quinet@xxxxxxxxxx (Raphael Quinet) writes: > On Tue, 16 May 2000, Jens Lautenbacher <jtl@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > I would say, simply make a layer by default have alpha always... I > > know I know it's more memory for that 0.001 % of cases where people > > start with one background layer and stick to one the whole time, > > without using alpha.... > > I still haven't found a good reason to keep the background layer > "special" when the image contains multiple layers. If the only > reasons are historical or to copy the features of some well-known > commercial program, then we could have this as an option in the > gimprc (but IMHO the default should be to promote the background > layer automatically). One reason is the same as you gave for the single layer case: clearing means filling with a choosen background layer. So having a stack of layers with a dedicated background layer in a dedicated color makes sense, as clearing on the upper layers will clear to alpha, while it will clear to the background color on the background layer
