how to copy a selection from one image to another one

dinasset · **Posted:** Wed Aug 24, 2016 4:31 am **(#1)**

GIMP Version: 2.8.18
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

Likely a stupid question for a wise scripter, but for me that's the first time I have this need.
Assuming -
1) the filter receives an image (and a drawable) in input
2) the user made a selection on the input drawable before calling the filter
3) the filter becomes aware of this fact simply thru:

Code: Select all

    (select, x1, y1, x2, y2) = pdb.gimp_drawable_mask_bounds (inDrawable)
    if select == True :    # there is a selection
        ......

4) the filter wants to keep the source image as it is and work on a new image, created with the same dimensions, and creates the background by copying the input drawable, like

Code: Select all

    outImage = pdb.gimp_image_new (width, height, type)
    outBG = pdb.gimp_layer_new_from_drawable (inDrawable, outImage)

Now, the new image has no selection (it's not copied by the new_from_drawable statement).
Hence the question:
how can I copy the selection from the source so that the outBG is "exactly" corresponding to the source inDrawable?

Thanks a lot

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Aug 24, 2016 7:06 am **(#2)**

dinasset wrote:

GIMP Version: 2.8.18
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

Likely a stupid question for a wise scripter, but for me that's the first time I have this need.
Assuming -
1) the filter receives an image (and a drawable) in input
2) the user made a selection on the input drawable before calling the filter
3) the filter becomes aware of this fact simply thru:

Code: Select all

    (select, x1, y1, x2, y2) = pdb.gimp_drawable_mask_bounds (inDrawable)
    if select == True :    # there is a selection
        ......

4) the filter wants to keep the source image as it is and work on a new image, created with the same dimensions, and creates the background by copying the input drawable, like

Code: Select all

    outImage = pdb.gimp_image_new (width, height, type)
    outBG = pdb.gimp_layer_new_from_drawable (inDrawable, outImage)

Now, the new image has no selection (it's not copied by the new_from_drawable statement).
Hence the question:
how can I copy the selection from the source so that the outBG is "exactly" corresponding to the source inDrawable?

Thanks a lot

I'm not a script writer and don't know if this can be done with a script,
but you could create a path from the selection.
Export the path as a .svg file,
then import that .svg file to the new image.
Once the .svg file has been imported,
create the selection for this path in the new image.

ofnuts · **Joined:** Oct 25, 2010 **Posts:** 4757

- Duplicate the layer,
- invert the selection,
- "delete",
- layer_new_from_drawable(target_image) on the result and add to new image (if you want the selection in that new image, gimp-select-item on the layer)
- restore selection in initial image

dinasset · **Posted:** Wed Aug 24, 2016 8:47 am **(#4)**

thanks Wallace and Ofnuts.
I will try Ofnuts' solution, easier for me.

dinasset · **Posted:** Wed Aug 24, 2016 11:33 am **(#5)**

Ofnuts,
I wrote a small filter to test your suggestion: everything OK, thanks a lot.

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