Display of Multipage PDF Layers

[Im_trying]

Hello All,

I'm a fairly new user of GIMP, running v2.10.38 on Windows 10 64-bit. I'm trying to solve an export probllem that might be related to the following behavior:

I import a multipage PDF and each page appears as a layer. In the main editing window the last page of the PDF is displayed. Even if I select another layer (page) in the Layers Dock, the last page is still displayed. The only way to display anything other than the last  page is to start turning layers off. If it's a 5-page PDF, I make layer 5 invisible and layer 4 (page 4) is displayed. Again, selecting layers 3 or 2 or 1 doesn't change the main window display, it stays at layer 4 (page 4).

I searched the forum, didn't find anything. I skimmed through the online manual 16 - 7 The "Layers" Menu and didn't see anything relevant. I looked through Edit > Preferences and didn't see anything relevant.

I'd think that logically the selected layer (page) would be displayed in the main window, but it's not. Is this normal behavior for GIMP? If it's not, any ideas for fixing it?

[sallyanne]

Nothing wrong with Gimp, just the user. You are only learning, so

When you import a pdf you are given the option of opening pages as layers or separate images. No?
Also you will always see the last layer in the list unless you hide the one above it first - turn the 'eye' off (click on it) where you want to hide. in my image the 3rd layer from top is the 'visible' one and the selected one because I have hidden the first two then selected the third

[Ofnuts]

(12-12-2024, 04:37 AM)Im_trying Wrote: I'd think that logically the selected layer (page) would be displayed in the main window, but it's not. Is this normal behavior for GIMP? If it's not, any ideas for fixing it?

The selection in the Layers list is only telling which layer Gimp should act on (painting, transforms, etc...). And yes, it makes sense to act on layers buried under other visible layers.

[rich2005]

(12-12-2024, 04:37 AM)Im_trying Wrote: Hello All,

I'm a fairly new user of GIMP, running v2.10.38 on Windows 10 64-bit. I'm trying to solve an export probllem that might be related to the following behavior:

I import a multipage PDF and each page appears as a layer. In the main editing window the last page of the PDF is displayed. Even if I select another layer (page) in the Layers Dock, the last page is still displayed.

That is not uncommon. Gimp loads page 1 then above that loads page 2 .....You can change the order of the layers using Layers -> Stack -> Reverse layer order

Quote:The only way to display anything other than the last  page is to start turning layers off. If it's a 5-page PDF, I make layer 5 invisible and layer 4 (page 4) is displayed. Again, selecting layers 3 or 2 or 1 doesn't change the main window display, it stays at layer 4 (page 4).

Clicking on the "eye" icon does toggle visibility for that layer but there are modifiers. Hold the shift key down and click on the eye toggles visibility for all the other layers except the selected layer

Here is a 40 second example: https://i.imgur.com/eOjdegm.mp4

Quote:I'd think that logically the selected layer (page) would be displayed in the main window, but it's not. Is this normal behavior for GIMP? If it's not, any ideas for fixing it?

It is logical for a graphics editor. If you want to view page-by-page then you need a PDF viewer. If it is for editing then re-saving the PDF, Gimp does make PDFs but everything including text is reduced to bitmaps which makes for large file sizes. Something like LibreOffice can be better (but that has its snags as well)

[Im_trying]

Thank you all for the replies.

OK, now I've learned a little more about how GIMP works...

rich2005 - that Shift Key & Layer visibility select is a neat trick. Also I've tried LibreOffice for marking & editing PDFs but like GIMP a lot better (and it seems a lot more versatile). A forum thread mentioned lowering the resolution when importing PDFs to keep the file sizes down and it's been working fine and the quality of the reworked PDFs is very adequate.

GIMP has far more capabilities than I'll ever learn to use but I'm very happy with the bits & pieces I'm slowly learning, to do my work.