Export Layers is a GIMP plug-in that exports layers as separate images in almost any file format supported by GIMP and third-party plug-ins.
This plug-in:
- exports layers as separate images in almost any file format supported by GIMP
- uses native dialogs for file format export procedures to adjust file format settings
- uses layer names as filenames for the exported images
- supports layer groups and optionally treats them as folders
- can optionally export only layers whose file extension matches specified file extension
- can use file extensions in layer names as file formats
- can use layers with names in [square brackets] as background layers
- GIMP 2.8 or later
- Python 2.7.x
Windows
Extract the export_layers.py file and the export_layers directory to
[home directory]\.gimp-2.8\plug-ins.
Linux
Extract the export_layers.py file and the export_layers directory to
[home directory]/.gimp-2.8/plug-ins.
If necessary, make the export_layers.py file executable, e.g. from the terminal:
chmod +x "export_layers.py"
OS X
Extract the export_layers.py file and the export_layers directory to
[home directory]/Library/Application Support/GIMP/2.8/plug-ins.
If necessary, make the export_layers.py file executable, e.g. from the terminal:
chmod +x "export_layers.py"
GIMP for OS X may have Python 2.6 bundled, which will not work with this plug-in,
since Python 2.7 is required. Install Python 2.7 (if not already), open
/Applications/Gimp.app/Contents/Resources/lib/gimp/2.0/interpreters/pygimp.interp
and change its contents to the following:
python=/usr/bin/python
/usr/bin/python=/usr/bin/python
:Python:E::py::python:
From the main menu, go to "File -> Export Layers...". A dialog appears, allowing you to specify output folder, file extension and various other settings.
Type in the desired file extension in the "File extension" text field (with or without the leading period). You can type any file extension supported by GIMP. File formats provided by third-party plug-ins should work as well - at the very least, GIMP DDS Plugin was tested and works correctly.
To export in RAW file format, type "data". The file extension will remain in the files.
To export layers, press the "Export Layers" button. For the first layer, a dialog corresponding to the file format appears, allowing you to adjust file format settings. Some file formats don't have dialogs.
For subsequent layers, the same settings that you specified in the file format dialog are applied. However, some file formats have to display the dialog for each file (more info in Known Issues).
If you need to stop the export prematurely, press the Stop button. If an error was encountered (such as invalid file extension) or the export was stopped, the main dialog remains open.
If you want to export the layers with the last values used, you can use the "File -> Export Layers to" menu entry. The file format dialog will not be displayed - instead, the last used values will be used.
Treat layer groups as folders
If enabled, layers will be exported to subfolders corresponding to the layer groups. If disabled, all layers will be exported to the output folder on the same level and no subfolders will be created.
Ignore invisible layers
If enabled, invisible layers will not be exported. Visible layers within invisible layer groups will also not be exported.
Autocrop layers
If enabled, layers will be autocropped before being exported.
Use image size
If enabled, layers will be resized (but not scaled) to the image size. This is useful if you want to keep the size of the image canvas and the layer position within the image. If layers are partially outside the image canvas, they will be cut off. If you want to export the entire layer, leave this setting disabled.
Save Settings
Current settings in the Export Layers window are permanently saved to a file. If you re-open GIMP, the saved settings will be loaded from the file when Export Layers is first opened.
Reset Settings
Settings will be reset to their default values.
File extensions in layer names
- No special handling - No special action is performed.
- Export only layers matching file extension - Export only layers whose file extensions match the "File extension" text field.
- Use as file extensions - Every layer that has a valid file extension will be exported using that file extension. File format dialog will be displayed once for each file extension. For layers with invalid or no file extension, the extension in the "File extension" text field will be used.
Additional options to "File extensions in layer names"
- Always strip file extension - Strip (remove) file extension from all layer names.
- Strip identical file extension - Remove file extension from the layer names that match the "File extension" text field.
- Never strip file extension - Don't strip file extension from layer names.
Layer names in [square brackets]
- Treat as normal layers - Layer names starting with "[" and ending with "]" will be exported as any other layer.
- Treat as background layers - These layers will be used as a background for all other layers and will not be exported separately.
- Ignore - These layers will not be exported (and will not serve as background layers).
- Ignore other layers - All other layers will not be exported.
Additional options to "Layer names in [square brackets]"
- Crop to background - If enabled, layers will be cropped to the size of the background layers instead of their own size.
Merge layer groups
If enabled, each top-level layer group is merged into one layer. The name of each merged layer is the name of the corresponding top-level layer group.
Create empty subfolders
If enabled, empty subfolders from empty layers groups are created.
Ignore layer modes
If enabled, the layer mode for each layer is set to Normal. This is useful for layers with opacity less than 100% and a layer mode different than Normal or Dissolve, which would normally be completely invisible if a file format supporting alpha channel is used (such as PNG).
On Windows, the file format dialog is displayed behind the main dialog.
The following file formats are not working properly with this plug-in:
- colored XHTML (.xhtml) - does not save images at all,
- KISS CEL (.cel) - throws error/warning messages, but saves images anyway.
The following file formats have to display the file format dialog for each layer, not just the first layer:
- RAW,
- FLI (.fli, .flc),
- C source (.c),
- HTML (.html, .htm).
On Windows, the following file formats don't work properly if file paths contain Unicode characters:
- DDS (.dds),
- OpenRaster (.ora),
- X PixMap Image (.xpm).
In Export Layers To, JPG format always displays the file format dialog for the first layer.
This plug-in is licensed under the GNU GPLv3, which can be found on the following page: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
If you want to provide translations for the plug-in, see the Readme for Translators.md
file in the export_layers/locale directory in the package.
You can report issues, ask questions or request new features on the following pages:
You can also contact me via email: khalim19 AT gmail DOT com