Using Alpha To Selection

[Lucasuk]

Hi there 

New to the forum and GIMP

I have been using CS2 for years ( I know really old!!!   ) but got fed up with it and been trying out GIMP.
Been going ok so far but one question i have is about using Alpha To Selection

I want to put mulit photos into a shape so looked at videos etc... and found that adding Alpha to Selection on the shape then putting a layer mask on the picture would put this in the shape.

Problem i have is how to do remove the alpha selection afterwards as any layer effect i would to do on something else only happens on that layer.
So example is if i wanted to do a drop shadow on text it wont appear but go on the shape with the alpha select on it.

Sure i am doing something wrong.

Cheers

[rich2005]

I think all you are missing is turning the selection off. Select -> None

Remember a mask is a "window" and needs something under it. A selection applies to all layers so for a photograph, this: https://i.imgur.com/hf2Omwx.jpg  Don't worry about my setup, I detached the layers dock for a better view.

Then killing the selection after adding the layer mask. https://i.imgur.com/8nAo3QH.jpg

The text layer can be anywhere above the images in the layer stack. One thing to note is adding a drop shadow creates a layer that is no longer text. https://i.imgur.com/43mzirs.jpg If you want to keep the text as text (as a backup), duplicate the layer and make it non-visible.

[Lucasuk]

(10-05-2022, 12:45 PM)rich2005 Wrote: I think all you are missing is turning the selection off. Select -> None

Remember a mask is a "window" and needs something under it. A selection applies to all layers so for a photograph, this: https://i.imgur.com/hf2Omwx.jpg  Don't worry about my setup, I detached the layers dock for a better view.

Then killing the selection after adding the layer mask. https://i.imgur.com/8nAo3QH.jpg

The text layer can be anywhere above the images in the layer stack. One thing to note is adding a drop shadow creates a layer that is no longer text. https://i.imgur.com/43mzirs.jpg If you want to keep the text as text (as a backup), duplicate the layer and make it non-visible.

You are a star. Cant believe thats all i was missing was the select none part. I have restarted this picture twice already