2.2.3. Selection masks - revision needed

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We currently have:

"Channels can be used to save and restore your selections. Clicking on the Quick 
mask button on the Image window  automatically creates a new channel called 
Qmask  and saves the displayed active selection to a thumbnail in front of the 
channel.There are many selection tools in GIMP like rectangular selection tool 
or fuzzy selection for continuous selections. ...."

It's very unclear to a new user what "saves the displayed active selection to a 
thumbnail in front of the channel" means. Doubtless everyone here knows, and is 
pointing with their finger - 'look, there it is!'

I think it means "displays a thumbnail of the active selection on the channel 
dialog". Took me quite a while to work it out. (There's no "saving" involved; 
it's the dialog, not the channel.)

I suggest that the text "There are many selection tools in GIMP like rectangular 
selection tool or fuzzy selection for continuous selections"  is removed - this 
must be known by anyone reading this. At least let's correct the grammar.


Is this section trying to teach about the Quick mask, or about selections saved 
as channels? If the former, then figure 14.10 should not head the section. If 
the latter then the text should not mention the Quick mask here.


Nowhere that I can find does the text explain figure 14.10. I guess it is 
possible to combine selection masks in a single operation, but my efforts at 
clicking on eyes, links and the such-like have failed :(. The only way I can 
think to achieve the result shown in the figure is to use Shift and Ctrl keys 
while clicking on the 'Channel to Selection' button. In either case the text has 
to explain!

It would be helpful if the pop-up text in the application and the docs used the 
same description of this button (sigh - the app labels it 'replace the current 
selection...')

When the button is mentioned in '2.2.3.1. Using Selection Masks' I hadn't a clue 
where to find it - why not link somewhere (eg to higher up the page). I did 
guess, but because the button is differently labelled and is one among many I 
missed it.

===========

You can probably pick up a degree of my frustration ;) but the reason I was 
reading this section was because I was revising the 'basic concepts' text as I 
promised earlier - I am trying to contribute rather than just moan.

Only a new user can spot where the docs don't work well enough.

David



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