Hi, I'm just tying to understand the details of selecting multiple layers. I get that you can do this with shift or ctrl keys. If for example you wanted to rotate three layers, what's the rule to say which one is used for the "preview" while you are adjusting the rotate?
In gimp 2.10 you could link the layers and choose which one is active so that's the one that's used while you are adjusting the rotate.
Yesterday, 08:04 AM (This post was last modified: Yesterday, 08:05 AM by rich2005.)
The Gimp 3.0 layers selection has its pluses and minuses (thinking of the distribute tool as a minus)
However, In the layer dock, ctrl-click to select and add individual layers. Shift-click to select a block. Much the same as other programs.
The layers are highlighted, maybe not easy to see if using that awful black theme.
The number of selected layers shows top of the layer dock.
There is a border indicator for the extents of the selected layers.
Menu items that are not applicable are greyed-out.
Say you have three layers all different sizes and offsets. You select the three layers and then select the rotate tool. One of the three layers has the wire frame around it, and the centre of rotation is in the centre of that layer. You can then click and drag to adjust the angle. My question is how do you choose which of the three layers that is. If you can't choose what's the rule to say which one of the three.
My reason for asking is that when doing a transformation it often matters which layer has the visual preview / wire frame and where the centre of the transformation is.
Yesterday, 08:32 AM (This post was last modified: Yesterday, 08:35 AM by rich2005.)
Ah, I re-read your post and realised I had not answered the question, deleted the post (not quick enough)
I will leave it, might help someone.
The only way I can see, and it is similar to the new distribute tool which can put layers out-of-sequence,.... is move the desired layer to the top of the stack, do the rotation, move the layer back into correct order.
You can of course, eyeball the center of rotation and click-drag to move
Yesterday, 08:35 AM (This post was last modified: Yesterday, 08:36 AM by Ofnuts.)
(Yesterday, 07:07 AM)teapot Wrote: Hi, I'm just tying to understand the details of selecting multiple layers. I get that you can do this with shift or ctrl keys. If for example you wanted to rotate three layers, what's the rule to say which one is used for the "preview" while you are adjusting the rotate?
In gimp 2.10 you could link the layers and choose which one is active so that's the one that's used while you are adjusting the rotate.
You can get all the layers in the preview together using the Composited preview:
Yesterday, 08:44 AM (This post was last modified: Yesterday, 09:10 AM by teapot.)
Thanks Rich, I was trying and failing to spot a pattern, but I think that's likely it. If so it's not so good.
I think what might have confused me is that if you move the layer in the layer stack while the layers are selected it doesn't change which one gets the preview. So possibly you have to move the desired layer to the top of the stack before selecting the layers or something like that, I'm not sure.
PS: Changing to a light colour theme was the first thing I did
(Yesterday, 08:35 AM)Ofnuts Wrote:
(Yesterday, 07:07 AM)teapot Wrote: Hi, I'm just tying to understand the details of selecting multiple layers. I get that you can do this with shift or ctrl keys. If for example you wanted to rotate three layers, what's the rule to say which one is used for the "preview" while you are adjusting the rotate?
In gimp 2.10 you could link the layers and choose which one is active so that's the one that's used while you are adjusting the rotate.
You can get all the layers in the preview together using the Composited preview:
Thank you Ofnuts, I hadn't spotted that. Just tried it, I'm still getting the centre of rotation based on one of the three layers but the composite view is helpful.
PS Just observing MyBB is merging my separate replies into one at the end of the thread, is that a forum setting?
(Yesterday, 08:44 AM)teapot Wrote: Thanks Rich, I was trying and failing to spot a pattern, but I think that's likely it. If so it's not so good.
I think what might have confused me is that if you move the layer in the layer stack while the layers are selected it doesn't change which one gets the preview. So possibly you have to move the desired layer to the top of the stack before selecting the layers or something like that, I'm not sure.
PS: Changing to a light colour theme was the first thing I did
(Yesterday, 08:35 AM)Ofnuts Wrote:
(Yesterday, 07:07 AM)teapot Wrote: Hi, I'm just tying to understand the details of selecting multiple layers. I get that you can do this with shift or ctrl keys. If for example you wanted to rotate three layers, what's the rule to say which one is used for the "preview" while you are adjusting the rotate?
In gimp 2.10 you could link the layers and choose which one is active so that's the one that's used while you are adjusting the rotate.
You can get all the layers in the preview together using the Composited preview:
Thank you Ofnuts, I hadn't spotted that. Just tried it, I'm still getting the centre of rotation based on one of the three layers but the composite view is helpful.
PS Just observing MyBB is merging my separate replies into one at the end of the thread, is that a forum setting?
Yes, but you can drag the centre of rotation where you want. Still The UI could be improved here IMHO.
Yes, if you make two posts within 60 minutes of each other, and no-one posts in between.
Today, 02:08 AM (This post was last modified: Today, 02:09 AM by teapot.)
(Yesterday, 02:23 PM)Ofnuts Wrote: Yes, but you can drag the centre of rotation where you want. Still The UI could be improved here IMHO.
Thanks Ofnuts. Putting guides on the appropriate layer first would help positioning the centre of rotation.
I agree a better UI would be nice. I had wondered if the order the layers are selected in is significant, but clearly it isn't.
I also like Rich's suggestion of moving the layer to the top of the layer stack as it allows choice of centre, corners and mid edges using that little icon thing in the transform box. Sometimes it might be easier to duplicate the appropriate layer and position that at top of the layer stack, saving the hassle of positioning the layer back at the cost of transforming an extra layer.
(Yesterday, 02:23 PM)Ofnuts Wrote: Yes, if you make two posts within 60 minutes of each other, and no-one posts in between.
Interesting. I usually look at the last post date and time in the forum index to see if there's anything new to read, so I guess that would miss some follow up replies.
5 hours ago (This post was last modified: 5 hours ago by rich2005.)
@teapot
I did say back in post no. 4 that the user might eye-ball the center of rotation, but then I am just a rough old engineer.
Since you are good at coding I was going to suggest a script for center-line guides on the desired layer. However, I can re-cycle the old (ancient) Gregs Crosshairs script and it seems to work. Add center-lines to the layer before selecting the set.
(thinking of the distribute tool as a minus)
