09-19-2020, 07:47 AM
(09-18-2020, 10:38 PM)Tek420 Wrote: Hi All,
Not new to GIMP but never use it because I always hit a wall doing things almost immediately. I really want to learn this hench my question and not giving up.
I have an image, a .png file exported from Inkscape, that has the attached pics for 'Layers', 'Channels', and just a little of the actual image. From what I see and I think is the problem is the layer is the 'Background' and the 'image data' is all in the Alpha Channel only.
My issue is I want to erase some of this to simplify bits but as I said the 'image data' is in the Alpha Channel so I can not use erase and have it do anything. I see in the 'Undo Hostory' that it performs an Erase
I have tried all sorts of things from filters, copying/adding/deleting the layers/channels to another, breaking apart, converting into different file types, ... too many to list or remember and NOTHING I can do can allow me to erase some of the lines.
The question I am asking is how can I get the 'image info' into another channel or layer or format or ANYTHING that would allow me to erase some of those black lines to alpha? I know I have done this in the past but not constantly and can never figure out the 'why' I can't. I have been Googling for hours and it's just a strange thing to explain and type out for a search and all I get is basic stuff on the alpha channel that has not helped.
ANY help would very greatly be appreciated!!
Dave
Since all the data is in the alpha channel, you need to edit the alpha channel. And to edit the alpha channel of a layer, you use a layer mask. This mask is a black and white image that represents the alpha channel (black is transparent, white is opaque). To "erase" things, you need to make them transparent, so instead of using the eraser, you paint them in black on the mask using the paint brush. When you are done, you "Apply" the mask.