up vote 6 down vote favorite
1
share [g+] share [fb]

Using GIMP 2.6.11

My previous image-editing software of choice was Microsoft Paint, which was very intuitive: make a rectangle, click + drag to move the contents of the rectangle around.

How do I replicate this functionality in GIMP? I seem to only be able to a) move the entire layer around, ignoring the selection entirely, or b) move the selection around, without moving anything that's within the selection (which is what I'm trying to do).

I have the feeling that I'm missing something extremely basic.

link|improve this question
100% accept rate
feedback

1 Answer

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Once you selected whatever part of the picture you want to move, press ctrl-x and then ctrl-v. This will cut and paste the selection to a new layer. Now you can use the move tool to move the new layer around.

Note: The move tool can move layers, selections, and paths. Make sure the layer option in the move tool is selected (in the toolbox).

Edit:

you can also select an area, then hold down ctrl-alt and drag the selected area as described here. Rotating and scaling selections seem to behave as expected (automatically creating a new layer). I'm not sure why they didn't make the move tool behave like that too.

link|improve this answer
I had discovered this, but it seems like a workaround rather than the primary way to do this. Is this really the only way? – Raven Dreamer May 5 '11 at 19:09
@Raven Dreamer There are many ways to do it. Unfortunately the most intuitive way doesn't seem to work. – James T May 6 '11 at 0:38
Damn. I could have sworn I tried the ctrl-alt method before only to have it not work. But now it's working perfectly, and doing exactly what I need. Grr, technology, you irritate me sometimes. Thanks! – Raven Dreamer May 6 '11 at 2:40
2  
@Raven Dreamer, Yeah I was confused with the ctrl-alt trick for a bit myself. It only works with the selection tools. If you are using the move tool, ctrl-alt will just move the selection instead of the selected portion of the image. Glad I could help. – James T May 6 '11 at 3:49
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.