GIMP Version: 2.6.11
Operating System: Mac OS
OS Version: XP - SP3
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

---

OK being bald helps when it comes to pulling hair out!
I have an image which has layers and paths.

Question 1.
How do I change the colours of a path once it is stroked?

Question 2
How do I merge my paths with my layers so that I can save the image in .jpeg format? Each time I try and save what I see on the screen the resultant image does not include my stroked paths!!

Simple if you know how but right now I can't see the wood for the trees or is it the trees for the wood?

Question 2:
you dont, a path is not "merged" with a jpg
it can be saved in an xcf file

Question 1:
use colorize or another tool that manipulates colors
or
delete the layer and stroke the path in another color

Question 2
Before you export to jpg try using a New Layer from Visible.
Edit,
I just reread the question, your path will not save in a jpg.

Will it save as a .png?
Otherwise how to I save a stroked path in an image to use on a PDF document?

it appears like you have a misconception about paths (or i am getting you totally wrong)

a path is something you make in GIMP with the path tool
it is saved in the paths tab - there you can turn it on or off

when turned on, it is red, when two or more paths are turned on, the active one will be red and the other one(s) blue

a path is not visible in a merged down picture unless you stroke it
it is like a selection - a selection will not be visible in a saved picture as well

for the most control it is best to stroke your path on a seperate layer, so that you can delete it, without destroying the whole picture

and you can merge down that layer, like any layer

the path is only visible in your final image if you stroke it, but you cant save the path in a jpg or png
you can save the path in an xcf file

so if you stroked the path, just merge down your layers and save it in whatever format you like (e.g. png or jpg)
but this is just standard procedure for any picture, with or without paths


as usual bredies, all these questions could be answered a lot easier if you told us what you are actually doing and attach the picture

If you really need to save the vector (path), you can go to the paths dialogue and right-click on your path and save as then save it as a .svg file. You can then open it in Inkscape and colorize it as you like. I only occasionally do this; best to just edit in Inkscape in the first place unless your path was created by a complex selection based on your bitmap image of course.

Hi Esper
Thanks for the explanation. I will give that a go.
As for attaching the picture????? How do I do that if it won't save?????

attach the xcf ??????

describe what you are trying to do ???????

OK let's try.
The message I got was:
"The upload xcf file not allowed"
Must be me that is stoopid.

Screen shot of what I am trying to save:

dunno maybe the xcf was too big, try zipping it next time, to make it smaller (you need to have a program for that, like win.rar or 7zip)

the screenshot is really helpful !

so you have three paths, none of them stroked, as it seems, thats why nothing is there when you export it
a path is not a drawn line, it is more something like a blueprint for something that could be made into a line
in order to get a line, you have to stroke the path

my suggestion: create three new transparent layers and stroke each path on its own layer
if you dont know how to do that, have another look at the screenshot i made for you
or check this link:
http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-path-stroke.html

afterwards merge down all layers, then export (not save ! save only saves as an xcf-file) to whatever format you like
for more infomation look here:
http://gimp.open-source-solution.org/ma ... atten.html
http://gimp.open-source-solution.org/ma ... -down.html

png is lossless but at the cost of bigger size, jpg is smaller but not so good quality

Well I thought I had stroked them exactly as you suggested.
I don't know what you mean by merge down all the layers???
Oh and I did "export" which is how I discovered the "lines/paths" weren't saved in jpeg.
Oh well back to the drawing board.
Thanks for the help everyone.

oh, the solution is so simple you're probably gonna smack your forehead and groan ! i suspected it first and saw it immediately in the screenshot since i'm probably the only person stupid enough to make this same mistake over and over and over again and still initially not understanding what i did wrong - i'm getting very used to smacking my forehead and groaning. take a look at this picture:

All I can assume is that the "stroke Path" function in Mac has a problem as I have now tried everything!

I strongly doubt it. Stroke you path on a new transparent layer. Put a black and white layers below it (or a checkerboard) to check for the strokes. They should be there, but maybe not in the color you think.

make sure you have the foreground color set to the color you want your path to be stroked
if its white you obviously wont see it on a white BG

and as ofnuts said: stroke it on a new transparent layer that is on top of your layers

OK so tell me what I do from here.
The first image is the Paths Tab



This image is the Layer's Tab.



So which should I work with and what is the next step?

sorry dude, i give up
i told you EVERYTHING, with screenshots, links and whatnot

all the information is there !

now you are giving us a screenshot as text ??
you must be trolling

Well thanks for trying to help an old fool. Much appreciated.

i don't think you're trolling, i think you're unused to gimp . you seem to have a new transparent layer open, that's good for putting your stroked paths on. make sure that layer is active, i.e. check that it's highlighted in the layer tab. then go to either the layers tab or the edit menu and click "stroke path". you will get a dialog box with stroke settings, the simplest thing for your purpose would probably be the top option in that dialog box. before you stroke path, however, make sure that your foreground colour isn't set to white this time, because what i tried (and obviously failed) to communicate earlier was that your path is there in the picture you posted, it's just that it's been stroked with white and obviously doesn't show against the background. then, if you're happy with the result, you should probably first save a copy of your picture with all the layers (to be able to edit later if you have to) and then merge all layers and export it as jpg or whatever format you're using.
i hope you don't think i sound like i think you don't know anything at all, it's just so hard to know exactly what people know to begin with and better to explain too much than too little. good luck!