Selecting more than one layer mask?

[teapot]

In Gimp 3.2.0 RC3:

The tip for the cross icon at the bottom right of the layers dialog when a layer mask is selected is plural, it says: "Remove layer masks and their effect" This seems to imply that more than one layer mask can be selected but I can't see a way to do it.  When using shift or ctrl to select more than one item in the layers dialog, it activates the layer and not the layer mask even when clicking on layer masks.  What does the tip refer to?

[rich2005]

Gimp 3.2 RC3 appimage.
It is probably a bug rather than a typo, something intended rather than implemented. As far as I can tell, it is not possible to multi-select just the layer masks, all layer masks showing white borders. Just the layers + layermask.  You can multi-apply from the context menu which has the same tooltip and that works. (the same in Gimp 3.0.8)

   

[teapot]

Thanks Rich,

Did some more trials.

The following adds layer masks to all the layers and leaves the white outline around all the masks that should indicate all the masks are active:

Create several layers without layer masks.
Select all the layers.
Layer -> Mask -> Add layer masks

However, despite the highlight, the masks are considered active in some cases and not active in others.

Example of masks not active:
When using the move tool on 'Move the selected layers', both the layers and their masks are moved. Whereas if the mask was active just the mask would move.

Example of masks active:
Hover over the cross icon at the bottom left of the layer dialog, it says: "Remove layer masks and their effect". Clicking on the cross does indeed delete the masks.

[rich2005]

(Yesterday, 05:45 AM)teapot Wrote: Did some more trials.

The following adds layer masks to all the layers and leaves the white outline around all the masks that should indicate all the masks are active:

Create several layers without layer masks.
Select all the layers.
Layer -> Mask -> Add layer masks

However, despite the highlight, the masks are considered active in some cases and not active in others.
....snip...

Thanks, adds a bit more to the knowledge base

My only comment is:  Very specific, selecting several layers -> Add layermasks as one operation and then the remove all does work.

It is not a regular workflow, one at a time is usual.  Add another layer mask to previous, as a separate operation and it is back to individual selected layer masks.

[teapot]

I raised it as an issue, it was a pain to write out but hopefully it makes sense:
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/-/issues/15989

Now we can select multiple layers I find the terminology a pain as select can also mean the marching ant type of selection so it's hard to write the reproduction steps up clearly.