I have a black and white image with a transparent background. I have the numbers "190" cut out of the white area with a transparent background. The numbers aren't text, they are just holes in the image. I really want to move those numbers/holes sideways but I'm not sure how to go about it.
1 Answer
In the general case, this wouldn't always be possible because where there is transparency now you'll have opaque pixels after the move, and you can't invent the contents of these pixels(*). However since you state that the pixels are in a white area, we know how to plug the holes... So basically you:
- Get and save a selection on the shape of the hole
- Fill the hole
- Move the selection
- Use the selection to punch a new hole
In slow motion:
- Layer>Transparency>Alpha to selection to get a selection on the holes (and other transparent bits)
- Select>Invert
- Select>Save to channel (this saves the selection for later)
- Re-select the layer in the layers list (because the current "drawable" has become the saved selection)
- Make a rough selection around the letters (Rectangle select or lasso)
- Bucket-fill the selection with white to fill the existing "holes". Do not lose that selection
- Open the Channels list, right-click the saved selection, and Intersect with selection. The selection should become the letters you want to move and only that, the other transparent bits being excluded.
- Start the Move tool, and select the "Move selection" mode in the Tool options (red square icon)
- Drag the letter selection to where you want the new holes to be
- In the Layers list, re-select the layer
- Edit>Clear (or [delete])
(*) Unless the contents is still there and the pixels are just marked transparent. Miracles happen..