GIMP 2 Weird Behavior

[-Awake-]

GIMP 2 Layer Overlay Issue

Hello,

I’ve had a long-standing issue with GIMP 2 that I thought was normal and had resigned myself to, but it was pointed out to me that it isn’t. So perhaps a kind soul could shed some light on it.

The problem occurs when using certain tools, like the brush with reduced opacity, on a transparent layer. This results in overly sharp and unnatural "gradients" when the brush is set to a soft style (it’s especially noticeable with a Hardness 050 brush, and even more so with Hardness 025).

However, if I paint with the same settings on a layer that already has a non-transparent background, it blends very well and produces the desired effect. Here’s an image illustrating the issue:

Bad effect when the paint is applied on the calque above the image :



Good Effect when the paint is apply directly on the image layer with the background :



Settings:

 

[gojira667]

Post a sample XCF?

You cropped off any layer settings, didn't mention the specific GIMP version or what the image mode, precision or gamma settings are...

 

[-Awake-]

Hello,

I didn't change any of the settings between the two different circles/point.
This is why I was wondering if this issue was known, whether it was a bug or poor handling of layers by the software.

 

[gojira667]

Seems to be a precision issue and worse in your version of GIMP. I might have a newer build than you.

I also have the issue, if less severe, with the project precision left at 8-bit int & sRGB as you can see with layer "8-bit int, sRGB".

I then changed the project's precision, Image->Precision->16 bit floating point, and chose Linear light when asked.

Then I made the "16-bit float, linear light" layer and used the brush again and it looks nice and clean.

 

[-Awake-]

Hey, thank you, man! That’s it! I just need to tweak the precision in the image settings. That’s exactly what I was looking for!