GIMP Version: 2.8.10
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

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Hi all gimp experts,

I love gimp and have been struck with the current situation. Im new to Gimp and make designs and patterns. the printing company is asking for tiff file (with layers) of my work and I have xcf file with layers. The image file (exported from gimp) is not working for them and Im finding it difficult to convert xcf into tiff (with layers) :( I have tried various forums and google but have failed with any approach the hugin plugin is also not working on my computer.

Please please please help me in converting xcf into tiff (not as an image but with layers) so that it opens in photoshop.

Thanksssssssssssssssssss,
Gimp lover

One way is to use ImageMagick and command line. In theory IM should pull the xcf layers out one at a time. That is not working here so I think the best way is one of the save-all-layers to individual png file, plug-ins.

the IM command is


Here is an example screenshot. http://i.imgur.com/cycQvnP.jpg

Opening back into Gimp gives a dialog. http://i.imgur.com/NQjFVJa.jpg

and opened, the layers are there and in the correct order. http://i.imgur.com/Nph2Gay.jpg

There are bound to be some snags, example you might have to resize the layers to the image size before exporting to png, to preserve position.

edit: Just tried the .tif file in a very old PS7 that runs under WINE in linux and that lost the layers. Don't know why. need some experiments.

edit again: I will leave the above even though it does not produce a result. It might stop someone going down the same path. Not opening as layers in PS was reported in the IM forum last year. No fix reported. Back to the drawing board.

hanks rich2005. I have downloaded imagemagick, is this the correct one? imagemagick. org

Also, where is the command line in the gimp. i have never used commands in gimp. Sorry, Im ignorant in most of the advanced functions. Should i export the xcf file into png image file?

Whre do i enter those commands?

Thanks.

It is IM that is command line not Gimp
Sorry to inform that IM does not produce a result with PhotoShop. (something to do with malformed tags)
If the recipient is going to open the tif in PS maybe ask them if a (Gimp produced) psd file is acceptable.

Can we produce a psd file with layers in gimp? Thanks

Gimp makes psd files with a similar layer structure to Gimp, there are some differences, text for example.

but

Thinking about your post raises some questions.


What exactly does the printing company require?

Usually they want a file in CMYK (cyan-magenta-yellow-black) format where the layers are masks for the CMYK.

yes, they want file in layers format and not in image format. I have provided them with tiff image but the colours didnt come out nice so they wanted the original layers file so they can adjust the colours while printing. but my gimp xcf layers file does not open in the photoshop. now they want me to send the original layers file in the format that opens in the photoshop.

Thanks

If you have found a commercial printer that is willing to 'tweak' your image, you are very-very lucky.

What you described is normal for commercial printing. There is a change in colours.
If you go to this site
http://www.rgb2cmyk.org/about.html and read the bit at the bottom
"When I convert RGB TO CMYK the whole color changes?" that is as good a summation as any.

This in Gimp using an old plug-in separate+ which converts RGB as used by Gimp to CMYK as used by commercial printers.

On the left is RGB, and I had to do a new layer from visible because some of the layers have transparency.
and
On the right is a CMYK tif with the CMYK layers. I might be wrong but I think that is what the printer is looking for.

The rgb2cmyk site also do free online conversions. You will have to check and see what image formats are acceptable.

edit:

Export your image as a .psd file and see if that is acceptable.

Thanks I realised that after i got it printed and searched about rgb and cmyk.

[quote=Export your image as a .psd file and see if that is acceptable. [/quote]

I tried exporting it in psd file, it seem to preserve the layers, will it preserve these layers and resolution in photoshop when the printing company opens? Also, will the layers retain its place or go haywire? Thankss so much Rich2005! I appreciate your help

A little experiment. It is using my PS7 which is old, I would think recent PS will act the same.

Different types of layers in Gimp, solid, transparent & semi-transparent, with a layer mask, small layers and text.
Exported to .psd and as mentioned before text is converted to a simple graphics layer. Always keep as saved xcf file for future revisions.



Gimp on the left, the same file as a .psd opened in PS7 on the right.

I would send your .psd file, with all its layers, off to printer, and hope. At worst, it will get turned down

The printer might be very kind, convert to CMYK (easy in PS) then try and tweak some of the layers. More usually they just want a CMYK image, with the CMYK layers(channels) and do not care how that state is reached.



This one, the rgb image converted to cmyk in PS, does not really matter if layers/no layers.

Best advice with commercial printers: "always get a proof print" before ordering a 1000 copies"

As a note. Photoshop and multi-layer tif files. Another search came up with 'PS will only open the first layer in a multi-layer tif'. One up for GIMP.