GIMP Version: 2.10.20
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: Newest update this month
GIMP Experience: New User

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Whats the fastest way to select anything in gimp!

I dont understand it at all. I can easily select something with the move tool. Then if i click on skale there is nothing selected.

Is the only way to make selection in gime to draw around it? over and over and over every time you want to change something in that selection? flip it, rotate it, etc? That just takes forever and a year. Yet the move can grab it instantly, so yeah..

The second thing, i will open a saved file that was originally in inches, but its now opening in pix, i assume. I never use pix, i never want to see them again, yet no matter what i do they pop up over and over in every pop up window. The scale tool? So how do i set it permanently so i dont have to change to inches EVERY SINGLE TIME I USE ANYTHING IN GIMP?

Yes with gnu leaving a gig of process running after it closes and not doing anything expected in a easy manner, like staying in iches? im very frustrated. I have work to complete. I used the love gimp but this? enough of a rant. sorry.. and thank you for all your help.

I set something in the preferences that i thought would show everything in inches, but it didnt work. I also checked the box to use move as a selection tool. so what is the point of that if it doesnt actually select and stay selected?

In the scale i also have selection checked, not the others.. so it just keeps saying no selection selected at the bottom.

First, you need to understand what a selection is. This is a good place to start:
https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-Painl ... tion-tools

The Move tool can be set to one of three modes:
Layer ; Selection ; Path
If set to Selection the selection will be moved. If there is no selection then nothing will be happen.
The Move tool cannot make a selection.

If the Flip Tool (or other tool) is set to Layer then the active layer will be flipped. No need to draw around anything.

Gimp (and all bitmap editors) work in pixels. Inches (in conjunction with resolution – dpi) are used for printing. You can wish away pixels, or get used to them (the former isn’t going to happen).

Hold alt down and you can move selection.
If you want to use transform tools (scale, rotation etc.) make sure you're transforming selection and not layer, which is the default.
You can set each transform tool to work on selections instead of layer if you want, and save them in the preferences under Tool Options. "Save tool options now".
Make sure you don't have "Save tool options on exit" on.
Adding to selection? Hold Shift down.

Another reference for selections:
https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-Gimp- ... -beginners

lol, 'You can wish away pixels, or get used to them (the former isn’t going to happen)'. I get that. However, its 2020. All code is in machine language, but i dont think anyone codes in machine language any more. I am used to it. I wrote a pixel program for the commodore 64 creating the first graphics program for it back in ? i dont even remember, lol. It looked like windows, and yes it was before windows. lol. Funny havent thought of that in ever. haha

My point is, of course its doable, it just needs coding in the interface to have the option to always use whatever units you tell it to use. simple. After leaving this post i researched it and found a little ditty that does this from last year. But it hasnt been inplimented in gnu yet.

Thanks for the links, ill look at them.

Yes i understand about the modes, when you select the move tool or any of the others to use 'selection'. Under preferences there is a box and it says to use move as selection, or something thats what i checked. Thinking it would then 'act' as a selection 'tool' .. So again, i wonder what that box is for?

Basic knowledge:
"In computer graphics, a raster graphics or bitmap image is a dot matrix data structure that represents a generally rectangular grid of pixels (points of color), viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium." The rest is here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_graphics

Selections in GIMP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYcAHlBLf6s

yes i understand, and i dont care, i want my rulers in inches. but thanks for you time. Even in a 3d program like Blender i can keep inches its not rocket science.

Use the unit selector at the bottom (next to the zoom level). There rules, mouse and guide positions are in the chosen units (assuming the set image print definition of course)