Is there a Text to Selection script?

mackenzieh · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2016 7:44 pm **(#1)**

I'm just curious to know if there is a Text to Selection script for gimp. If there is one, where can I find it?

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12834

Text to path, then you can do path to selection.

Wallace · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2016 8:21 pm **(#3)**

mackenzieh wrote:

I'm just curious to know if there is a Text to Selection script for gimp.
If there is one, where can I find it?

I don't know of a script that will create a selection from text.

Lyle is correct.
You can create a path form your text layer and then use the path to make a selection of the text.

steven8 · **Joined:** Jul 04, 2015 **Posts:** 256

If you use the select by color tool, it will make all of your text a selection, then you can copy and paste it. Is that what you meant?

mackenzieh · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2016 9:11 pm **(#5)**

Those are all good suggestions. I was just curious because of this tutorial I found:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8EuE9Fm3UI

It uses Text to Selection

skip to 4:47 in the video and you'll see what I mean.

sallyanne · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2016 9:39 pm **(#6)**

Other way to select the text is 'alpha to selection'
Right click on text and click on 'alpha to selection'

PegLeg44 · **Joined:** Feb 14, 2012 **Posts:** 426

Alt+Left Click a text layer in the layers dockable dialog to turn it into a selection quickly. And if you have the text set as antialiased it will be selected that way.

Wallace · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2016 9:48 pm **(#8)**

mackenzieh wrote:

Those are all good suggestions.
I was just curious because of this tutorial I found:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8EuE9Fm3UI

It uses Text to Selection

skip to 4:47 in the video and you'll see what I mean.

The version of Gimp being used in this video tutorial is 2.6 and Text to Selection form the Layers Menu no longer exists.
As you can see form the replies to your post.
There are many ways of making a selection form your text

mackenzieh · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2016 12:36 am **(#9)**

Thanks for all the replies. I use Alpha to Selection since that one come natural to me.

2-ton · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2016 11:26 am **(#10)**

I use alpha to selection, seems to be the quickest way since I never remember any of the keyboard shortcuts.

Wallace · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:08 pm **(#11)**

Here's an example of the differences between text created using Alpha to Selection and text created using Path to Selection.

As you can see in the image below.
The paths created for Alpha to Selection are not as accurate,
as those created by text to Selection.

When the selections are both filled,
you can notice a slight difference in the text that's created.

Although Alpha to Selection is quick, it's also not as accurate.

Odinbc · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2016 7:07 pm **(#12)**

Interesting Wallace, my problem is my eyes aren’t good enough to notice on your examples. I'll give it a go later. Another experiment would be to use a Channel but that adds steps.

sallyanne · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2016 8:47 pm **(#13)**

Odinbc wrote:

Interesting Wallace, my problem is my eyes aren’t good enough to notice on your examples. I'll give it a go later. Another experiment would be to use a Channel but that adds steps.

Took me a little to see it as well. In some of the thinner areas of the text A-S seems to be around the text whereas T-P doesn't.
As Wallace said, only a slight difference which is why it isn't easily noticable.

Wallace · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:48 pm **(#14)**

You might be able to see the difference in this 1920x1080 screenshot.

The Blue Paths were made using Text to Path.
The Red Paths were made by turning the Alpha to Selection of the text into a path.
I think the differences are very noticeable now.
You can see that the red paths, lacks some of the curves of the blue paths.

steven8 · **Joined:** Jul 04, 2015 **Posts:** 256

You can see, in some places, that it just 'gives up' following the curve at the beginning of a serif, and just connects a straight line to the end of the next flat line. It 'skips' the curve.

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2016 3:03 am **(#16)**

steven8 wrote:

You can see,
in some places,
that it just 'gives up' following the curve at the beginning of a serif,
and just connects a straight line to the end of the next flat line.
It 'skips' the curve.

That's exactly the point I've been trying to make.
Text to path, then path to selection.
Will create a better selection then just using alpha to select on a text layer.

You get a cookie Steven8!

steven8 · **Joined:** Jul 04, 2015 **Posts:** 256

Wallace wrote:

steven8 wrote:

You get a cookie Steven8!

Chocolate Chip! Cool! :clap

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2016 3:56 am **(#18)**

steven8 wrote:

Wallace wrote:

steven8 wrote:

You get a cookie Steven8!
[ Image ]

Chocolate Chip! Cool! :clap

The smaller the text gets, the worse alpha select works to make accurate selections of text.

Guess which paths were made using alpha to selection of the text.

sallyanne · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2016 4:13 am **(#19)**

OMG, obviously the top one :oops:

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2016 4:37 am **(#20)**

sallyanne wrote:

OMG, obviously the top one :oops:

Are you surprised Sallyanne?