A sort of spotlight effect?

[MHSlim]

GIMP Version: 2.10
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: 7
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

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I'm mostly self-taught with GIMP (5+ years) and can do pretty much what I want to do with it, but I've been trying to figure out one thing I've wanted to try. I've never really used layer masks, and I figured I might be able to achieve what I'm aiming for with it.

*this is where the image would be if I could link to one but apparently that isn't kosher*

What I'm trying to do is make it so that a white circle acts as a "spotlight" for additional layers, like if I drag an image under (or over, if that's where the answer is) it for example, only what would be in the circle is visible and the remainder hidden by a transparent 'border' of sorts.

If it's possible, I would greatly appreciate seeing how to do this. If not, it's no big deal. It's more of a self-experiment I kept hitting dead-ends with and won't lose any sleep over.

[Wallace]

GIMP Version: 2.10
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: 7
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

---

I'm mostly self-taught with GIMP (5+ years) and can do pretty much what I want to do with it, but I've been trying to figure out one thing I've wanted to try. I've never really used layer masks, and I figured I might be able to achieve what I'm aiming for with it.

*this is where the image would be if I could link to one but apparently that isn't kosher*

What I'm trying to do is make it so that a white circle acts as a "spotlight" for additional layers, like if I drag an image under (or over, if that's where the answer is) it for example, only what would be in the circle is visible and the remainder hidden by a transparent 'border' of sorts.

If it's possible, I would greatly appreciate seeing how to do this. If not, it's no big deal. It's more of a self-experiment I kept hitting dead-ends with and won't lose any sleep over.

Hello MHSlim.
Welcome to Gimp Chat.

You have to make a few posts .
To be able to add links and stuff.


I really don't think a layer mask would be required.
However, you could use a layer mask,
if one was so inclined.

There are spotlight brushes to be had,
somewhere out there in the great expanse of the interweb.
That may be all you need.

As a matter of fact.
I have some light beam brushes,
that you might find useful.

Light Beame.zip

(12.2 MiB) Downloaded 402 times

[Konstantin]

I think OP is asking for a functionality that would be equal to a clipping mask in programs like PS.

Gimp got layermasks for layergroups in 2.10.

You could "clip" this group to a circle (aka the "spotlight"), and drag everything inside the group.
Then you can move the layers around as you like, without moving the spotlight.

I added a black background but it would also work with transparency.

Clip.jpg (161.67 KiB) Viewed 4225 times

[trandoductin]

Mask on a layergroup I didn't know you could do that..that's cool.

[level_0]

Thank you Wallace and thank you Konstantin

[Wallace]

Thank you Wallace and thank you Konstantin

[MHSlim]

Ah, thank you so much! I didn't realize layer groups were where that would work. I tried looking this up describing the search in different ways without much progress, so naturally I had to explain it here eventually.

If I run into another block I definitely know where to ask. Thanks again.