unable to use clone after adding text

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unable to use clone after adding text - picbyer* - 05-23-2021

I just can't figure out why, after adding text to a doc, I can't go back and use the clone tool. I am trying to clean up a scanned document that has been photocopied too many times. It is a plot map of a cemetery and I am removing the dark background/numbers but leaving the lines of the individual plots. Then I go back and replace the hand written plot numbers with Text numbers. But when I go back to try to use clone to work on another row, I can't get it to use the selected clean portion to "erase" the dark pixels. I think it may be something to do with layers but I don't know how to use them. I've not found the correct tutorial for this yet. Hope someone can help without getting too technical.
Thank you

RE: unable to use clone after adding text - rich2005 - 05-23-2021

Quote:I think it may be something to do with layers but I don't know how to use them. I've not found the correct tutorial for this yet. Hope someone can help without getting too technical.

I do not think you will find a tutorial anywhere that is particularly relevant. Your screenshot shows 19 layers but no layers dialogue. That is one of the hazards of rearranging docks, at least the tool options are showing.
What is the clone tool mode ? Off the screenshot below where it says 'Source' . That might have a bearing on the problem, however, more probably you are on a text layer rather than the base image layer.

Have a look at this https://youtu.be/EUVUJDZuyAs It might / might not help with the clone tool and proposes a different method. Not too long, duration about 3 minutes

RE: unable to use clone after adding text - picbyer* - 05-23-2021

(05-23-2021, 03:35 PM)rich2005 Wrote:
Quote:I think it may be something to do with layers but I don't know how to use them. I've not found the correct tutorial for this yet. Hope someone can help without getting too technical.

I do not think you will find a tutorial anywhere that is particularly relevant. Your screenshot shows 19 layers but no layers dialogue. That is one of the hazards of rearranging docks, at least the tool options are showing.
What is the clone tool mode ? Off the screenshot below where it says 'Source' . That might have a bearing on the problem, however, more probably you are on a text layer rather than the base image layer.

Have a look at this https://youtu.be/EUVUJDZuyAs It might / might not help with the clone tool and proposes a different method. Not too long, duration about 3 minutes

Oh wow. Did you make that tutorial in a few minutes? That Paint option is fantastic. I had no idea I could get rid of the black background so easily in one shot. Will try all that and see how it works.

That is awesome help. Thanks so much.

(05-23-2021, 04:48 PM)picbyer* Wrote:
(05-23-2021, 03:35 PM)rich2005 Wrote:
Quote:I think it may be something to do with layers but I don't know how to use them. I've not found the correct tutorial for this yet. Hope someone can help without getting too technical.

I do not think you will find a tutorial anywhere that is particularly relevant. Your screenshot shows 19 layers but no layers dialogue. That is one of the hazards of rearranging docks, at least the tool options are showing.
What is the clone tool mode ? Off the screenshot below where it says 'Source' . That might have a bearing on the problem, however, more probably you are on a text layer rather than the base image layer.

Have a look at this https://youtu.be/EUVUJDZuyAs It might / might not help with the clone tool and proposes a different method. Not too long, duration about 3 minutes
Oh wow. Did you make that tutorial in a few minutes? That Paint option is fantastic. I had no idea I could get rid of the black background so easily in one shot. Will try all that and see how it works.

That is awesome help. Thanks so much.

The source was a fixed portion of the white that I had cleaned before. I have no idea what the clone tool mode is. But I am going to the other option and see how that works. I have already decided to just clean the entire page and then add the numbers back in. And save them in between.

RE: unable to use clone after adding text - rich2005 - 05-23-2021

Quote:I had no idea I could get rid of the black background so easily in one shot. Will try all that and see how it works.

Only easy for a particular sort of image. You will find with Gimp that all sorts of ways to get a result. Never limit yourself to a single way.

RE: unable to use clone after adding text - picbyer* - 05-23-2021

(05-23-2021, 04:54 PM)rich2005 Wrote:
Quote:I had no idea I could get rid of the black background so easily in one shot. Will try all that and see how it works.

Only easy for a particular sort of image. You will find with Gimp that all sorts of ways to get a result. Never limit yourself to a single way.

I really have to thank you. It is all done. I did like the really dark part, so did not use the blurring.
As you could see from before, I was "erasing" all the dark spots to white very tediously a few clicks at a time. Now this will take 15 minutes instead of hours and days. I am doing this for a cemetery that has over 100 maps that have been continuously re photocopied. I can now fix most of them in a few days, and no need to renumber then at all.
Peer support is so useful!

RE: unable to use clone after adding text - Krikor - 05-25-2021

Humm, as usual I am not sure if I am understanding the situation here.
It seems to me that it would be simpler to redo the table and then enter the numbers later.

Another way would be to use the plugins :
A- ofn-path-filter-strokes.py
B- ofn-remove-grid.py

01- Using Filter B, I removed the grid around the numbers.
02- With adjust color curves I removed the 'dirt' leaving only the numbers on a white background.
03- With filter A, I isolated and kept only the grid on a transparent background.
04- I merged the layers obtained in steps 02 and 03.
[Image: PpOFasg.png]

For a better result it is necessary to first clean up the grid, moving some numbers away from the grid border and correcting the color selection made by the plugins.

RE: unable to use clone after adding text - picbyer* - 05-25-2021

(05-25-2021, 06:11 PM)Krikor Wrote: Humm, as usual I am not sure if I am understanding the situation here.
It seems to me that it would be simpler to redo the table and then enter the numbers later.

Another way would be to use the plugins :
A- ofn-path-filter-strokes.py
B- ofn-remove-grid.py

01- Using Filter B, I removed the grid around the numbers.
02- With adjust color curves I removed the 'dirt' leaving only the numbers on a white background.
03- With filter A, I isolated and kept only the grid on a transparent background.
04- I merged the layers obtained in steps 02 and 03.

For a better result it is necessary to first clean up the grid, moving some numbers away from the grid border and correcting the color selection made by the plugins.

Thank you for the suggestion, but as I did not give a picture of the entire map, it won't work to create a new grid. These are copies of cemetery maps, some of which are in circles and wedges. The previous fix works in a few minutes and then I can just go in and clean up some of the numbers that are not so good with the clone tool. I actually copy some from other areas that are clearer and can be done in no time. I don't know how to get plugins. I am pretty new with this. The other person advised I have 17 layers and can't even figure out how he knows that.
I really appreciate all the help -- I could not do this without it! Will keep in mind what you said for anything that does not work in the paint/color/threshold fix! ( I am keeping a word doc with all the instructions to look up when I can't remember)