2. Image Structure Related Dialogs
| Chapter 14. Dialogs |

## 2. Image Structure Related Dialogs

The following dialogs let you control and manipulate image structures, such as layers, channels, or paths.

### 2.1. Layers Dialog

Figure 14.1. Layers Dialog

The “Layers” dialog is the main interface to edit, modify and manage your layers. You can think of layers as a stack of slides or clothes on your body. Using layers, you can construct an image of several conceptual parts, each of which can be manipulated without affecting any other part of the image. Layers are stacked on top of each other. The bottom layer is the background of the image, and the components in the foreground of the image come above it.

Figure 14.2. An image with layers

Layers of the image

Resulting image

#### 2.1.1. Activating the dialog

The “Layers” dialog is a dockable dialog; see the section Section 2.3, “Dialogs and Docking” for help on manipulating it.

You can access it:

- from the image menu: Windows → Dockable Dialogs → Layers;

- from the Tab menu in any dockable dialog by clicking on and selecting Add Tab → Layers,

- from the (default) shortcut: Ctrl+L.

In the Windows menu, there is a list of detached windows which exists only if at least one dialog remains open. In this case, you can raise the “Layers” dialog from the image-menu: Windows → Layers.

#### 2.1.2. Using the Layer dialog

Overview

  Every layer appears in the dialog in the form of a thumbnail. When an image has multiple layers as components, they appear as a list. The upper layer in the list is the first one visible, and the lowest layer the last visible, the background. Above the list one can find characteristics related individually to each layer. Under the list one can find management buttons for the layer list. A right-click in a layer thumbnail opens the Layer context menu.

Layer attributes

  Every layer is shown in the list along with its attributes:

  Layer visibility

    In front of the thumbnail is an icon showing an eye. By clicking on the eye, you toggle whether the layer is visible or not. (Shift-clicking on the eye causes all other to be temporarily hidden.)

  Chain layers

    Another icon, showing a chain, allows you to group layers for operations on more than one layer at a time (for example with the Move tool).

  Layer name

    The main attribute is the name of the layer. You can edit this by a double-click on the name or the thumbnail of the layer.

  | Note
  In the case of an animation layer (GIF or MNG), the name of the layer can be used to specify certain parameters : Layer_name (delay in ms) (combination mode), for example Frame-1 (100 ms) (replace). The delay sets the time during which the layer is visible in the animation. The combination mode sets whether you combine the layer with the previous layer or replace it: the two modes are (combine) or (replace).

Layers characteristics

  Above the layer list, it is possible to specify some properties for the active layer. The active layer is the one highlighted in blue. The properties are : "Layer mode", "Lock Alpha channel", and "Opacity".

  Layer modes

    The layer mode determines how the layer interacts with the other layers. From the combo box you can access all the modes provided by GIMP. The layer modes are fully detailed in Section 2, “Layer Modes”.

  Lock

    If you check this option the transparent areas of the layer will be kept, even if you have checked the Fill transparent areas option for the Bucket fill tool.

    Figure 14.3. Example for Locking Alpha Channel

    The active layer has three horizontal, opaque, green stripes on a transparent background. We paint a vertical red stripe. “Lock” unchecked: Opaque and transparent areas of the active layer are painted with red.

    “Lock” checked: Only opaque areas of the active layer are painted with red. Transparent areas are preserved.

    | Tip
    If a layer name in the Layer Dialog is in bold, then this layer has no Alpha channel.

  Opacity

    By moving the slider you give more or less opacity to the layer. With a 0 opacity value, the layer is transparent and completely invisible. Don't confuse this with a Layer Mask, which sets the transparency pixel by pixel.

Layer management

  Under the layer list a set of buttons allows you to perform some basic operations on the layer list.

  New layer

    Here you can create a new layer. A dialog is opened where you can enter the Layer name, perhaps change the default Height and Width, and choose the Layer fill type that will be the new layer's background.

