Help explaining layers [SOLVED]

iggy · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2016 4:06 pm **(#1)**

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

Hey. I'm pretty cool with layers except when I've worked on an xcf file for a long time. Then if say, I link a text layer with a dropshadow layer and then get rid of the dropshadow layer, the layers still seem linked. I know that's a terrible explanation, but yeah, the layers do seem to be still linked. Like see in the screenshot. And one of the red arrows points to when I click on the top arrow in a grouping. What do those horizontal and vertical arrows signify? I've searched to find what they mean but all I find is the visibility (the eye icon) and link (the chain icon) things. And I find that (again when I'm working on an xcf file for a while) that the functionality is impaired. For instance doing a dropshadow via "layer effects" works perfectly in the beginning of a project but once I get involved (with the exact same settings, in this case the default) longer the dropshadow fills in the entire text. Or like look at the layers "of" and "god." They're linked somehow and I never linked them.

Thanks.

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2016 4:58 pm **(#2)**

Which lines?

iggy · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2016 6:45 pm **(#3)**

Wallace wrote:

Which lines?
[ Image ]

Thanks Wallace. Yes, those are the lines I'm referring to.

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:55 pm **(#4)**

iggy wrote:

Thanks Wallace. Yes, those are the lines I'm referring to.

Those lines are pointers, showing which layer are inside of each layer group.

iggy · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2016 9:39 pm **(#5)**

Wallace wrote:

iggy wrote:

Thanks Wallace. Yes, those are the lines I'm referring to.

Those lines are pointers, showing which layer are inside of each layer group.

Thanks Wallace but I never created any layer groups. So how do you think they happened? (I found a link on layer groups and am reading up on them but I'm still pretty confused.)

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2016 10:10 pm **(#6)**

iggy wrote:

Thanks Wallace but I never created any layer groups.
So how do you think they happened? (I found a link on layer groups and am reading up on them but I'm still pretty confused.)

There are some scripts/plug-ins,
that will create their own layer group.
Maybe it's the drop shadow you're using?
Not sure,
but I think Layer Effect under,
Layer>Layer Effects>Drop Shadow,
does put out a layer group of it's own when used.

iggy · **Posted:** Thu Jul 14, 2016 1:28 pm **(#7)**

Wallace wrote:

iggy wrote:

Thanks Wallace but I never created any layer groups.
So how do you think they happened? (I found a link on layer groups and am reading up on them but I'm still pretty confused.)

There are some scripts/plug-ins,
that will create their own layer group.
Maybe it's the drop shadow you're using?
Not sure,
but I think Layer Effect under,
Layer>Layer Effects>Drop Shadow,
does put out a layer group of it's own when used.

Thanks Wallace. I'll pay closer attention next time. And yeah, it seems like the Dropshadow via Layer Effects (that's what I was using) was causing the linkage. But it still wouldn't explain how the "of" got in that one link. Appreciate your feedback.

Wallace · **Posted:** Thu Jul 14, 2016 1:34 pm **(#8)**

iggy wrote:

Thanks Wallace.
I'll pay closer attention next time.
And yeah,
it seems like the Dropshadow via Layer Effects (that's what I was using) was causing the linkage.
But it still wouldn't explain how the "of" got in that one link.
Appreciate your feedback.

I think it may have something to do with the number of text layers you were using.
Can you post the xcf file if you still have it?

iggy · **Posted:** Thu Jul 14, 2016 2:02 pm **(#9)**

Wallace wrote:

iggy wrote:

Thanks Wallace.
I'll pay closer attention next time.
And yeah,
it seems like the Dropshadow via Layer Effects (that's what I was using) was causing the linkage.
But it still wouldn't explain how the "of" got in that one link.
Appreciate your feedback.

[ Image ]

I think it may have something to do with the number of text layers you were using.
Can you post the xcf file if you still have it?

Thanks Wallace. I tweaked the file since I first posted it so it's innards won't match up with the screenshot you posted, but the general idea is the same. (It's attached.)

I think I figured it out . (Last night I was brain dead.) You know how when you open a new text it automatically gives you a new layer? Well, that's what I was figuring on, but what I found is when I have one of those layer group's layer highlighted and I open a new text entry, yes, it creates a layer but it adds that layer to the layer group. So now I know that if I have layer groups to make sure to open a new layer before I do an additional text entry.

So I'm pretty cool with things (for now--LOL). Thanks for your help!

Wallace · **Posted:** Thu Jul 14, 2016 2:42 pm **(#10)**

iggy wrote:

Thanks Wallace. I tweaked the file since I first posted it so it's innards won't match up with the screenshot you posted, but the general idea is the same. (It's attached.)

I think I figured it out . (Last night I was brain dead.) You know how when you open a new text it automatically gives you a new layer? Well, that's what I was figuring on, but what I found is when I have one of those layer group's layer highlighted and I open a new text entry, yes, it creates a layer but it adds that layer to the layer group. So now I know that if I have layer groups to make sure to open a new layer before I do an additional text entry.

So I'm pretty cool with things (for now--LOL). Thanks for your help!

Okay.