digit42

I actually like the way it works in the current release (non-beta).
So: +1 for the possibility to invoke the mask dropdown menu via long click or right click on the mask button.
Considering the possible additional stress with long clicks for some of us, I think that right click might be the better way.

Or right click the mask button to get to the former dropdown menu?
That would be more consistent than using ctrl.

I agree up to some degree. I mean, for some people like me who suffers of carpal tunnel, long clicks put more strees in the wrist. But following your idea, what if right click on the mask icon is what invokes the drop-down menu?

Single click for a normal mask, long click for drop-down menu
Would that work for those users that prefer the "old" way?

With the roll out of Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher for Windows version 2.0.4, Serif are making available Unsandboxed installers (also known here as MSI/EXE installers). These installers will be made for all future V2 release builds going forward and will autoupdate from within the application (checking for updates on each run, like the sandboxed version does)
Serif do not recommend or support mixtures of MSIX and MSI on the same computer. You should only use either all sandboxed or all unsandboxed,  particularly if you have more than one Affinity V2 application installed.
You can now download (and install) Windows unsandboxed MSI/EXE installer files (as well as Windows sandboxed MSIX installer files) from these store pages.
1. From the  V2 Universal Download page
 

Click on the words "Looking for Windows MSI installers?"
 

2. Individual V2 application Download pages, found here
Affinity Designer 2
Affinity Photo 2
Affinity Publisher 2
Click on "Also available EXE (size MB)" 

3. LICENCES AND DOWNLOADS pages in your account
 

Click on the words "Looking for Windows MSI installers?"

Hi,
This is a method of creating a completely non-destructive mask that allows you to use a normal layer as a mask, and do with it everything you can do with a normal layer, without any restrictions. 
You can also use a group as a mask! Everything you put in this group automatically becomes a mask, and you can mix them together in Multiply mode, for example. This way a mask can be a composite of multiple layers of any type (raster, vector, color, grayscale). This gives full creative freedom! 
This non-destructive mask method, created with two layer settings, Blend Ranges and Erase Blend mode. This method creates a mask from any Layer type, in a non-destructive way, keeping the original intact. And also apply Live Filters, and Adjustments.
1. Select the layer that should be the mask
2. Change its curve in Blend Ranges
3. Change its blend mode to Erase 
 
Creating a Mask

Mask_1.mp4  
Creating a Composite Mask 

Mask_2.mp4  
Using an image as a Mask

Mask_3.mp4  
Creating a Composite Mask using different layer types

Mask_4.mp4  
Applying the Live Filter

Mask_5.mp4  
An alternative method using Procedural Texture
 

Hi Russ,
that is a problem with the latest version of Topaz Photo AI (1.0.9), it just crashes. Topaz Photo AI version 1.0.8 worked without problems as a plugin in Affinity Photo.
The latest version does not only crash in Affinity Photo but also in Photoshop for some users. Here is the thread in their forum.
You may try to install the previous version which you can still download at the Topaz forum.
Cheers,
Andreas

Yes, we will be providing MSI installers to customers who require them. This FAQ will be updated with links to MSI downloads when they become available.
Yes. These are now available
 

Hi all. Thanks for your patience over the weekend when our offices were closed.
We've had a meeting this morning and decided to ALSO offer MSI installers to, those people who would like them. I can't tell you when this will happen, as there is engineering work that will be required to allow this to happen, but we hope it won't be long.
Thanks for your feedback!

Just as an exercise, I decided to explore ways to create vignettes with Affinity Photo. I stopped after identifying 20 methods. Attached are my notes for your pleasure.
Affinity photo Vignette V1.pdf

Hi,
I think the only way to save gradients for use in the Gradient Map adjustment layer is to save your favorite gradient as a preset. You can access your presets on the layers panel, adjustments tab. There you just click on a saved preset to use it.
But yes, it would be great if you could just use gradients from the existing swatches.

Hi,
I think the only way to save gradients for use in the Gradient Map adjustment layer is to save your favorite gradient as a preset. You can access your presets on the layers panel, adjustments tab. There you just click on a saved preset to use it.
But yes, it would be great if you could just use gradients from the existing swatches.

Hi,
I think the only way to save gradients for use in the Gradient Map adjustment layer is to save your favorite gradient as a preset. You can access your presets on the layers panel, adjustments tab. There you just click on a saved preset to use it.
But yes, it would be great if you could just use gradients from the existing swatches.

Super easy way to restore colors in old Photos. Watch this Affinity Photo tutorial to learn a quick way to bring back colors in vintage photos. How to get the original colors back. 
Brushes, LUTs and Designs for Affinity Photo:
https://gumroad.com/sarikasat
Support me on Patreon: 
https://www.patreon.com/sarikas
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/sarikastutorials
https://www.instagram.com/sarikasat/
Join us on Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AffinityPhotoTuts/

I've contacted DxO via their support channels. I'll update the thread when I know more.

Hi @Mark Ingram
thank you for working on the color problem! The latest beta fixed that bug in the plugins that I use most often.
The colors look OK now in Topaz Labs plugins (tested with ProPhoto RGB images). When testing some more plugins I found that some are showing correct colors now while in some the colors still are looking weird.
The color bug is fixed in those plugins as of Affinity Photo 1.7 beta 333:
Topaz Studio 1.14.4 Topaz Denoise AI 1.0.3 Topaz Sharpen AI 1.1.3 Nik Color Efex Pro 4 Nik Analog Efex Pro 2 Nik HDR Efex Pro 2 Other plugins that still display wrong colors when invoked from Affinity Photo 1.7.333 are:
Nik Dfine 2 Nik Viveza 2 Nik Sharpener Pro 3 Alien Skin Bokeh 2 Neat Image 8.3.7  

Hi @Mark Ingram
thank you for working on the color problem! The latest beta fixed that bug in the plugins that I use most often.
The colors look OK now in Topaz Labs plugins (tested with ProPhoto RGB images). When testing some more plugins I found that some are showing correct colors now while in some the colors still are looking weird.
The color bug is fixed in those plugins as of Affinity Photo 1.7 beta 333:
Topaz Studio 1.14.4 Topaz Denoise AI 1.0.3 Topaz Sharpen AI 1.1.3 Nik Color Efex Pro 4 Nik Analog Efex Pro 2 Nik HDR Efex Pro 2 Other plugins that still display wrong colors when invoked from Affinity Photo 1.7.333 are:
Nik Dfine 2 Nik Viveza 2 Nik Sharpener Pro 3 Alien Skin Bokeh 2 Neat Image 8.3.7  

You are right, and - if I'm not completely wrong - it should not be too hard to accomplish this. It's just about sending color profile information to the plugin the right way.
It might well be just an API parameter not set quite the right way, so that fixing this problem would need just a little tweak of the source code.

Having selected your unblurred target (such as the dress and occupant), you need to cut it out (to the clipboard) using ctrl-X or cmnd-X.  Then activate the gaussian blur filter making sure that you tick Preserve Alpha. Then paste your clipboard back nto your image using ctrl-V.or cmnd-V
Ticking Preserve Alpha ensures that the blurring is not affected by the transparent hole.
John