Nah, it'd only need very basic functionality like resize and layer modes and such. Anything beyond that could be done in the actual image editors. Think of it like a graphics software where each layer is a file that is somewhere on your filesystem, and when you edit the file the changes are updated realtime to the software. So you could have "svg layers" or "xcf layers", you click on one and select "edit in gimp" or "edit in inkscape" or "edit in ____" and then it opens the image in the corresponding software, when you save there you can go back to the composition software and you'll see the changes you made there.
It would only need to read them as far as being able to render them accurately. For svg's, there's already libsvg which could be used for that. .ora files (used by eg. Mypaint) are basically just .png's stacked into a file with metadata for layer modes and such. That just leaves .xcf and Krita's .kra, of these .xcf would probably be relatively easy to implement, .kra might be more difficult because of effect layers and such.
So sort just a program to stack them in layers only, but no real editing except in it's original program, it could be useful but lets say you want vector outlines select the inside of lines and use pixels instead then have Krita's paint abilities to be inside the selection then over top also, sort of a mix and match all over the place (something I would do constantly), then it would get confusing bringing in so many layers when I could do it all in one program instead and edit it in that program, the ability to do it all in one with no added programs having to open up and see the changes real time then the ability to either trace bitmap for pixels to become vectors or change vectors to pixels (they both can be done now in gimp and inkscape but not in the same program for both, hope this makes sense because I do it now but the long way around which is a headache.
That's why I was hoping gimpers got svg support to create vectors it would of accomplished this and there would be no need for inkscape anymore.
Your idea is good for basic art (great for a lot of business stuff also) but highly detailed with mixtures all over the map I don't know how that would play out.
In my flash programming days years ago I used to do this by having illustrator, photoshop, fireworks and flash open all at the same time and jumped from one program to another to get the effects I was looking for to use for flash, it was a headache jumping around and usually crashed Windows on me lol.
It got to the point that I just used illustrator for most of it to keep it strictly vectors instead and added photoshop for the pixels which really didn't go over to well in flash back then, it preferred vectors.
It's probably opening in fullscreen mode, I think it's something like a bug with KDE software not running properly on Cinnamon/GNOME/etc. try pressing ctrl-shift-f twice, see if that helps.
This worked like a charm, thanks
It's usefulness depends on your drawing style and what kind of tablet you use. For me, when I draw on paper, I turn the paper around lots so that I don't have to draw at an awkward angle, it's easier to get the lines right that way. The rotation function basically serves the same purpose.
Yup I always draw and paint in one direction and never move the paper or canvas around, something I just got used, but I know a lot of artist move the media around so it's a great feature for those who do it that way.
There are guides, they're just a bit different than what you're used to in GIMP. You can create them with the painting assistant tool (the one that looks like a ruler), you can do, curves, straight lines, ellipses or perspective grids with it. Then just use a painting tool and check the box "assistant" in the tool options, the slider next to it adjusts how closely the painting tool follows the guidelines (which is really nice, allows to do clean & accurate lines that still look hand-drawn).
Thanks again
I'm liking it better now, I got to admit making guides this way can be very useful, especially for a graphic novel.
I'm without a pen tablet right now, but am probably going to get the bamboo create since the drivers aren't out yet for the new wacom tablets (intuos tablets) or I would get the CTH680.
I sold the last one I had when I took a break from art (wish I never did that now) but it would be outdated now anyhow.
I'm planning to pick it up in a month so I'll check to see if they got the drivers updated by then, if not then the bamboo create it is, not as updated but at least it'll work.
Just getting really tired of using my finger to draw with on a laptop, it just does not do the same accuracy at all and no pressure sensitive really irks me.
That's why the graphic novels are waiting for the tablet, the rest I can get away without using one for now.
