Post AxgZXlylEP3Vx8rxYW by zemarmot@fosstodon.org
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 (DIR) Post #AxgZXZ9Gw0ju9ygfdQ by zemarmot@fosstodon.org
       2025-08-29T11:58:06Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       A few days ago, we finally merged an early implementation of link layers (layers linking to external files) into @GIMP. This has various usages, e.g. the ability to work at several people on a same image by linking a separate document (e.g. someone working on backgrounds and another on characters). Or again when working with different software.For instance, in this example, the layer links a #SVG file. As soon as it is saved in #Inkscape, #GIMP picks up the updated version automatically:
       
 (DIR) Post #AxgZXepHpEJlljNnJg by zemarmot@fosstodon.org
       2025-08-29T12:04:28Z
       
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       @GIMP Another nice ability of link layers is that all consecutive transformations are squashed into a single transformation, which will lead to much smaller quality loss.For instance, the first image is a standard import then rotated 8 times at 10°. It shows more blurry than the same 8 times 10° rotation on a link layer (which will be as sharp as a single 80° rotation).
       
 (DIR) Post #AxgZXlylEP3Vx8rxYW by zemarmot@fosstodon.org
       2025-08-29T12:07:00Z
       
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       @GIMP Note that I am planning to port part of this work to all types of layers eventually though as a last-second merge concept, because destructive layers are still meant to be edited through direct pixel edits.Yet it should be possible to lessen quality loss even on destructive layers, for the cases when several transformations are done consecutively.This is work-in-progress.