channels panel improvement - create mask or greyscale from channels

[NotMyFault]

Hi,

the channels panel allows to create a greyscale layer or mask layer from existing pixel layers or mask layers color channels only.

1. Please add the option to create a greyscale layer from compound color channels (RGB or other color modes, and alpha)
2. Please add the option to create a mask layer from spare channels channels (RGB or other color modes, and alpha)
3. Please add the option to create a mask/greyscale layer from any channels where "create spare channel" is offered today

 

This will save you lots of edit steps, including creation and deletion of temporary helper layers.

e.g. to create a greyscale layer from a single compound alpha channel, today a straight forward approach would require 6-7 steps with a complex dance of left/right mouse clicks and always hitting a very small area to toggle the right lick context menu:

1. create a spare channel
2. create a pixel layer
3. load pixel layer red from spare channel
4. load pixel layer green from spare channel,
5. load pixel layer blue from spare channel
6. fill alpha channel
7. move pixel layer in layer stack to intended position

[rikkarlo2]

I agree that the channel manipulation workflow needs improvements. 

It would be great if it was possible to simply paste pixels copied from RGB layer into any channel or mask when selected, this would simplify greatly any interaction with channels, alpha channels and masks too.