What could be cage transform's problem

[Redraw]

I read with interest ( curiousity ) the advice on here about not using cage transform

https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-How-do...5#pid26445

and wondering what is the reason for this , I've looked here (GF) and searched with DDG apart from crashing The Gimp, a problem I've not had for a long time, maybe just lucky pickings of Linux distros, there is no dire warning about cage transform usage.

So far it's the only tool that can change a normal car image into a modified or exaggerated car image, getting there thou I need more practice.
Regards
ReDraw

[PixLab]

OK it's my post. I'll answer with MY point of view and personal advice

This tool not only degrades pixels, but you do not have any true controls on it and the few videos speaking about it you saw on Youtube are made by people which have no idea what they are doing! And they show you only the "growing"...

First of all if you want to use it properly you do need to cut out the part you want to transform and put it on a new layer , because you will spend time cleaning edges and artifacts. (tip: do not forget to put that new "pasted" layer at image size before starting to select/put nodes)
If you don't cut out you will get this(below): Good luck to clean the mess...

   

Secondly, it degrades pixels badly and quickly... more than the other transform tools.
As an image is worth thousands words.

   

Selection is only straight lines...

Algorithm to transform is... WTF      below just inverting corners, top left -> bottom left, and vice versa, then top right to bottom right and vice versa...
What is that???? (OK it might be only me, as I have to use the Krita's mesh transform tool for extreme transform that GIMP can't do -> http://gimpchat.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=19437 )

   

Also why this tool left some part of the image below? with artifacts....
And so...
But... Today...

---------------

And because of you, I did tried it today for the screenshots...
Let's face it, it's better, faster and did not bug as it has to use (GIMP 2.10.30 PPA from Jim),
So I will look a bit more into it with this last iteration of GIMP and may be less criticizing it to some extend  
Thanks @Redraw for forcing me to re-discover this tool.

[Redraw]

PixLab I appreciate the detailed answer

Quote:This tool not only degrades pixels, but you do not have any true controls on it

Must agree about the true control sometimes it just goes off after pressing 'enter' and the changes don't  seem to be how and where supposed to be.
Althou that has improved of lately

Quote:First of all if you want to use it properly you do need to cut out the part you want to transform and put it on a new layer

Had not considered doing that , brilliant Idea   hint

Quote:If you don't cut out you will get this(below): Good luck to clean the mess...

I did find that a Pain, but ( one T ) the clone tool give an acceptable fix_ sometimes _ use with care

Quote:degrades pixels badly and quickly... more than the other transform tools

I guess I know the answer that, that there is no way to fix damaged and/or degraded pixels, um

Quote:it's better, faster and did not bug as it has to use  (GIMP 2.10.30 PPA from Jim)

It did go thru a buggy stage in any ( every ) Linux distro  that I used back then , I've never used PPA so cannot say .

Quote:may be less criticizing it to some extend

No need to say criticizing I think a better word is critique,  yes ?
If it was not for you this would have stayed in the UH I DUNNO basket, it's pointing out the faults in software that maybe fixes happen or not.

Appreciated and Thank You PixLab for taking time to answer, very detailed thanks.

 Kind Regards
ReDraw