabilities to help you conserve energy without sacrificing performance.

• Override Misbehaving Applications: Prevent applications from blocking your system from entering sleep mode, enhancing power savings.

• Monitor Brightness Control: Adjust the brightness of each connected monitor individually.

• Power Profiles in the Battery Widget: Easily cycle through different power profiles with Super key + B. A leaf badge indicates power-saving mode, while a rocket signifies performance mode.

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Discover and System Updates

With Plasma 6.2, managing your software has never been easier. The built-in app store, Discover, now supports PostmarketOS packages for mobile devices and offers improved app review functionalities.

• Shutdown After Updates: You can now choose to shut down your system after applying an offline update, alongside the option to restart.

Accessibility Enhancements

KDE continues its commitment to accessibility with several updates in Plasma 6.2.

• Accessibility Page Overhaul: The System Settings’ Accessibility page has been revamped, including colourblindness filters.

• Sticky Keys Support: Wayland now fully supports the sticky keys feature, making it easier for users with disabilities to navigate.

And There's More!

This release also includes:

• Weather Report Widget Updates: Now shows "feels like" temperatures and more detailed forecasts.

• Minimize All Widget Adjustments: Minimizes only windows on the current virtual desktop.

• Custom Shortcut Names: Name your custom shortcuts for easier access.

• Integrated Cropping Tool: Set a new user avatar effortlessly.

• Annual Donation Notification: Support the Plasma project by donating!

KDE Plasma 6.2.0 is a significant step forward, enhancing not only the functionality for digital artists but also improving usability for everyday tasks. As always, the KDE community remains dedicated to refining the user experience, making it an exciting time for both existing users and newcomers.

What are you looking forward to in this new release? Let us know in the comments!