  Raise layer

    Here you can move the layer up a level in the list. Press the Shift key to move the layer to the top of the list.

  Lower layer

    Here you can move the layer down a level in the list. Press the Shift key to move the layer to the bottom of the list.

    | Tip
    To move a layer at the bottom of the list, it may first be necessary to add a transparency channel (also called Alpha channel) to the Background layer. To do this, right click on the Background layer and select Add Alpha channel from the menu.

  Duplicate layer

    Here you can create a copy of the active layer. Name of new layer is suffixed with a number.

  Anchor layer

    When the active layer is a temporary layer (also called floating selection) shown by this icon , this button anchors it to the previous active layer.

  Delete layer

    Here you can delete the active layer.

More layer functions

  Other functions about layer size are available in the Layer Drop down menu you get by right clicking on the Layer Dialog. You can find them also in the Layer sub-menu of the image menu.

  You will find merging layers functions in the Image menu.

Clicking-and-dragging layers

  Click and hold on layer thumbnail: it enlarges and you can move it by dragging the mouse.

  - So you can put this layer down somewhere else in the layer list.

  - You can also put the layer down into Toolbox: a new image is created that contains this layer only.

  - Finally, you can put the layer down into another image: this layer will be added to the layer list, above existing layers.

#### 2.1.3. Layer masks

Figure 14.4. “Add mask” dialog

Overview

  A transparency mask can be added to each layer, it's called Layer mask. A layer mask has the same size and same pixel number as the layer to which it is attached. Every pixel of the mask can then be coupled with a pixel at the same location in the layer. The mask is a set of pixels in gray-tone on a value scale from 0 to 255. The pixels with a value 0 are black and give a full transparency to the coupled pixel in the layer. The pixels with a value 255 are white and give a full opacity to the coupled pixel in the layer.

  To create a layer mask start with a right click on the layer to call the context menu and select Add layer mask in the menu. A dialog appears where you can initialize the content of the mask:

  - White (full opacity): the mask is white in the Layer Dialog. So, all pixels of the layer are visible in the image window since painting the mask with white makes layer pixels fully visible. You will paint with black to make layer pixels transparent.

  - Black (full transparency): the mask is black in the Layer Dialog. So, the layer is fully transparent since painting the mask with black makes layer pixels transparent. Painting with white will remove the mask and make layer pixels visible.

  - Layer's alpha channel: the mask is initialized according to the content of layer Alpha channel. If the layer still contains transparency it's copied in the mask.

  - Transfer layer's alpha channel: Does the same thing as the previous option, except that it also resets the layer's alpha channel to full opacity.

  - Selection : the mask is initialized according to pixel values found in the selection.

  - Grayscale copy of layer: the mask is initialized according to pixel values of the layer.

  - Channel: The layer mask is initialized with a selection mask you have created before, stored in the Channel dialog.

  - Invert mask : This checkbox allows you to invert : black turns to white and white turns to black.

  When the mask is created it appears as a thumbnail right to the layer thumbnail. By clicking alternatively on the layer and mask thumbnail you can enable one or other. The active item has a white border (which is not well visible around a white mask). That's an important point. Always keep the Layers Dialog prominently when working with masks, because you can't see, looking at the canvas, which of the layer or the mask is active.

  Pressing Alt (or Ctrl+Alt and click on the layer mask thumbnail) is equivalent to the Show Layer Mask command : the layer mask border turns to green. If you press Ctrl the border is red and the result is equivalent to the Disable Layer Mask command. To return to normal view redo last operation. These options are for greater convenience in your work.

Layer Mask example

  Figure 14.5. A layer with layer mask

  This image has a background layer with a flower and another blue one, fully opaque. A white layer mask has been added to the blue layer. In the image window, the blue layer remains visible because a white mask makes layer pixels visible.

  Figure 14.6. Painting the layer mask

  The layer mask is active. You paint with black color, which makes the layer transparent : the underlying layer becomes visible.

Chapter 14. Dialogs |  | 2.2. Channels Dialog