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[SOLVED]Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Wed Oct 19, 2022 9:11 am

GIMP Version: 2.10.18
Operating System: Linux
GIMP Experience: Experienced User



A search in GIMP Help for "zoom to layer" turns up nil, so I ask here,

"Does GIMP have a Zoom-to-Layer functionality?"

I tried finding it:
* under View->Zoom-> [No]
* by right-clicking on a layer [Sorry]
* Select->All on the smallest layer and View->Zoom->Zoom to Selection [Nope]

It sure would be handy, considering what I have to go through to zoom in on a tiny layer in a big picture.

Re: Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:38 am

Well, #3 works providing you know where your tiny layer is and you can draw a selection around it.

For those others who might wonder, it looks like this https://i.imgur.com/51Cx9rs.mp4

-----edit-------
At bit of fiddling and it looks like it is how the selection is made.

Try Layer -> Transparency -> Alpha to Selection It does not matter if the (tiny) layer has an alpha channel or not.
Then it is View -> Zoom -> Zoom to Selection

another 20 second animation of that sequence https://i.imgur.com/30JzGlF.mp4

Why Select -> Select All does not work, I do not know. Probably a bug that no one bothers about until you asked.

Re: Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:40 am

rich2005 wrote:Well, #3 works providing you know where your tiny layer is and you can draw a selection around it.


Rich, yours is actually a #4, requiring that the tiny layer be visible and drawing a selection around it.

In #3, I meant click on the layer in the list and then Select->All and try to zoom to selection. That, does not work, and a right-click-on-layer->zoom-to-layer function would be the best of all ways.

Re: Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:42 am

Ok we crossed in posting. A sort of solution found

Ahh.. I will just copy/ paste

At bit of fiddling and it looks like it is how the selection is made.

Try Layer -> Transparency -> Alpha to Selection It does not matter if the (tiny) layer has an alpha channel or not.
Then it is View -> Zoom -> Zoom to Selection

another 20 second animation of that sequence https://i.imgur.com/30JzGlF.mp4

Why Select -> Select All does not work, I do not know. Probably a bug that no one bothers about until you asked.

Re: Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Wed Oct 19, 2022 4:27 pm

rich2005 wrote:
Why Select -> Select All does not work, I do not know. Probably a bug that no one bothers about until you asked.


Because "Select all" is a selection on whole image, even if the ants circle the active layer.

Re: Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Wed Oct 19, 2022 4:31 pm

There is also a Zoom tool that has a rectangle select function too

Re: Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Thu Oct 20, 2022 2:22 am

ofnuts wrote:
rich2005 wrote:
Why Select -> Select All does not work, I do not know. Probably a bug that no one bothers about until you asked.


Because "Select all" is a selection on whole image, even if the ants circle the active layer.


Yes, I gathered that, maybe I have to rephrase that to "Why do the ants circle the active layer when the whole canvas is selected ? "

Looks like the quickest way is to assign a couple of keys to Alpha-to-Selection and Zoom-to-Selection

Re: Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Thu Oct 20, 2022 2:52 am

rich2005 wrote:Yes, I gathered that, maybe I have to rephrase that to "Why do the ants circle the active layer when the whole canvas is selected ? "


Because the ants circle the affected pixels, that are the intersection of a selection mask and the layer (which, with `Select All`, is the layer itself, at least when it is all within the canvas boundaries).

Re: Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Thu Oct 20, 2022 9:56 am

Uzugijin wrote:There is also a Zoom tool that has a rectangle select function too



I have not seen this. That would be great. Could you provide more information?
Thank you.

[EDIT: As a result of your hint, I searched for "GIMP +'zoom tool' +'rectangle select' and learned--ridiculously late--that GIMP has a 'Z' keyboard shortcut with loads of functionality, including the '+', '-', and the 'rectangle select' you mentioned.

VERY Helpful--EXACTLY what I was looking for!
THANK you!]

Re: [SOLVED]Does GIMP [2.10] have a "zoom to layer" function?

Thu Oct 20, 2022 10:28 am

gramp Glad I could help! ;)
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