Precise move

adremides · **Joined:** Apr 30, 2018 **Posts:** 4

GIMP Version: 2.8.22
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: Windows 10
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

Hello. This is my first question. I been looking for it but I barely knows which keywords use to search about:

What I need is to move something (a square in this case) in a precise way, this mean by wrote in the exact location.

As you can see in the example I changed the X property of the square from 12 to 110, moving the square in canvas. How can I achieve this with GIMP?

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

The usual way is to setup guides at the target position and let your object snap to these guides. But it all depends what you are moving and if the visual cues on your objects (lines, etc... that indicate what you want to move) match characteristics that Gimp can use (layer boundaries, layer center...).

adremides · **Joined:** Apr 30, 2018 **Posts:** 4

I'm trying to move exactly what it sees in the image. I made the same in GIMP that in the other program. A red square in a transparent canvas, same size, same position.
Then I select with "alpha to selection" and select "move" tool but there is no properties of selection. I also tried select and SHIFT+CTRL+L then I can move the square with arrow keys but there is no way to set the position by entering the exact numbers either.

Update: If I change the offset (SHIFT+CTRL+O) of the layer I can move the square but not to absolute position but relative one.
I think I'm getting closer

rich2005 · **Joined:** Mar 04, 2011 **Posts:** 2604

Quote:

...snip..Then I select with "alpha to selection" and select "move" tool but there is no properties of selection.

"Alpha to selection" only creates a selected area, not the contents of the area. You need to follow up with a "Edit -> Copy" to put the pixels into the Gimp clipboard.

Then as Ofnuts posted several ways to Edit -> Paste and move that to a precise location.

Quote:

I also tried select and SHIFT+CTRL+L then I can move the square with arrow keys but there is no way to set the position by entering the exact numbers either.

You can use this old python plugin (searching probably will not find it) that allows paste-ing at a precise position.

see: attached zip file. unzip and put pastxy.py in your Gimp profile C:\Users\.gimp-2.8\plug-ins

A couple of screenshots.
The menu entry: https://i.imgur.com/4HJfEB7.jpg
The plugin dialogue: https://i.imgur.com/ziQhkdJ.jpg

adremides · **Joined:** Apr 30, 2018 **Posts:** 4

Thanks for the reply!

What I need is to move it so what I did was to Cut it, not Copy it. I wanted the square move from its position to the other one. This created another layer and leave the last layer empty too. So it is a bit "dirty" but that plugin do the job for now.