Gimp question: locking text

[irlandes]

I have played a lot with Gimp over the years. Played; not used, because I can't make it do anything. I do something and can't get the action to complete.

Here is my latest example. I have a bitmap of a lab still (distillation setup), and need to change the labels to Engish. I make a rectangle box of dashes around a label in the picture, then fill with white, then I select Text and choose size 8 serif, and put the label in English. Perfect.

Now, is the problem. I want to freeze that label so I can go to the next label. I have read and read, tried ESC; Enter; Ctrl-H, all sorts of stuff, and that box of dashes around the new words never goes away, never freezing the text where I have it.

Any ideas what to do to complete the action?

Thanks.

[irlandes]

I played and tried Save To Channel, and that made the letters freeze.

However, now I try to put a box around the next label, and it goes away as soon as I let up on the mouse.

There is also an anchor that appears when I move the cursor away from where I want it to make a box.

Any clues?

[NVRAM]

I think your problem is that you have the text layer selected, and it only encompases the text (and a bit more), so you cannot select anything else. Even if I'm wrong, you'd do yourself a favor to read up on using layers.

Presuming I'm right, you could either:
1. Expand the layer to allow you to add to it with: right-click -> Layer -> Layer to Image SIze.

Or:
2. Add a new layer and work with it (my preference). First, try bringing up the Layers dialog (Ctrl-L or right-click->Dialogs->Layers). Add an new layer, select it (the layer name must be highlighted to alter it in the edit window), then do what you wish to do.

Hope that helps,
NVRAM

[irlandes]

Okay, thanks. That is what I was afraid of, that there is no easy answer. I simply do not have two or three days right now to learn this. So, I will turn it back to the student to use her resources. Or not.

Thanks ever so much for the tip.

[NVRAM]

I simply do not have two or three days right now to learn this.
Thanks ever so much for the tip.

I don't think it'd be that long but I learned this a while back! Another, perhaps simpler, option is after adding text, to just:
Right-Click -> Layers -> Merge Down

Then add the next box/text and Merge that text, etc.

[hlrguy]

If you have the layers screen open, right click on the text layer, merge down. Or, I could just read NVRAM's entry as I type my own in. :D

hlrguy

[irlandes]

I don't think it'd be that long but I learned this a while back! Another, perhaps simpler, option is after adding text, to just:
Right-Click -> Layers -> Merge Down

Then add the next box/text and Merge that text, etc.

Absolutely!!!!!! It works just as you said.

I spent a lot of time on GIMP several years ago, and read the manual a lot. I never did find out how to do this part. I did a lot of strange things, but also never found out how to 'freeze' anything I did.

I don't know why. Nor do I understand why it isn't more visible in the manual.

I remember my first IBM compatible computer in 1994. I forget now what the problem I had was, it was something relevant to starting up the computer, and I had a terrible time. Later, I found that start-up detail on page 237. Just where I should have looked first, right? :)

In the last attempt, since I couldn't even 'freeze' anything, I never did get into the technical details on layers and channels.

Maybe being able to do something will motivate me to try again. Thanks for the help. What a relief!

I have added it to my 'commands' summary file where I put things like that so I don't forget them over time.

[irlandes]

All done already and placed correctly in the document. Looks great!! Thanks a billion, etc! :)

Edited: I see it took 26 minutes, and there were ten labels. She will be pleased.