I recently posted a tutorial that uses a repeat gradient for stroking a path, seen here: http://www.gimpchat.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1140

My question is: I've been using Rob's Gradient Along a Path for quite some time now, so I know its possible to use paths to extract color from an image, could that same script be manipulated to do the same for filling selections, for say, like selected text? Something tells me this exists already, but my brain can't seem to find this option/script anywhere.

Often I come across pictures with very ornate detail in them and think they would make great fills for selections. It would also give us the ability to follow radial gradient paths in a curved text selection and make it look very decent, providing the curved text is within the same dimensions of the gradient.

An example:

Notice the way the gradient behaves for selected text using radial at a circle's center.



The behavior I'm really after:

First lay out a gradient image - any color. Then lay out a path on that gradient image (could be a pattern image, or any image for that matter).



Then have the path read the colors within a certain pixel range (slider or input box would be great) and transfer the colors mapped from that path, to a selection on the image and get this more cylindrical result:



Maybe my above examples are trivial in the way they are presented, but the overall theme of what I am asking is to lay out a path on any image of my choosing, (select a range of pixels for the path to extract) and then apply that mapped region to another image or selection.

I am probably misconstruing but why would you not just use the path as a "cookie cutter" to copy from the gradient?

http://flashingtwelve.brickfilms.com/Players/Pathcopy/

Well, in a way, you aren't misconstruing, only I want to lay out one path line and have it copy along that line, a user determined width of pixels, from any image. Take that information and have that stroke or apply to any selection on a different layer or different image.

For selected text, that's fine, as long as what you want stroked fits within that selection, but what if you wanted say a detailed and ornate metal grating to follow the stroke. I'm thinking I need to add a bit more information, because not all copied paths would be fills, they'll also be strokes. I will think of a better way to present this.

I just realized why I was having such a weird case of Deja Vu. I have asked for this effect before on the Registry, and outside of an animated brush following a path, it wasn't possible to do what I am asking for.

Oh well. Some day!

Just putting this here to further explain what it is I want, but can't have (at least not in GIMP, yet, anyway).



I have images with very detailed and ornate stone work, the kind you see in Italy. It would be nice to have a path follow along those details and copy to the outline of a selection, like gears on a wheel, or petals on a flower, etc.

Or the next version of GIMP which has rotating brushes.

-Rob A>

This should be possible using the advanced features of the GAP's Move Path command -- the hardest part is to determine the spacing of your objects. If I recall correctly, there are some animated map tutorials which come pretty close to describing the technique (except you're only interested in the last frame).

By animated maps, I am referring to animations such as the one below; however, for your problem you will want the object to be your shape (not a red square) and you will want to use Move Path's "Rotate follow" option (and evenly space things). I believe Fencepost has a tutorial such as you need posted on GIMPtalk.

I believe this is the path to the tutorial. I found it in a Google search. Unfortunately, Gimp Talk is down at the moment.

http://www.gimptalk.com/tutorial/animated-route-along-a-map-47282-1.html

that link is dead O......

It's not the link that's dead, it's the website that's down. I guess, technically it's dead but it's the right link.

http://www.gimptalk.com/forum

I still don't know why it's not possible to say in a script:



In the end, the user could then determine if his or her image or brush placement is too close or too wide and alter it to suit. Sure beats laying out 100 layers of a mapped animated layer.

It would also be far easier to lay out (random number of 36 path points) and have 36 instances of the image or brush lay out along the path according to its angle. Somewhat relating to how AutoCAD points are plotted for say, circles?

Look like its done in 2.7 with the enhanced "brush dynamics" where the brush is rotated to follow the path tangent.

Right, I am aware that the capability is coming in 2.8.

For the current version, I'm asking: "If we can have a script perform a path move via GAP, why can't that same script just apply for a single layer without using GAP?

Fencepost made a Move path script that maybe can do it more simply then gap

not sure where the script you may seaech for fence-post on DA and/or in the script board of www.gimpdome.com

Is this the one you're talking about, PhotoComix? There are a couple of tutorial links in the post, also.

http://fence-post.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Move-Layers-Script-154376988

yes

honestly i didn't try because was done as alternative to use gap but i do have gap

Gimp Talk is back up and I copied fencepost's tutorial into Gimp Chat.

You can catch the tutorial here.

I love it its great fun!