Re: [Gimp-user] layers, new problem with old methods

[Steve Kinney <admin pilobilus net>]

On 01/21/2013 03:57 AM, Ofnuts wrote:

> On 01/21/2013 01:30 AM, Richard Gitschlag wrote:
> > As GIMP concepts go, floating selections have always existed in
> > GIMP and they really are something that needs to be killed off
> > with fire because of how big a stumbling block they are to new users.
>
> *applauds*

If I recall correctly, "floats" existed before "layers" in the GIMP,
as a mechanism for moving pasted-in content around before merging it
into the image.  Floats were not a problem for me when I was
learning how to use the GIMP, and now I take them so much for
granted that it's kind of tricky to think about the impact of doing
away with them.

Floats enable and require the user to explicitly anchor pasted
content somewhere, i.e. make a new layer for it, merge it down into
an existing layer, or merge it down into a layer mask.  Whether I
would be OK with floats being done away with, would depend on the
proposed mechanism for targeting where pasted content lands in the
layer stack:  A proposed replacement for floats would have to
accomplish the same results in a smaller number of steps, or the
same number of steps but in a way that is substantially easier for a
beginner to understand and use.

Right now I can't think of a way to improve on the existing
"floating layer" workflow.

:o)

Steve