GIMP Version: 2.8.10
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: 8.1
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

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Hello,

so as some may know from my previous thread, I'm making a map. I was putting in some volcanoes and I do like how they turned out; however, I'm not quite sure I like their placement. So I've tried cutting them out to move them. But each time I try, I end up moving an entire different layer. (The volcanoes have their own layer with a few other volcanoes.)

My process: Select the volcano layer. Rectangle select the target volcanoes. "Cut". With them selected, use the move tool. Try moving with the cursor.

Does it matter that they are on an individual layer that has a transparent background? What am I doing wrong or missing?

Thanks!

your cursor should be in a COLORED piece not on a trasparent piece of the volcano layer

After cutting, you need to paste as new layer or just paste, then you can move things as you wish. It is fine on a transparent background, that is not the problem.

I made this video that might help you out.

There's something that I keep tripping on that might be causing this.

The moving tool has two options:
1) Select a layer to move by clicking on it.
2) Move the layer selected in the layer panel.

If the first radio button is clicked, it selects the topmost, non-transparent layer where you are clicking. It's a very useful thing to figure out what layer you're looking at, it's critical for moving guide lines, and sometimes I've found it useful for standard moving, but often it moves what I don't want to move. GIMP defaults to the first button so it's not anything you might have done.

Cheers,
Margaret

This may help a little also.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions! I think I was having the difficulty because the volcanoes were made up mostly of lines and transparent colors.

I have problems moving layers when I do projects with various kinds of layer modes so what I do is either move the layer to the topmost position or click it with the move tool and use the arrows to position it. Holding the shift key will let you move in bigger increments.