2.2.3. Selection masks - revision needed
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| 2.2.3. Selection masks - revision needed | David | 16 Oct 06:38 |
| 2.2.3. Selection masks - revision needed | Ulf-D. Ehlert | 21 Oct 11:34 |
2.2.3. Selection masks - revision needed
We currently have:
"Channels can be used to save and restore your selections. Clicking on the Quick mask button on the Image window automatically creates a new channel called Qmask and saves the displayed active selection to a thumbnail in front of the channel.There are many selection tools in GIMP like rectangular selection tool or fuzzy selection for continuous selections. ...."
It's very unclear to a new user what "saves the displayed active selection to a thumbnail in front of the channel" means. Doubtless everyone here knows, and is pointing with their finger - 'look, there it is!'
I think it means "displays a thumbnail of the active selection on the channel dialog". Took me quite a while to work it out. (There's no "saving" involved; it's the dialog, not the channel.)
I suggest that the text "There are many selection tools in GIMP like rectangular selection tool or fuzzy selection for continuous selections" is removed - this must be known by anyone reading this. At least let's correct the grammar.
Is this section trying to teach about the Quick mask, or about selections saved as channels? If the former, then figure 14.10 should not head the section. If the latter then the text should not mention the Quick mask here.
Nowhere that I can find does the text explain figure 14.10. I guess it is possible to combine selection masks in a single operation, but my efforts at clicking on eyes, links and the such-like have failed :(. The only way I can think to achieve the result shown in the figure is to use Shift and Ctrl keys while clicking on the 'Channel to Selection' button. In either case the text has to explain!
It would be helpful if the pop-up text in the application and the docs used the same description of this button (sigh - the app labels it 'replace the current selection...')
When the button is mentioned in '2.2.3.1. Using Selection Masks' I hadn't a clue where to find it - why not link somewhere (eg to higher up the page). I did guess, but because the button is differently labelled and is one among many I missed it.
===========
You can probably pick up a degree of my frustration ;) but the reason I was reading this section was because I was revising the 'basic concepts' text as I promised earlier - I am trying to contribute rather than just moan.
Only a new user can spot where the docs don't work well enough.
David
2.2.3. Selection masks - revision needed
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:25:37 +0200
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Hi David,=0D
=0D
(sorry for the delay, there are too many other things to do...)=0D
=0D
=0D
David (Saturday, 16. October 2010)=0D
It's very unclear to a new user what "saves the displayed active=0D selection to a thumbnail in front of the channel" means.=0D
=0D
You're right.=0D
=0D
Doubtless everyone here knows, and is pointing with their=0D finger - 'look, there it is!'=0D
=0D
I think it means "displays a thumbnail of the active selection on=0D the channel dialog". Took me quite a while to work it out.=0D (There's no "saving" involved; it's the dialog, not the channel.)=0D
=0D
IMO we can simply remove this (and describe the quick mask in the =0D
"Qick Mask" section).=0D
=0D
I suggest that the text "There are many selection tools in GIMP=0D like rectangular selection tool or fuzzy selection for continuous=0D selections" is removed - this must be known by anyone reading=0D this. At least let's correct the grammar.=0D
=0D
Removing seems ok to me - we are not in "Basic Concepts" section.=0D
=0D
Is this section trying to teach about the Quick mask, or about=0D selections saved as channels? If the former, then figure 14.10=0D should not head the section. If the latter then the text should=0D not mention the Quick mask here.=0D
=0D
Yes, we should remove the Quick mask stuff here.=0D
=0D
Nowhere that I can find does the text explain figure 14.10. I guess=0D it is possible to combine selection masks in a single operation,=0D but my efforts at clicking on eyes, links and the such-like have=0D failed :(. The only way I can think to achieve the result shown in=0D the figure is to use Shift and Ctrl keys while clicking on the=0D 'Channel to Selection' button. In either case the text has to=0D explain!=0D
=0D
Again, you're right. The example assumes section=0D
2.2.2.3. "Managing channels" - "Channel to selection" is known. We =0D
should at least add a pointer to the relevant info.=0D
=0D
It would be helpful if the pop-up text in the application and the=0D docs used the same description of this button (sigh - the app=0D labels it 'replace the current selection...')=0D
=0D
"Channel to Selection" is the name of the first selection item in th =0D
context menu (with pop-up help "Replace the selection with this =0D
channel"), and the list of buttons also shows the respective icons; so =0D=
I think "Channel to Selection" is the best name here.=0D =0D
When the button is mentioned in '2.2.3.1. Using Selection Masks' I=0D hadn't a clue where to find it - why not link somewhere (eg to=0D higher up the page). I did guess, but because the button is=0D differently labelled and is one among many I missed it.=0D
=0D
I will add a link here.=0D
=0D
You can probably pick up a degree of my frustration ;) =0D
=0D
Oh yes...=0D
=0D
Only a new user can spot where the docs don't work well enough.=0D
=0D
Exactly!=0D
=0D
Ulf=
