[Griatch]

I couldn't find anything searching for "multilayer select" or similar, so I ask here.

Say I have an image with multiple layers; like for example (ordered as in layer list):

layer 5: Highlights
layer 4: colour shadows
layer 3: colour base
layer 2: sketch
layer 1: Background

Say I was painting a face for example, and having done colouring and all, I realize I want the mouth to be moved a bit. Now, I can select e.g. the sketch of the mouth (in layer 2) and drag it a bit upwards. Problem is that all the colouring of the mouth lies on other layers and won't follow when I move, and flattening the image is not an option if it's a work in progress. I suppose one could save the selection as a layer mask or something, and drag each layer into position individually, but what a hassle!

Is there a way to "deep select" something in GIMP, so that I can move the mouth and all its colouring (say, the selected part of layers 2-5 above) at the same time?

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[stefcho_94]

Phew lets see...
First dup scetch. hide one of them. Select the mouth and move the sketch first.
Then on the second scetch (untouched one) select mouth again and on color move mouth. I think that should work :). Then delete one of the scetches (the untouched one) :)

[Griatch]

Hmm ... that works, but it still requires matching many different moves into a final result. This can be done if the sketch and colouring is simple, but if the shades and colour layers are very subtle it becomes very hard to match them all back together in the end.

Like this:

Base layout sketch



Light base



Colour highlights



Colour tint



Combines to final result:




See my problem with moving selections within these layers individually? ;-)
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Griatch



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[PhotoComix]

Maybe if you visualize the grid or you set some guide that will help

[Griatch]

So there really is no way to deep-select then and move several layer's selections at the same time?
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Griatch

[Fatal Edge]

Not that I know of.

Best way I know of is to select each area to move and float each selection and set as new layer each. Then once all selected areas are as new layers you could click the square next to the eye on each layer to link them and move the layers so they all move as one. Then you just merge them back down afterwards.

Awkward I know, but they would all move together then.

[Griatch]

@Insanity Prevails

Hmm, yes that would indeed work. Thanks! I couldn't be bothered to do that for many layers though, so one should probably script it, something which should be doable. Haven't worked in Scheme for so long though ... time to brush off the old procedural programming skills.
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[swmiller6]

Can't you just link the layers you want to move?

Edit--
Sorry I did not realize you had other things you did not want moved on the same layer as the coloring for the mouth..

swmiller6

[Fabozi]

I think linking is eough you can move as many layers as you want at the time.

[Griatch]

@Fabozi

As swmiller already noted, that method only works for entire layers, not for selections within a layer.
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[saulgoode]

http://flashingtwelv.../deep-float.scm

Script-Fu->Float Linked Layers - "Float the selection on each linked layer, creating a new one above it"

Script-Fu->Merge Down Linked Layers - "Merge each linked layer with the one directly beneath it"

Behavior may be anomalous for certain layer blend modes.

[Griatch]

@saulgoode

Thanks a lot! The float layers script is very useful indeed! Already has had good use for it.

The merge down gives me an error; haven't had time to look at what's wrong, but it's one of those opaque Scheme error messages.

As for the issue of getting anomalies when merging down layers, that comes from the final layer going into "normal" mode reagardless of what modes the original two layers had (strange feature, coming to think of it). In this particular case I would think it could tbe avoided, since you know you'll always want to retain the original layer's mode (at least if using these two scripts together). Maybe one could save that mode before merging and and set it afterwards?
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[saulgoode]

Quote

The merge down gives me an error; haven't had time to look at what's wrong, but it's one of those opaque Scheme error messages.

Please let me know what the error is when you get the chance (hopefully, it is a "warning" and not an "error").

Quote

As for the issue of getting anomalies when merging down layers, that comes from the final layer going into "normal" mode reagardless of what modes the original two layers had (strange feature, coming to think of it). In this particular case I would think it could tbe avoided, since you know you'll always want to retain the original layer's mode (at least if using these two scripts together). Maybe one could save that mode before merging and and set it afterwards?

My script attempts to do precisely what you propose: it sets the mode of the floated layer to be the same as that of the original, and also restores the mode of the merged result. The reason I warned of possible anomalies is that I discovered what seems to be a bug in how layers are combined in the "Addition" mode. I will describe it below that you might be aware of it -- and also that you might report to me if you encounter any other anomalous behavior when combining other modes.

[*] Create a new image with two transparent layers, both set to "Addition" Mode
[*] On the top layer, make a selection and fill it with a color
[*] Turn off the visibility of the bottom layer (the contents of the top layer disappear)
[*] Move the bottom layer to the top (they reappear)

[Griatch]

@sauldgoods

Your scripting work on this is appreciated. I'll try to get you a clearer error description when I can. :-)

As for the addition mode, as I recall it, setting both layers to Addition will not show any results for me at all. You can fill both layers as much as you want and nothing will be shown. Same is true trying to add on top of an empty transparent/background "normal" layer. I agree this is strange; I would expect this from the "multiply" mode (mult anything with 0 returns 0 after all), but not from Addition. It would seem adding on top of zero colour values is not allowed; you need to have at least some colour value on the underlying layer before the addition layers work.

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Griatch