Solved(sort of): Gimp: Added Patterns Don't Show in Menu

[Ray2047]

I have followed the instructions for adding patterns, open an image in Gimp then save in USR/share/gimp/gimp 2.0/patterns as a ".pat" file. Sure enough when I check opening the file with Dolphin it is there with the correct extension but when using Gimp only the original 20 patterns show on the menu. I have taken the KB size down to average range of sizes for pattern files and used no spaces in the name. I've spent about five days and am as baffled as ever. Using Gimp 2.6.11 on fully updated KDE.

[longtom]

shouldn't it be in /home/user/.gimp-2.6/patterns ?

Sorry - not on my PCLinuxOS PC right now - but that's how I remember it.

[rich2005]

there are 2 locations for patterns
 - the global folder /usr/share/gimp/2.0/patterns/
and as longtom said your local gimp folder ~/.gimp-2.6/patterns/

using gimp menu -> edit -> preferences -> folders -> patterns and the 2 locations should be listed by default.
You can add any other folder from there as well.
Saving from gimp as a pattern & to the global folder, have the writable box ticked. Much better to save to your local folder.

[Ray2047]

Didn't even know there was a Home pattern folder from the tutorials I read. I actually changed permissions so user could write to global. I think you have answered my question. Thank you all very much.

[Neal ManBear]

You should be able to add to /usr/share/gimp/gimp 2.0/patterns, if you do it as root. I've created some things, saved to my /home and as root, copied them to /usr/share/gimp/ to the appropriate place. Then they were available.   

[Ray2047]

Every thing you said made sense and I thought sure it would work but I didn't test before I marked it solved. Patterns in the home user folder was empty so when I have been choosing Patterns in Gimp the menu has, it seems, been populated from the root folder. That is where I have been adding them and they are not showing up.

I tried adding a pattern to local but it didn't show. My guess is Gimp is calling 2.0 root pattern folder. I'm going to look for a way to change the location Gimp looks for but that still won't explain why images added to the root pattern folder it does call doesn't show up.

Was the preceding paragraph clear as mud? Let me write it another way. Gimp is calling patterns in root. I am adding to patterns in root. I am not seeing the patterns I added to root patterns. I am seeing the patterns that were there when Gimp was installed so I know Gimps menu must be coming from root patterns folder. It can't be coming from home user patterns folder because the ones showing in the pattern menu are not in home user pattern folder..

[rich2005]

any patterns in either global or local folders will show, so maybe they are not valid pattern files

Not really much more to give except

Save to your local folder as a .pat file and explicitly add the .pat extension.
Give it a description in the save dialog.
Click on the little green circular arrow, bottom of the patterns thumbnails to refresh the files.
Large patterns might show up as blank icons, so look for the name you gave it - they are alphabetical order.

FWIW a screen shot http://i.imgur.com/xGB2e.jpg

[Linuzoid]

You might check in the GIMP preferences to see that your home directory patterns is checked, you'll find it under Edit>Preferences>Folders>Patterns. There should be your home folder there, if it isn't, you can add it and check mark the box so when called for GIMP will check there too. 

[Ray2047]

I got it sort of. If I remove root pattern folder from Preferences >Folders > Patterns I can see the home user pattern folder when I choose Patterns in Gimp. With both sources checked in the Folder section of Preferences I only see patterns in root and the ones I added to root don't show. For now I can get the functionality I need by only using the Home pattern folder so that's good enough.

Notes: Yes, I was closing and reopening Gimp after each change.

[Linuzoid]

I got it sort of. If I remove root pattern folder from Preferences >Folders > Patterns I can see the home user pattern folder when I choose Patterns in Gimp. With both sources checked in the Folder section of Preferences I only see patterns in root and the ones I added to root don't show. For now I can get the functionality I need by only using the Home pattern folder so that's good enough.

Notes: Yes, I was closing and reopening Gimp after each change.

That's interesting, because on my machine, I have my home folder checked marked and not the root, and both show up. Hmm, go figure. 

[Ray2047]

That's interesting, because on my machine, I have my home folder checked marked and not the root, and both show up.

My very uneducated guess is it is some how related to Home being 2.6 and root being 2.0 but only a wild guess.

Hmm, go figure

I've given up figuring. It seems when I try to lean a new feature I spend days or weeks trying to follow the tutorial only to find the feature doesn't work correctly on my install. Time before this getting Bucket Fill to work with patterns ended up requiring a complete reinstall including the home folder. Then of course this when I started trying to learn patterns once I could actually bring up the menu.

[Neal ManBear]

Have you considered renaming your ~/.gimp-2.6 to  .gimp-2.6.bak? After the renaming, start gimp and a new .gimp-2.6 will be created. Move your patterns from the .bak directory to the new directory.   

[Ray2047]

Have you considered renaming your ~/.gimp-2.6 to  .gimp-2.6.bak? After the renaming, start gimp and a new .gimp-2.6 will be created. Move your patterns from the .bak directory to the new directory.  

That was next on my to-do list after I recovered from my latest bout with Gimp. Thank you though for the suggestion.

[rich2005]

@Ray2047
As you have found Gimp has a learning curve. There are Gimp forums around which will answer all your questions, especially if you have problems with a tutorial.

Although your post was about Gimp pattern files, you can use a regular .png file as a pattern. Might/might-not be tile-able, that is another subject. These are examples of png files from my patterns folder.

http://i.imgur.com/ELNhG.jpg
 
Why so few? - not showing the default patterns?

If & when you get into using Gimp, there are dozens of plugins and scripts, one is GURM - a gimp resource manager which lets you swap out brushes, patterns, gradients etc.  I have any number of patterns, but none anywhere near the Gimp global folder, I swap them in & out as required. see:

http://registry.gimp.org/node/13473

As with anything it is about use and gradual learning. But Gimp is a great application, been using it for years, do not be put off.

@Linzuoid
the tick box in the preferences -> patterns only makes the folder(s) writable. Any suitable file in any of the folders listed will show in the toolbox.

[Ray2047]

Thanks rich2005. Been trying to use Gimp for years and still rely on IrfanView* or Kpaint for most things. Maybe all the gossip about Photoshop  and experiences with IrfanView and Kpaint make me think image manipulation should be easier then it is.

*I know Gweview is similar to IrfanView but been using IRFanview longer then any of the other. Just like it.