Layer stack locked during Floating Selection in GIMP 2.10

Answer

No. While a Floating Selection is active in GIMP 2.10 you cannot non-destructively modify other existing layers. The floating selection is the sole active editing context. Selecting another layer in the Layers dialog is disabled/ignored and tools operate on the floating selection only. Resolution is required first.

Multiple consecutive pastes before resolving the first floating selection do not stack. A new paste replaces the existing floating selection. Unanchored content from the first paste is lost or overwritten when the second paste occurs.

Confirmed facts

• Paste from clipboard in GIMP 2.10 creates a Floating Selection shown in the Layers dialog as a child item of the layer it floats over.
• Layer activation and painting are restricted to the floating selection until it is resolved.
• Resolution options are Layer > Anchor Layer to merge into the layer below, or right-click the floating selection entry and choose New Layer / To New Layer to make it an independent layer.
• Consecutive pastes replace the current floating selection rather than creating a second simultaneous floating selection.

Likely explanation

The Layers dialog appears locked by design to prevent accidental edits to underlying layers before positioning is finished. This is not a bug, it is the intended transient editing state for a floating selection.

Steps for this case

1. Do not attempt to select other layers. The stack will remain locked until the floating selection is resolved.
2. Position the floating selection with Move tool as needed.
3. Resolve immediately to unlock the stack:
   • Keep independence: right-click the floating selection in Layers > New Layer, or use Layer > New Layer from Floating Selection. The new layer is inserted above the original target layer.
   • Merge into target: ensure the correct layer is active below the float, then Layer > Anchor Layer.
4. If you need to paste again, resolve the current float first to avoid losing the first paste.

One diagnostic that changes the recommendation: Do you need the pasted content merged into the layer below or kept as an independent layer? Anchor merges permanently and is destructive to the floating state, New Layer preserves independence and changes layer order.