Dr_No

Thanks to all for your suggestions and informed input …

Hi, Walt … I screencapped the steps I use to add LUTs to my v.1 Photo and sent them to him to use for his installation. He replied that he got the ‘file not supported’ msg. Question: Is there any difference installing LUTs into v.2 Photo that didn't exist in v.1? It seems that process should remain a constant between versions, yes? Thanks again.

NotMyFault … thanks for your input. In my experiments using the suggestions made here, I've concluded that the vector layer approach is the one most applicable to the way I work. I was surprised at the results of the fill layer when I used it, but it's the only way to learn what needs to be learnt, yes? Thanks again to all who contributed to finding this solution.

Thanks, Walt … that's an option I hadn't considered. It'll be implemented in the Next Major Work … [sic]. To date, Iconoclast's suggestion does the trick nicely, and there may be advantages with using a Fill layer not available with the vector layer solution. So many options, so little thyme …

walt.farrell … I think I meant to say ‘filled objects’ but didn't (you know how that goes sometimes, yes?) … but to the point: The steps would then be (note: logic is being attempted here) — Open PS & load gradient files; create new document in PS with one filled object per gradient; save the .psd file and open said file with Affinity Photo. Izzat about where it's going? Other than involving 40 separate steps, it's actually pretty simple (why, I think even I could do it!) …

walt.farrell … I think I meant to say ‘filled objects’ but didn't (you know how that goes sometimes, yes?) … but to the point: The steps would then be (note: logic is being attempted here) — Open PS & load gradient files; create new document in PS with one filled object per gradient; save the .psd file and open said file with Affinity Photo. Izzat about where it's going? Other than involving 40 separate steps, it's actually pretty simple (why, I think even I could do it!) …

Just a quick follow-up to all who responded: thank you for your input. I have since tried the ‘no-Option-drag’ solution and … VIOLA! - like majique, everything automatically snappeth to place! The old Adobe Trick of Necessity (AI & PS) which involves using the Option (Alt) key just isn't needed here - and that's nice. Simpler is always better(-er) …

Just a quick follow-up to all who responded: thank you for your input. I have since tried the ‘no-Option-drag’ solution and … VIOLA! - like majique, everything automatically snappeth to place! The old Adobe Trick of Necessity (AI & PS) which involves using the Option (Alt) key just isn't needed here - and that's nice. Simpler is always better(-er) …

Old Bruce … I agree with your conclusion re leaving the OS ‘as is’, and since APFS doesn't play nice at all with SPOD HDs, an ‘upgrade’ to ‘High Sierra’ would likely see even further performance degradation than currently experienced with some apps. The display of LUTs names, while nice-to-have, is not a 'need-to-have' so long as there's a workaround or clumsy substitute that lets the names be read. Anything beyond that in this OS is just icing on the cake … thanks for the thoughts.

Thanks to all … I believe the answer (counter-intuitive tho’ it may be) is that, in order to activate ‘Auto-Distribute’, one must first UN-check ‘Auto-Distribute’ whilst the items are active. Only then does the Auto-Distribute field light up and the elements become highlighted so that the slider bar button can be moved left or right or a specific distance plugged in. Sorry to be so thick, but I never anticipated the answer being one that's so counter-intuitive. Thanks again to all.

Hello, ‘Allo, ¡Hola!, Wie Gehts, etc etc … This is a short note to say ‘Thank You’ to all members of the Affinity User Base who have been so helpful to me as the Proverbial Newbie as I learn the ins and outs of the Trio of Wares. With your help, I've been able to navigate the jet streams of information, the highways of technique(-s), and the airspace of shortcuts. You have made my Essential Learning Experience a much quicker trip than originally anticipated and you've managed to do it with not only the needed / requested information, but with a sense of humor mixed with a quiet professionalism. Can't buy that kinda stuff, y' know. Thanks again to all who have helped me to become (semi)proficient with the Affinity wares … couldn'ta done it without ya, y' know.

