chore: prepare for v0.5.0 release

Author: Ahmed-Hindy

.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+## Description
+<!-- Provide a clear and concise description of the changes in this pull request. -->
+
+## Motivation and Context
+<!-- Why is this change required? What problem does it solve? If it fixes an open issue, please link to the issue here. -->
+
+## Type of Change
+- [ ] Bug fix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue)
+- [ ] New feature (non-breaking change which adds functionality)
+- [ ] Breaking change (fix or feature that would cause existing functionality to not work as expected)
+- [ ] Documentation update
+- [ ] Refactoring (no functional changes, no API changes)
+
+## How Has This Been Tested?
+- [ ] Automated tests (e.g., `pytest`)
+- [ ] Manual verification in the UI
+- [ ] Verified on different OS (Windows, Linux, macOS)
+
+## Screenshots / Videos (if applicable)
+<!-- Please add any visual evidence of the change, especially for UI updates. -->
+
+## Checklist
+- [ ] My code follows the code style of this project.
+- [ ] I have performed a self-review of my own code.
+- [ ] I have commented my code, particularly in hard-to-understand areas.
+- [ ] I have made corresponding changes to the documentation.
+- [ ] My changes generate no new warnings.
+- [ ] I have added tests that prove my fix is effective or that my feature works.
+- [ ] New and existing unit tests pass locally with my changes.
+- [ ] Any dependent changes have been merged and published in downstream modules.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,9 +5,20 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
-## [Unreleased]
+## [0.5.0] - 2026-01-12
+
+### Added
+- **Asynchronous Metadata Loading**: Heavy EXR sequences on network paths no longer hang the UI during detection.
+- **Log Buffering**: Early startup logs are now buffered and flushed to the UI console once initialized.
+- **Pruned OCIO Config**: Bundled a minimal ACES 1.2 OCIO configuration, reducing distribution size while maintaining color accuracy.
+- **PR Template**: Standardized contribution workflow with a comprehensive GitHub Pull Request template.
 
 ### Changed
+- **Modern UI Refresh**: Switched to OKLCH-based color system for more perceptually uniform styling.
+- **Enhanced Task Control**: Added master toggles for burn-in and contact sheet sections with improved visual hierarchy.
+- **Video Encoding Improvements**: Added BT.709 color tags for SDR deliverables and made video macro-block size configurable.
+- **Thread Management**: Centralized worker pooling for more robust background operations and crash prevention.
+- **Consolidated Versioning**: Unified version definition across the API, CLI, and UI title bar.
 - Moved Contact Sheet toggle to Input Sequence section for better visibility.
 - Enforced mutual exclusivity between Contact Sheet mode and single Layer selection with visual cues.
 - Auto-expand Contact Sheet settings when mode is enabled.
@@ -19,6 +30,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Implemented robust thread management with worker pooling to prevent crashes during rapid UI interactions.
 - Added real-time configuration updates for the contact sheet preview with debouncing.
 
+## [Unreleased]
+
+
 ## [0.4.0] - 2026-01-09
 
 ### Added

src/renderkit/__init__.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Image and Video Processor package for VFX workflows."""
 
-__version__ = "0.4.0"
+__version__ = "0.5.0"
 
 from renderkit.api.processor import RenderKit
 

tests/test_ui_toggles.py

@@ -42,28 +42,23 @@ def test_burnin_toggle(qtbot, qapp):
 
 
 def test_contact_sheet_toggle_sync(qtbot, qapp):
-    """Test that contact sheet toggle syncs with the Output tab."""
+    """Test that contact sheet toggle correctly enables/disables related settings."""
     from renderkit.ui.main_window import ModernMainWindow
 
     window = ModernMainWindow()
     qtbot.addWidget(window)
 
     # Initially disabled
     window.cs_enable_check.setChecked(False)
-    assert window.cs_mode_check.isChecked() is False
     assert window.cs_columns_spin.isEnabled() is False
+    assert window.cs_thumb_width_spin.isEnabled() is False
 
-    # Enable in CS tab
+    # Enable
     window.cs_enable_check.setChecked(True)
-    assert window.cs_mode_check.isChecked() is True
     assert window.cs_columns_spin.isEnabled() is True
+    assert window.cs_thumb_width_spin.isEnabled() is True
+    assert window.layer_combo.isEnabled() is False
 
-    # Disable in Output tab
-    window.cs_mode_check.setChecked(False)
-    assert window.cs_enable_check.isChecked() is False
+    # Disable again
+    window.cs_enable_check.setChecked(False)
     assert window.cs_columns_spin.isEnabled() is False
-
-    # Enable in Output tab
-    window.cs_mode_check.setChecked(True)
-    assert window.cs_enable_check.isChecked() is True
-    assert window.cs_columns_spin.isEnabled() is True