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2.9. Save as

The Save as command displays the Save Image dialog. In its basic form, as shown below, this gives you a text box to assign a name to the file, and a drop-down list of bookmarks to select a directory to save it in. Normally the file format is determined by the extension you use in the file name (i.e., .jpg for a JPEG file). You can use the Select File Type option expander to pick a different file type, but you should avoid doing this unless absolutely necessary, to avoid confusion.

If the directory you want is not in the list of bookmarks, click on Browse for other folders to expand the dialog to its full form. You can find an explanation of the layout, and help on creating and using bookmarks, in the Files section.

If you saved the image previously and don't need to change the file name or any of the options, you can use the Save command instead.

2.9.1. Activating the Command

  • You can access to this command from the image menubar through File ? Save as,

  • or by using the keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl+S.

2.9.2. The basic Save Image dialog

There are two different forms of the Save Image dialog. The simple form only lets you type in the filename and choose the directory the file should be saved in. If the folder you want is not on the list, you can type in the path to the directory, along with the filename. You can also click on the small triangle to display the full folder browser. You can also choose the image format, by selecting the file extension (e.g., .xcf or .png).

Figure 15.12. The basic Save Image dialog

The basic Save Image dialog

2.9.3. The Save Image dialog with a Browser

Figure 15.13. The Save Image dialog (Browser)

The Save Image dialog (Browser)

  1. The left panel is divided into two parts. The upper part lists your main directories and your storage devices; you cannot modify this list. The lower part lists your bookmarks; you can add or remove bookmarks. To add a bookmark, select a directory or a file in the middle panel and click on the Add button at the bottom of the left panel. You can also use the Add to bookmarks command in the context menu, which you get by clicking the right mouse button. You can delete a bookmark by selecting it and clicking on the Remove button.

  2. The middle panel displays a list of the files in the current directory. Change your current directory by double left-clicking on a directory in this panel. Select a file with a single left click. You can then save to the file you have selected by clicking on the Save button. Note that a double left click saves the file directly.

    You can right click on the middle panel to access the Show Hidden Files command.

  3. The selected image is displayed in the Preview window if it is an image created by GIMP. File size, resolution and the image's composition are displayed below the preview window.

    If your image has been modified by another program, click on the preview to update it.

  4. Enter the filename of the new image file here.

    [Note] Note

    If the image has already been saved, GIMP suggests the same filename to you. If you click on Save, the file is overwritten.

  5. This drop-down list is only available in the basic form of the dialog. It provides a list of bookmarks for selecting a directory in which to save your file.

  6. Above the middle panel, the path of the current directory is displayed. You can navigate along this path by clicking on one of the buttons.

  7. If you want to save the image into a folder that doesn't yet exist, you can create it by clicking on Create Folder and following the instructions.

  8. This button shows All Images by default. This means that all images will be displayed in the middle panel, whatever their file type. By developing this list, you can choose to show only one type of file.

  9. At Select File Type, you have to select the file format for saving the file. If you select By Extension, the file type is determined by the extension you add to the name, for example, .jpg for JPEG format.

    [Note] Note

    To preserve all the components of your image when you save it — the layers, channels, etc. — use ".xcf" format, which is the GIMP's native format.