GIMP Version: 2.8.10
Operating System: Mac OS
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

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HI,

I am having trouble with the gradient tool in that I am unable to fill the text with a gradient. It puts the gradient on the outside instead of inside. I can fill with patterns or colour but not gradients. My settings on gradients are: Blend Mode Normal - Opacity 100 - Shape Linear - Repeat None - Offset 0 - Dithering is ticked. Is there something here not set correctly?

How are you trying to fill the text using a gradient?

Do you have the text alpha selected?
Did you use the magic wand to make a selection?
Did you lock the text layer's alpha channel?

Before I did it I added Alpha to Selection - went to the gradient tool after selecting a colour - dragged from corner to corner - Select None. That's all I did.

Have you tried resetting the gradient tool options back to the default settings to see if that fixes it?

how do I reset just the gradient tool to default - when I go into Preferences it wants to reset all the tools.

At the bottom of the Gradient tool options is a reset button.

I have done that, closed and restarted Gimp but it is still the same...what am I doing wrong?

Wallace I have done that but it is still the same.

Does this happen with other xcf files?
You may need to post the xcf file that you're having this issue with. So we can check it out and see what's going on.

Ok will do.

I downloaded you're xcf file and was able to perform all kinds of selections and fill them with gradients without any issue.
The image you posted to start this thread looks the same as your xcf file attachment.

Could you tell me the steps how you did it please? I am obviously missing a step here.

If the font is not solid that could be your problem.
1. Make a new white layer below the text.
2. Alpha select the Text layer.
3. Hide the text layer.
On the white layer below you should be able to visualize where the text is selected. I'm guessing only the rim of the font is selected and the inside (transparent part) of the font is not.

If this is the case on the text layer, try the Fuzzy Selection tool (with addition option), to add the inner part to the selection.

Since it's a hollow text, If I wanted to fill only the inside of the text, I would use the Fuzzy Select Tool , selecting the the outside or outer perimeter of the text, inverting this selection and filling it on a layer below.

If I wanted to only fill the outline of a hollow text, I would do an alpha to selection and then fill it.

I have tried filling ordinary text and it works but to fill hollow text I cannot do it. Thank you all for your help here.

Maybe this will be of more help.

The gradient tool fills the selection... What does your selection look like? Can you give us a screenshot showing the marching ants?

I know 3 possibilities