New user - layers question

[Allen]

Hi all. I am trying to do a photo collage (for a jigsaw) with one photo as the main background and then several others layered in and bordered which I will then eventually all flatten image for the final step. However when I copy in the smaller images as 'new layer', I can't seem to add a border to them even though the layer is selected. It adds the border to the main base layer photo not the one I have selected. I can rotate the smaller layers, soft focus etc, so they are definitely selected, it just seems to be the border than I can't add. I know I somehow managed to do this for a Christmas puzzle last year but I now can't figure it out. Help please!

[Ofnuts]

(11-21-2024, 07:52 PM)Allen Wrote: Hi all. I am trying to do a photo collage (for a jigsaw) with one photo as the main background and then several others layered in and bordered which I will then eventually all flatten image for the final step. However when I copy in the smaller images as 'new layer', I can't seem to add a border to them even though the layer is selected. It adds the border to the main base layer photo not the one I have selected. I can rotate the smaller layers, soft focus etc, so they are definitely selected, it just seems to be the border than I can't add. I know I somehow managed to do this for a Christmas puzzle last year but I now can't figure it out. Help please!

Probably because the layer is just big enough to fit the image you have put in it. If you want to add a border outside the image, you have to enlarge the layer (Layer > Layer boundary size or Layer > Layer to image size.

[Allen]

I actually want to add a border to the image itself and I just noticed the the border adds itself as another layer at the size of the background image. How can I add a white border to a small layered image. If I have the layer selected (yellow dotted line) and I do Filters->Decor->Add border it adds this new layer; maybe I am trying to add a border to my small image incorrectly?
(also can I attach images to these chats, might be easier to show you the snip image)

[Ofnuts]

Link  to the "image Attachments howto" at the top right of this page 

If you want to add a border to the whole image you just have to enlarge the image to the size with border (Image > Canvas size), then add a layer, bucket fill it with the border color, and move it to the bottom (Layer > Stack > Layer to bottom) or drag it down in the Layers list.

[rich2005]

(11-21-2024, 10:05 PM)Allen Wrote: I actually want to add a border to the image itself and I just noticed the the border adds itself as another layer at the size of the background image. How can I add a white border to a small layered image. If I have the layer selected (yellow dotted line) and I do Filters->Decor->Add border it adds this new layer; maybe I am trying to add a border to my small image incorrectly?
(also can I attach images to these chats, might be easier to show you the snip image)

You can use a selection and Edit -> Stroke selection but....

Select -> Select All selects all the canvas even when the small image layer is active so you need a work-around.

Use the Fuzzy select tool and a maximum threshold value (255) 
or...ticking the Draw mask option then clicking in the small image layer, drag the mouse until the whole layer shows magenta. Release mouse for selection.

Set the FG colour to the colour you want.

Then Edit -> Stroke selection  and use twice the width required (half is outside the layer and not used)

Tidy up, select none ...etc

A 30 second demo: https://i.imgur.com/yzmjoJI.mp4

[PixLab]

(11-21-2024, 07:52 PM)Allen Wrote: Hi all. I am trying to do a photo collage (for a jigsaw) with one photo as the main background and then several others layered in and bordered which I will then eventually all flatten image for the final step. However when I copy in the smaller images as 'new layer', I can't seem to add a border to them even though the layer is selected. It adds the border to the main base layer photo not the one I have selected. I can rotate the smaller layers, soft focus etc, so they are definitely selected, it just seems to be the border than I can't add. I know I somehow managed to do this for a Christmas puzzle last year but I now can't figure it out. Help please!

A simple way is to use the Drop Shadow filter (this will add the border outside of the image, not shrinking the image itself), go to Filters > Light and Shadow > Drop Shadow..., Put X and Y to 0, Blur radius to 0, the 'Grow shape = Square, Grow radius = the thickness of the border, then the color bar to white (click on it), and opacity to 1 or above, then you can save those setting like I show in the screenshot to call the saved preset (before clicking OK to apply the effect) in one click later on.