On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 10:04 PM, Keith Purtell wrote:

As a complete GIMP noob, I've run into a simple problem. I opened a jpg that need more width of any color on each side. Set background to black and changed canvas to new width. However the original center image remains selected and Select>None is grayed out, so I can't flatten and save as new jpg. Merge Down command also grayed out. Looked through online docs but didn't find what step I'm missing?

I'd hazard a guess that you are talking about yellow layer boundary. Check the lower half of the Layer menu for a command to bring layer's size to image's size after you enlarged canvas.

Alexandre Prokoudine http://libregraphicsworld.org

On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 3:23 PM, Keith Purtell wrote:

"I'd hazard a guess that you are talking about yellow layer boundary.

I tried that, and the "marching ants indicating the center (original) image stayed, and more such ants were added to the entire widened image. Commands that were grayed out were still unavailable.

Open the layers dialog (Windows/Layers, Channels, Paths, Undo)

Then right click on the layer with the original image, and select "layer to image size"

After that you should be able to flatten the image.

Or you could just select File/Save As then supply a new image name and you will be prompted to export the image, which will flatten it since jpg images have to contain only one layer.

Mike

On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 5:09 PM, Keith Purtell wrote:

Mike:

Sorta worked and sorta didn't. Still wouldn't let me merge down or flatten. But it did let me save it as default GIMP format, and more importantly as a TIF that I can transform into the JPG I want. I'll have to figure out what the bug was later.

One thing I've learned in my years in IT: only a beginner will break software in ways the developer never could have imagined!

Did you try to save as a jpg file?

What version of gimp are you using?

What operating system?

Can you post the image that you are having problems with on the site where you put the screen shot earlier?

Mike

On 12/22/2011 12:46 PM, Keith Purtell wrote:

It refused to save as a jpg.
GIMP 2.6.8.
Windows 7.

The original image I started with is at http://www.mediafire.com/i/?x591s2ra7wx9oxh

Keith

Hey Keith,

It would help to have the actual original image, instead of just a screen shot. We could then load the thing up and see what happens... and if anyone who tries this sees the same problem, it could lead to a real solution or, at least, a bug report.

A thought: Instead of "merge down" have you tried via the main menu, Image > Flatten Image? I am sure you did but it pays to be redundant about these things when the equation includes "new user + bizarre program behavior + communicating via e-mail."

:o)

Steve

Hey Keith,

I think I just solved it - a "well DUH" moment because it was staring right at me while I wrote my previous post. Your screen shot shows that the offending layer is a float, not a "normal" layer. Click the anchor button in the layers tab (if there is a "real" layer under the float) or the new layer button, and everything should suddenly get normal. I am not sure this accounts for the whole problem but I have at least partially reproduced the symptoms here, i.e. the "Flatten Layer" command is grayed out when there is a "float" present.

If that don't fix it, let us play with the original image file...

:o)

Steve