[Gimp-user] dotted areas, how to erase (or change)

[rich <forums gimpusers com>]

> I've got a problem editing an image with a dotted background in it. By 'dotted', I mean an array of small 
> evenly spaced black dots on a white background. 

> I've tried the fuzzy select tool which kind of works. It fills in the white space with the color I want but 
> leaves the dots untouched. I want to get rid of the dots.

> The image has a lot of rectangles containing text (these are not dotted) on this dotted background so using 
> the select tool would be a real chore.

> Any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks

It very much depends on the image and the size of the dots.

The obvious is a mask of some sort but a quick solution might be

Filter -> generic -> dilate   This shrinks everything by 1 pix around the perimeter.

if the dots still show, do it again. If it takes more that that, give up now.

then

Filter -> generic -> erode  this add a pix around a perimeter, match this with the number of 'dilates'

If the the text or the box is small then chances are this will not work, you destroy what you want to keep.

-- 
rich (via gimpusers.com)