Whoaaaaaaaa … ! Who’da thunk … !? I shall hie meself back into Photo after viewing the tute at Walt's link. After that, I shall endeavor muchly to deploy the Displacement Filter (izzat a HALO thing?) … as for the masks, that’s something I've used as Standard Practice since Gawd-knows-when … it’s easy, it’s effective - what’s not to like? As for the Live Displacement filter, I never realised (or noticed, really) that it had the tick-y button to select ‘Load DMap from File.’ That’s on me. See what gettin' caught up in detail will do to the ol’ Attention Spanner? Affinity Jedi, if thou art of the Corps, thank you for your service. You say ‘Urrah!’, we say ‘Hooah!’ … same deal, yes?

Proof-of-concept testing just confirmed your hypothesis … making the selection with the Pen Tool and then clicking ‘Selection’ worked exactly as I remembered it having worked previously. This (I think) should serve as proof that there are some things that don't get better as we get older. Thanks again for your input.

Good news of a sort is better than no news, yes … ? Back to ‘Old School’ and the find-and-connect method of establishing the Link Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken. Since then, the plug-ins are back in their nest making soft little coo-ing sounds whenever they're selected. It's almost as if one is waiting for the right time to say ‘Pick ME! Pick ME!’ …

Hello again to all … Yes it's me, back with Dumb Question Nr MMXX01(a). Yes, I should know this, but since I don't, I must perforce be asking. To begin:
When I was in the Happy Little World of Affinity Photo’s v. 1.9.2, all was sunny and bright and my Plug-ins were in the menu at the very bottom where they're available by clicking the little arrow tool which opens the menu. Imagine my shock, surprise, and horror (quelle horreur!) when I looked for my plugins after performing the 1.9.3 upgrade and learnt that … THEY'RE MISSING! What to do, what to do? Oh lawdy! My plugins have done gone a-missin' … can somebody he'p me!?
Jokingness aside, any and all thoughts about where the plugins may have gone or how they may be returned (with or without a ransom demand) will be appreciated. Thanks to all who help in the recovery process. Be sure to stay tuned for the Exciting Conclusion to our episode, and remember: Drink More Ovaltine!

Illustrator allows creation of a curved (or straight) path upon which one places text before selecting whether to use ‘stairstep,’ ‘gravity,’ ‘rainbow,’ or two other FX to affect its look. The effect I cannot find (or create) in Designer is VERTICAL text on a curved (e.g., arc-ed) path. It's easy enough to create a path and place text on it, but that appears to be endgame. Text then only follows the shape of the path, skewing left or right, depending on how and where the path curves. Yes, I realise I could convert the text to curves and straighten it manually, but then it's no longer editable.
Question 1: IS there a way to create vertically-oriented text along a curving path in Affinity Designer? If so, how? If not, please consider adding it. I'm fairly certain I can't be the only one asking about this …
Question 2: It would be nice to place the cursor next to a character needing kerning, hold the Option key, and use the arrow keys to bring them closer or space them farther apart. As is stands now, kerning is applied to the entire word (or phrase, depending), which is rather clunky and produces less-than-satisfactory results by throwing otherwise fine kerning at other positions in the text out of whack. Can we PLEASE have kerning between individual characters to adjust spacing? Note: If it's there and I'm just not seeing it, please let me know where and how to access it.

Thanks so much for taking time to look these up. You were correct that they were from an earlier version of AD. I appreciate your help. Thanks again.

Found the grads at StuartRc - thanks a lot for the heads-up. There are some terrific grads for download. Before I shut down for the nite, I'll make sure to copy these to my AD folder on one of my XHDs. Time now to get back to World Domination … people just don't realise how time-consuming a project that can be at times. Why, I barely have time for a chocolate donut every now and then …

Thanks again, Walt. I've looked at the tutes, and this (along with other things) is obviously one I missed. I don't think I accessed the whole set of tutes, tho' - I only viewed the ones linked to the opening splash screen. Once I become the Proud Owner of this software at the end of trialing, the tuteviews will no doubt increase along with my (ahem) 'level of expertise' with the ware. Publisher is similar to, yet different from, Quark and ID (and even AI) - but it still maintains standard typesetting protocols. It's just a matter of finding out where all the different rooms are in this new house. I'm sure everything is there - I just need to know where to look for it. Thanks again …

Thanks … 'Ctrl' it shall be, then …

Apologies … I neglected to mention after stating that I have 4K +/- fonts installed that only about 1,200 +/- are ACTIVATED. Didn't mean to mislead about that.