How to transform a layer and a path both together?

[teapot]

Hi,

In gimp 3 (currently 3.0.4) how do I transform a layer and a path both together with a transform tool such as move, rotate, scale etc.

In gimp 2 I can lock them both and then use a transform tool to transform both by the same transformation.

In gimp 3 I can have the path selected in the paths dialog and the layer selected in the layers dialog but as far as I can spot so far a transform tool will transform one or the other not both.

Thanks for any help.

[rich2005]

Transform linked layer and path using Gimp 3.0.x - the short answer is no. I think Ofnuts posted a bug report about it. It is possible in Gimp 3.2 (dev) which has implemented vector layers. A bit like this: https://sendvid.com/l745lfeh

Using Debian 13 ? You are probably stuck on Gimp 3.0.4 for ever. Might have to use a flatpak or an appimage.

[teapot]

Thanks Rich,

That's the first time I've seen a vector layer in action.

I'm wondering if it still allows transforming of both layer and path together in each of these three typical cases:

1. Select a path, fill a layer mask.

2. Make a path over say a photograph to use the path as a guide when drawing.

3. Select a path and fill a layer with a gradient.

Also if modifying the layer e.g.  by applying filters or tools e.g. paint tool maintains the connection between layer and path.

Can't say I'm looking forward to it.

[CmykStudent]

teapot: Hi! I'm one of the people who worked on vector layers for 3.2.


For vector layers, you can apply filters non-destructively and it'll still around as you transform the associated path. If you want to paint on the vector layer or apply filters destructively like 2.10, you'll need to rasterize it first (which removes the connection to the path). You can revert the rasterization if you want, but that'll remove your destructive edits.

I'm working on vector layer masks (see: CmykStudent: "One last "big" feature I'm try…" - Fosstodon), which will be non-destructive and will keep the layer mask attached to the path. For now, those three operations you mentioned are still destructive and so there won't be an association with the path and layer.

[teapot]

(11-20-2025, 02:54 AM)CmykStudent Wrote: teapot: Hi! I'm one of the people who worked on vector layers for 3.2.


For vector layers, you can apply filters non-destructively and it'll still around as you transform the associated path. If you want to paint on the vector layer or apply filters destructively like 2.10, you'll need to rasterize it first (which removes the connection to the path). You can revert the rasterization if you want, but that'll remove your destructive edits.

I'm working on vector layer masks (see: CmykStudent: "One last "big" feature I'm try…" - Fosstodon), which will be non-destructive and will keep the layer mask attached to the path. For now, those three operations you mentioned are still destructive and so there won't be an association with the path and layer.

Hi CmykStudent,

Thanks for your reply. These new features would be great if they were in addition to existing capabilities, but what you describe sounds like the uses of the path tool will become limited. 

I just did a simple drawing of a flower to try out the gimp 3 path tool. The petals, stem, shading shapes and lines are all defined by paths. Each petal on a separate layer and having it's own paths. Shading done with gradients, Gaussian blur, paintbrush tool, stroking paths etc. Having partially made a petal I wanted to move it keeping both it's layer and associated paths together. That's just a simple case. The result is here:
https://gimpchat.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&...80#p299849

The path tool in 2.10 is very versatile and powerful I would hate to see it curtailed.  It sounds like drawing with the path tool will no longer be practical. In 2.10 I use  locking layers to paths a lot.

PS: The auto connecting open strokes was a pain too but that's another issue I raised here:
https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-Gimp-3...onnections

[CmykStudent]

teapot: I think it's two separate issues. When multi-selection was added in the docks, the chain link feature was removed. This accidentally caused the issue that Ofnuts has noted on our tracker - you can't select both paths and layers at the same time anymore. That happened way before vector layers were implemented. We need to think of a solution for that - ideas welcome!

You can still use the path tool to draw destructively like in 2.10 - you just use Fill/Stroke Path (as before) instead of creating a vector layer. We do intend to keep improving vector layers of course (for instance, adding a gradient fill on top of the existing color/pattern fill is on the TODO list).

Your flower drawing is quite beautiful by the way!

[Tas_mania]

CmykStudent said

Quote:apply filters destructively like 2.10

I disagree with this. If you duplicate a layer, you can apply a filter to the new layer. If not happy you can delete the layer. In many cases you can also 'undo' in one go.

[CmykStudent]

Tas_mania: Hi! When I say "destructively", I mean in comparison to non-destructive filters. For regular layers, you can either apply a filter destructively (so it merges down immediately) or non-destructively (so it floats above and is editable).


With vector layers, you can only apply non-destructively - you're not able to immediately merge the filter down (like in 2.10) without it converting to a regular layer. You can revert this and change it back to a vector layer, but it'll lose all destructive edits (same way if you do that to a text layer).

[Tas_mania]

Thanks CmykStudent, I'm familiar with how text boxes can be 're-activated' but I haven't used 3.2 yet. Maybe vector layers will see popular use?

[Scallact]

(11-20-2025, 02:54 AM)CmykStudent Wrote: teapot: Hi! I'm one of the people who worked on vector layers for 3.2.


For vector layers, you can apply filters non-destructively and it'll still around as you transform the associated path. If you want to paint on the vector layer or apply filters destructively like 2.10, you'll need to rasterize it first (which removes the connection to the path). You can revert the rasterization if you want, but that'll remove your destructive edits.

I'm working on vector layer masks (see: CmykStudent: "One last "big" feature I'm try…" - Fosstodon), which will be non-destructive and will keep the layer mask attached to the path. For now, those three operations you mentioned are still destructive and so there won't be an association with the path and layer.

Oh yes !!! 

At first, I understood "masks on vector layers", and told myself: "but it already works" (on 3.2rc). Then of course I got it when clicking on the link. That's huge!


I can't thank you enough for your remarkable work within the GIMP team!


Speaking of masks, I have experimented with the new workaround suggested by Jehan for "simulating" adjustment layers with empty layer groups on passthrough mode. It's great, but makes more obvious an issue that I have observed since layer masks on groups exist. If you put layers in the group, and the smallest layer is smaller than the image, the group mask gets cropped to the layer's size. My workaround was to always put an empty layer with full size inside the group. 

But now the issue becomes even more annoying, because you can't "regrow" the hidden mask of non-destructive filters. And there are a few weird behaviours linked to that issue for attached filters (even for a single layer). Don't know if my description makes any sense. I should have reported that bug already, but you know how time flies...