Watch Folder and load image as layer

tsangh · **Joined:** Jun 23, 2017 **Posts:** 2

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: New User

Hi

I wish to setup GIMP to watch a folder and load files as layers in GIMP when picture arrives. What is the best way to do it automatically?

I have tried the menu item “File -> Open As Layer” but it needs human interaction.
I have also tried the batch mode but it can run once only. I can not open additional picture the 2nd time ...

Thanks!
Eric

Wallace · **Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2017 12:44 pm **(#2)**

tsangh wrote:

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: New User

Hi

I wish to setup GIMP to watch a folder and load files as layers in GIMP when picture arrives.
What is the best way to do it automatically?

I have tried the menu item
“File -> Open As Layer”
but it needs human interaction.
I have also tried the batch mode but it can run once only.
I can not open additional picture the 2nd time ...

Thanks!
Eric

I'm not aware of any functionality within GIMP,
that would allow this kind of "Automatic Folder Watching" to occur.

This doesn't mean to say that this function doesn't exist,
only that I'm not aware if it does exist within GIMP.

Perhaps there's someone else here at Gimp Chat,
that might know whether this function is possible or not.

ofnuts · **Joined:** Oct 25, 2010 **Posts:** 4736

Load the layer for what? Just to display it (and if so, why Gimp)? Or is there some processing involved?

tsangh · **Joined:** Jun 23, 2017 **Posts:** 2

Yes, I want to take photo with my camera and have the photos to be shown up on screen as a stack of transparent layer, with my hands not leaving the camera. After preview, I can take more photo to the transparent stacks or save and start another new photo stack. I actually want to stimulate the multiple-multiple exposures effect of many camera, watch the effect on the fly (not PS at home).

I have the setup successful with Adobe Bridge + Photoshop + JavaScript, but want to use GIMP instead for its opensource and less CPU demand so that I can setup with low end portable PC, or even Raspberry Pi 3, for my friends who's camera have no multiple exposures.

I can setup the watch folder with other way with Command Shell, but I don't know how to add image layer to already opened image. I tried the gimp -b (...some_script..) , but it can not run multiple time on the same already opened image.

ofnuts · **Joined:** Oct 25, 2010 **Posts:** 4736

Doable with a Python script/plugin that runs inside Gimp, polls the directory and loads the images as additional layers. If you don't know Python yet but can write JavaScript, you can get reasonably proficient in Python in half a day.

ecs1749 · **Joined:** Oct 10, 2014 **Posts:** 36

You can definitely do it in Python but that's very involved. You can setup GIMP as a image processor, you can notify it either by file watching, the easy way.

ecs1749 · **Joined:** Oct 10, 2014 **Posts:** 36

ofnuts wrote:

Doable with a Python script/plugin that runs inside Gimp, polls the directory and loads the images as additional layers. If you don't know Python yet but can write JavaScript, you can get reasonably proficient in Python in half a day.

Except getting use to indentation!

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