jay27flow

This whole thing is a joke right? I mean the lack of this functionality... like an ALT-click on the checkmarks...

I don't know any easier way for Affinity,  perhaps can be easier.
 

Alpha_to_Mask.mp4

I still don't get it. At all. Alpha's in AP have been a complete mystery to me since day one.
In PS you can edit  alphas just like any other layer and it's as simple as it sounds.
in AP there are all kinds of edit and visibility buttons that either appear to do nothing or do what you least expect them to, and menu options that I simply, try as I might, do not understand. At all.
I've tonight resorted to simply saving a separate black and white image out and calling that my alpha. Does the job. Totally not what you want for a game engine, but I don't need that any more, I just need a black and white image, and don't really mind that it's not embedded as an alpha...
... although that would be very nice!

I agree that layer masking and alpha channel handling need to get much simpler and more consistent in Affinity Photo. In case you're interested, there's an extensive discussion about this with already over a hundred replies going on here:
The upcoming 1.9 updates will have at least some improvements in this area (e.g. we can expect more filters and tools to work on mask layers), but it's still a long way to go. From my own experience, I can say that you probably will get used to it indeed.

Hi @jay27flow,
yes, this is a bit tricky because nesting in Affinity Photo does not work for more than one level, meaning that you can't nest a layer inside a layer that is already nested. In your case, you would do the following:
1. Nest the mask layer.
2. Nest the curves adjustment.
3. Drag the mask layer next to the parent layer (to the vertical blue bar, just as if you'd want to nest it again) to get it above the curves adjustment.
If you can, nest the curves adjustment first and then the mask. This saves step 3 because the layers are already correctly ordered. With this layer setup, the curves adjustment will affect the mask properly, even though they are now both at the same level. The cool thing about this is that you can use the same curves adjustment to modify the parent layer as well with the other channel controls.
The Affinity forums are usually quite responsive, so just hit reply if more questions arise.
Cheers
kaffeeundsalz

1. Good.
2. Instead of  "Create Grayscale Layer", use "Create Mask Layer" directly below in the channels panel. Alternatively, right-click you grayscale pixel layer and choose "Rasterize To Mask".
3. For a nested layer, click its thumbnail once to deselect its parent layer. Then, drag it anywhere, but also from the thumbnail. Or hit the delete key.
4. This will work in Affinity Photo, but you need to make sure that a) the Curves adjustment is nested directly below your mask layer and b) you choose "Alpha" from the channels dropdown in the Curves dialog before editing the curve.

I take it you mean until the 85% of the way across (and don't measure it, please !) horizontal bar appears, Clipping !
 
However, on the original Serif video, "Affinity Photo Layer Concepts" (about 3:12)  Nesting is shown and described by dropping the Child layer on the Parent layer thumbnail until the vertical bar appears. Not by using the "clipping" position.
 
So does Clipping equate exactly to Nesting? I ask because I use clipping a lot to put pictures inside shapes. And how about putting layers in a group, do you nest or clip?
 
This whole Nesting, Masking, Birthing and Grouping thing is far from clear. