Hi everyone,
I've developed a new Python plugin for GIMP 3.0/3.2 called Pseudo Adjustment Layer. As many of you know, GIMP has added powerful Non-Destructive Editing (NDE) features, but we still lack a dedicated "Adjustment Layer" workflow like in other software.

This plugin aims to bridge that gap by simulating the adjustment layer experience using Layer Groups and transparent Dummy Layers.

How it works:
When you select a filter from the plugin's palette, it automatically:
1. Creates a Layer Group (fx: Filter Name) above selected Layer.
2. Set the Mode of the Layer group to Path through.
3. Adds a transparent Dummy Layer inside.
4. Converts any active selection into a Layer Mask for the group.

Applies the GEGL/GIMP filter as a non-destructive filter to the Layer Group.

Key Features:
Intuitive Palette: Categories and filter order match the official GIMP Filters menu.
Workflow Tools: Real-time Search, Favorites (right-click), and History.
Smart Validation: The Reset List button automatically tests GEGL/GIMP nodes to ensure compatibility with the NDE group workflow.
Multilingual Support: Generates local JSON translation files (in a Language folder) which users can easily customise.

GitHub Repository:
Update Ver1.9.2!
https://github.com/yousei3/GIMP3-Pseudo ... g/Ver1.9.2

Installation:
Please place the folder in your GIMP 3 plug-ins directory.


Note: On your first run, please click Reset List to initialise the filter list.

I'm very interested in your thoughts on this approach, especially regarding the filter selection and the group-based NDE logic. Any bug reports or suggestions for improving the "Pseudo" workflow are more than welcome!

License: GPLv3

Thank you

It works but where is gegl:hue-chroma, where is gimp:curves and it doesn't show my gegl plugins `lb:` name space I wish we could add more too it.

Hi Yousei3D
I tried running the plugin in Gimp 3.0.4 and 3.2.0 on Win10. I got the same error message:
GIMP Error
Plug-in crashed: "pseudo_adjustment_layers.py"
The dying plug-in may have messed up GIMP's internal state. You may want to save your images and restart GIMP to be on the safe side.

@contrast_:
It is completely normal that you can't find "gimp:curves" or "gegl:hue-chroma" right now! The currently published version only covers the standard "Filters" menu.
I am actually working on a major update that fully integrates the "Colors" menu tools (Curves, Levels, Hue-Saturation, etc.) into the palette.

As for your custom "lb:" plugins, that is a great request! In the upcoming update, I am adding an "Others" folder at the very bottom of the list. It will automatically scan and include any third-party GEGL filters (like LinuxBeaver's) that are installed but not part of the official GIMP menus.

I will release this massive update very soon, so please stay tuned!

---

@MareroQ:
Regarding the crash on Windows 10, I strongly suspect this is a Permission Error. If you placed the plugin inside the system directory (like "C:\Program Files\GIMP 3...\plug-ins") instead of your user AppData directory, Windows will block the plugin from creating the "Language" folder and the config JSON files, which causes it to crash immediately.

I am preparing a new update right now. I have added error handling so the plugin will no longer crash in this situation. However, please note that if it remains in the system directory, it still won't be able to save your files, meaning features like Favorites, History, and Custom Translations will not be saved. To enjoy the full functionality, please move the plugin to your user AppData directory as described in the installation guide!

It's possible this isn't working only for me, but a lack of write permissions isn't an option since I'm using the portable version (or maybe that's the reason? This would be the first time a plugin doesn't work for this reason).
Judging by the description, this is the plugin I've always wanted!

This is great in my own personal version I added 10 or so of my own plugins and more. The most used ones I like as adjustment layers. Very helpful

Tested in Windows 64 bit 11 pro, and Gimp-3.2 (Gimp.org latest stable release).
Works real well. Thanks!

Personally i believe it belongs in the Layer menu though.
Also it could be confusing there is no apply or ok button to start the process. You have to double click a filter to start the plugin.

Are GEGL filters called interactively?
I've always been very interested in how to call a GEGL filter from a Python plugin (it's not about executing GEGL with specific parameters, as that's easy).
Unfortunately, I had no idea how to approach this problem.

it just calls the plugin on a layer group on passthrough with a blank layer - same thing with third party as first party filters.

Hi MareroQ,

Thank you so much for the clarification!
You are completely right—if you are using a portable version, write permissions shouldn't be an issue at all. I'm thrilled to hear this is the plugin you've been waiting for, and I really want to get it working perfectly for you!

Since permissions are out of the picture, I suspect the crash might be caused by one of two things:

Incomplete Python/GTK3 bindings: Portable versions of GIMP on Windows sometimes have incomplete or slightly broken "PyGObject (gi)" or GTK3 environments, which causes the plugin to crash exactly when it tries to draw the UI window.

Windows-specific file path issues: A bug in how Python handles certain Windows file paths or encodings internally.

To help me pinpoint the exact cause and fix it, could you possibly provide the Python error log (Traceback)?
You can usually find it by opening GIMP, going to Windows -> Dockable Dialogs -> Error Console, and then trying to run the plugin. Alternatively, running portable GIMP from the command prompt (cmd) might output the Python error text.

If I can see the exact line where the code fails, I can almost certainly provide a workaround for you. Thank you for your patience and for helping me debug this!

[Update] Pseudo Adjustment Layer: Colors Menu, Custom Filters, and Crash Fixes!

Hi everyone,

Thanks to your amazing testing and feedback, I have just released a major update to the "Pseudo Adjustment Layer" plugin on GitHub! This version brings it to a fully usable state.

@MareroQ:
I have completely rewritten the initialization and added robust error handling for the file saving processes. The plugin should no longer crash on your Windows 10 Portable setup. If the plugin doesn't have write permissions in your folder, it will now gracefully run in memory without crashing (though features like saving Favorites or History will require a writable directory like user AppData).

@contrast_:
You will be happy to hear that the entire "Colors" menu (including Curves, Levels, and Hue-Saturation) is now fully integrated and categorized exactly like GIMP 3!
Also, based on your great suggestion, the plugin now automatically detects third-party GEGL filters (like LinuxBeaver's "lb:" plugins) that are installed on your system, and adds them to a new "Others" folder at the bottom of the list.

What's new in this update:
Full Colors Menu: Added support for Curves, Levels, Component extractions, and more.
Third-Party Filter Support: Automatically loads custom GEGL operations into an "Others" folder.
UI & Usability Improvements: Better indentation for submenus, visual toggle icons (using standard text characters), and layout fixes. The "Auto-close" toggle state is now properly maintained.
Stability: Fixed the crash issues related to file permission errors and GEGL initialization.
Dummy Layer Fix: Ensured the internal Dummy layer is strictly 100% transparent across all environments.

GitHub Repository:
https://github.com/yousei3/GIMP3-Pseudo ... tag/Ver1.5

Important Note for Updating:
After replacing the Python file, please remember to click the "Reset List" button at the bottom of the palette. This will rescan your GIMP installation and build the new Colors menu and custom filters!

I hope this greatly improves your Non-Destructive Editing workflow in GIMP 3. Let me know what you think!

It doesn't have bevel and inner glow in "Light and Shadow" and Styles in Filters Generic
and that's sad considering I made those filters officially in GIMP

Also I can't search filters in other and I wish other would display the namespace like `lb:` ai/lb:` `port:` `gmic:` at the front.

Hi Yousei3D

Thank You so much for the quick update.
Now the plugin works.
This isn't a criticism at all, as the filter is great, but until I tried it, I thought it invoked GEGL filters interactively (displaying the full filter window like clicking "Search and Run a Command"), rather than executing them with the default settings.
To set your own parameters, you need to go to fx (it's just one more step, but my crazy idea is different).

Hi contrast_ and MareroQ, thank you both so much for the feedback!
Update, Ver. 1.6, has been uploaded to incorporate your comments.
https://github.com/yousei3/GIMP3-Pseudo ... tag/Ver1.6


@contrast_:
I didn't realize you were the one who made those official, that's amazing! Thank you for your work on GIMP!
I have just uploaded v1.6 to GitHub. I have added "Bevel", "Inner Glow", and "Layer Styles" to the official lists in the plugin.


Interestingly, I noticed that when "Inner Glow" is applied as an Adjustment Layer, it makes the area underneath it completely transparent (it punches a transparent hole in the canvas showing the checkerboard), whereas "Bevel" works perfectly! Since the filter is applied to a Pass-Through group with a completely transparent dummy layer, it seems Inner Glow might clear the composite alpha channel or struggle without a solid pixel boundary. However, I have added it to the list exactly as you requested so people can access it!

Also, I fixed the search bug in the "Others" folder. Now you can search for them perfectly! Furthermore, custom namespaces (like "lb:", "port:", "gmic:") are now displayed in front of the filter names exactly as you requested.


@MareroQ:
I am so glad the plugin works for you now!
Regarding the filter settings window: I completely agree with your crazy idea, and that would definitely be the ideal workflow! However, unfortunately, the current GIMP 3 Python API does not allow plugins to automatically open the non-destructive filter property dialog upon creation. Adding the filter node with default settings is the limit of what scripts can do right now. We have to manually double-click the "fx" icon in the layer dialogue to edit parameters. Hopefully, GIMP developers will add this API capability in the future!


Please download the latest v1.6 from GitHub, and remember to click the "Reset List" button at the bottom of the palette after replacing the file to see all the new changes! Let me know if everything works well.

@Rod:
Thanks for the report!
Sorry for the late reply.
As for the menu categorization, it is in Filter because this add-on is starting from the goal of making it easy to apply filters.
I understand your opinion that Layers would be better, but let me leave this as it is.

The fact that you have to double-click fx after running the plugin is a limitation of the API of the current GIMP (Ver. 3.2).
If the API is updated in future updates of the GIMP itself, it will be possible to do so.

InnerGlow is meant to be blended with blend modes, like normal, grain merge, hardlight, overlay. Its working as intended.

its gegl:hue-chroma not gimp:hue-chroma


also curves crashes everytime.

Other then that good work!

Hi contrast_,

You are absolutely right! It was a typo in my code where I used "gimp:hue-chroma" instead of "gegl:hue-chroma".
Thank you for catching that! I have just updated the plugin to v1.7 with the fix.

GIMP3-Pseudo-Adjustment-Layers Ver1.7
https://github.com/yousei3/GIMP3-Pseudo ... tag/Ver1.7

Regarding the crash with "gimp:curves": Interestingly, it works perfectly fine on my end without crashing.
I tested and confirmed this in two different environments (Windows 11 and Linux Mint), both running GIMP version 3.2.
Since GIMP 3 is still in the Release Candidate/Development stage, this might be a bug specific to the OS or the exact GIMP build you are using when Gimp.DrawableFilter.new('gimp:curves') is called via the Python API.
It might be worth reporting to the GIMP GitLab if it keeps happening on your end.

Thanks again for the help, your input is really making this tool better!

Colors>Curves works fine for me just all the filters run very slow.