Paint Dynamics - Add Restore and Save Options
Environment/Versions
- GIMP version: 2.10.36 and 2.99.16
- Package: flatpak gimp.org
- Operating System: All
Current Status Considerations
In the Paint Dynamics instances, we have a greater problem because we don't have anything to 'Restore' or 'Save' them. The paint dynamics are in 'continuous and permanent temporary in progress status' until you close Gimp. Only at this moment, Gimp saves the 'last' status of dynamics on the archive. To check it is sufficient, to open the dynamics folders of the home </home/USER/.config/GIMP/2.99/dynamics> on our file manager and do a dynamics copy on Gimp > to change something in this copy and we see that nothing happens on the folder, but when we close Gimp the dynamics copy appears ;).
When we make changes to a painting dynamic, assuming we can make them (preferences/folders privileges), the original is lost even if we explicitly not wanted to save it (every time we close Gimp the last settings are saved over the master). Even when we are working live with the dynamics and making some changes to a curve, there is no way to RESTORE the 'original' state (master) of the dynamics contained in the reference folder. However, in this case for those interested in making a permanent change to the master, the system works as expected.
In case we wanted to modify without losing the master, for example, to make improvements to the dynamics, the only way is to generate a copy of the dynamics and at each change try to compare with the master... this method is very dispersive as you can see well imagine ;)
Many of the artists I know, including myself, make changes to the dynamics on the fly while they are in a work session on Gimp... currently, you have to pay a lot of attention because the master dynamics is updated with every change. Again, if the dynamic subject of our modifications is connected to a preset tool, this will also have to be modified and this is terrible. The unique option in this context is to create copies and this is very dispersive and certainly not ideal to control any library.
If we check for tool preset assets, this does not happen and so we can have the possibility to modify on-the-fly them during the Gimp sessions without losing the originals.
Proposal
To have consistent behaviour with the workflow, that is:
- To make a new or permanent change (modify) on the dynamic, use a SAVE option, and this is currently not available.
- To make temporary changes to the dynamics and after restoring the master archive contained in the reference folder, do so through a RESTORE option, which also does not currently exist.
- A preference might be "Save dynamic attribute changes on exit" (default, no) [Mark Sweeney @pixelmixer].