saving an XCF without destroing as PNG

PKHG · **Joined:** Sep 13, 2016 **Posts:** 137

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

Hallo,
Is there a command to save an XCF as PNG in PYTHON, without destroing the XCF by flattening it?

I see at this moment only this possibility all in a Python-script :

create a new image,
copy layers out of the original into the new image,
flatten that new image
save it as PNG (has only ONE layer!)
remove it ...

paynekj · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2017 12:14 pm **(#2)**

You could use gimp-layer-new-from-visible to create a new layer that reflects how the image looks and save that as .PNG then delete the temporary layer.

Kevin

dinasset · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2017 12:52 pm **(#3)**

Isn'it even simpler?
With your multilayer .xcf image open on your display, click on "export" (as .png).
Gimp will provide internally to flatten before exporting, but your image is still on the display with all its layers.
Am I wrong?

ofnuts · **Joined:** Oct 25, 2010 **Posts:** 4812

paynekj wrote:

You could use gimp-layer-new-from-visible to create a new layer that reflects how the image looks and save that as .PNG then delete the temporary layer.

Kevin

+1
In fact you don't need to add it to the image:

Code: Select all

layer = pdb.gimp_layer_new_from_visible(image, image, 'foo')
pdb.file_png_save_defaults(image, layer, '/tmp/x.png', '/tmp/x.png')

But to save memory you can do:

Code: Select all

gimp.delete(layer)

dinasset · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2017 12:36 am **(#5)**

dinasset wrote:

Isn'it even simpler?
With your multilayer .xcf image open on your display, click on "export" (as .png).
Gimp will provide internally to flatten before exporting, but your image is still on the display with all its layers.
Am I wrong?

Sorry for my stupid post, I did not read correctly you were asking how to do it in a filter, I thought you were talking of interactive actions.

PKHG · **Joined:** Sep 13, 2016 **Posts:** 137

dissanet, no problem ;-)

Indeed, I need to save an XCF with a lot of layers in a plugin (te make gif's after moving or discarding layers, see my CHECKER project).

PKHG · **Joined:** Sep 13, 2016 **Posts:** 137

ofnuts wrote:

paynekj wrote:

You could use gimp-layer-new-from-visible to create a new layer that reflects how the image looks and save that as .PNG then delete the temporary layer.

Kevin

+1
In fact you don't need to add it to the image:

Code: Select all

layer = pdb.gimp_layer_new_from_visible(image, image, 'foo')
pdb.file_png_save_defaults(image, layer, '/tmp/x.png', '/tmp/x.png')

But to save memory you can do:

Code: Select all

gimp.delete(layer)

Thanks!
Works and it is so easy!
Peter

EDIT:
maybe (as I did) add a self in the def-head

Code: Select all

def saveThisStep( picturePrefix, Step):
    image = gimp.image_list()[0]
    layer = pdb.gimp_layer_new_from_visible(image, image, "foo")
    thisName = picturePrefix + str(Step) + ".png"
    pdb.file_png_save_defaults(image, layer, thisName, thisName )
    gimp.delete(layer)
    result =  "This Picture " + thisName + " created"
    return result

sallyanne · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2017 8:15 pm **(#8)**

I don't save everything as an xcf which I regret at times but when I do - I save as an xcf first then export as a png.
Also you can flatten and export as a png. Then undo flatten and save as an xcf.
Gimp will always give you the option to save as an xcf when you go to close the image.
Don't know of a filter that can do it.

PKHG · **Joined:** Sep 13, 2016 **Posts:** 137

Sallyanne, from out the Gimp UI, it is no problem at all,
the problem WAS how to do that from out a Python plugin (Pygtk UI) ..

Hm, undo flatten, never thaugt about that ... thanks

Peter

ofnuts · **Joined:** Oct 25, 2010 **Posts:** 4812

Hmmm Come to think of it I don't see much difference with you other question. Use "New from visible", etc. If you want a background color, just add a temporary background layer.

PKHG · **Joined:** Sep 13, 2016 **Posts:** 137

ofnuts wrote:

Hmmm Come to think of it I don't see much difference with you other question. Use "New from visible", etc. If you want a background color, just add a temporary background layer.

Oh look, above, the script is all I need