Vector layers for @GIMP have just been rescheduled to v3.0.2. So it's not coming to the big v3.0 update, but it's going to make its subsequent update really big :)
@prokoudine @GIMP is that something special related to layers, or does this mean gimp doing some form of vector graphics?
@falktx @prokoudine @GIMP It's special layers tied to paths for non-destructive path rendering. So you can change the line color/width/shapes or the fill for instance. And you can edit the path anytime independently.
So yes, it's vector graphics in GIMP. Like "stroke path" on steroids, because unlike the "stroke" feature, it's non-destructive (you can change the render anytime without undoing).
@falktx @prokoudine @GIMP
GIMP 3.0.2 (might be another version if we have urgent bugs to fix or whatever after 3.0.0) should have link layers too. I.e. linking an external image as a layer in GIMP. Link layers can be used e.g. when you want to share an image across several artworks, or if you want to edit the image in an external software. To stay in the vector world, you could load an external SVG file as a link layer, keep editing it in @inkscape and have the render update in GIMP.
@zemarmot @prokoudine @GIMP @inkscape that sounds quite awesome!
can we combine the 2? external svg/vector files as a link layer :)
@zemarmot @prokoudine @GIMP @inkscape my main purpose would be to link external svg files and be able to set their size without having to reimport or lose lossy-resize.
in any case, it is great news that svg support is improved! working with svgs in previous versions was a bit of a pain, having to calculate the exact size needed in advance..
so thanks for the effort!
@falktx @prokoudine @GIMP @inkscape
Yes being able to import SVG images and not bother about their size while being able to resize them at will inside GIMP while always have the perfect render is definitely one of the use case I had in mind when I implemented this. This already works in my code.
Actually look at the demo video I made in 2020, as I demonstrate exactly what you talk about (resizing the link layer re-renders the external SVG at the target size): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5oyqbD7zyQ
@falktx @prokoudine @GIMP @inkscape
The base implementation is done and already works. TODO: details, workflow, integration to existing tools, saving/loading…
Similar state for vector layers (base implementation works but work to go from demo to releasable state).
I put a slowdown on these otherwise we'll never release GIMP 3.0. My "3.0.2" milestone means "main work done so it will likely be released very soon after 3.0.0 (otherwise we'd push 3.0.0 release a few more months down the road).
@falktx @prokoudine @GIMP @inkscape If you mean, having both vector and link layers in a same image, sure.
If you mean having a link layer which you convert into a vector layer (editable in GIMP), it's of course theoretically possible, but the problem is that GIMP is not a full-featured vector-first program. Our path tool is quite limited and if you were to link a complex SVG file with advanced vector feature, we'd likely lose some of these in a conversion.