The default setting in G'Mic is to overwrite the current layer. That's absolutely not mine, I always want to have the effect on a new non-active layer. That way I can combine different G'Mic effects in a more flexible way, use different filters or filter settings on the same non-altered layer without leaving the plugin, have all the layers for combining or comparing and always keep the original layer to compare or to also use it for combining.

That said I'd like to save my preferred layer usage as default because it is annoying to change it every time I start the plugin (and to think of it). Is that possible somehow?

Well, no, that's not possible without changing the source code. If you want to recompile the plug-in, I can probably give you a patch for doing that.

Maye it's just a matter of firing off GMIC from a a script that first duplicates the current layer?

I've made it a habit to duplicate the layer I want to muck with before I apply any filters. New from visible is also a good friend of mine. Not saying this approach is perfect, but once I got used to it, it flows nicely and I don't even notice I'm doing it anymore.

That sounds good, thanks for the offer. Is it possible to compile the plugin independently from the rest? And can you please tell me how to apply the patch?

@ek22 + ofnuts: That's not the same . I do duplicate the layer before I g'mic, but nonetheless I have to change the setting in the plugin, because I need a new layer for every action.

Actually my G'MIC program saves my tool options on exit just like any other Gimp filter.
Edit>Preferences>Tool Options
Save tool options on exit.
Now when you tick the options in G'MIC to save the filtered layer as new layer it will stay there.It does for me anyways.

Thanks . It's so simple I haven't thought of it. I saved the tools options a long time before I installed G'Mic plugin .

Edit: Alas not that simple . When I click the save tools button in the gimp settings (I don't want Gimp to save anything on exiting) all tool settings are saved - but not the G'Mic setttings...

Yes and i also found out this only works if you keep Gimp open.Once you start a new instance of Gimp G'MIC resets to default output values it seems.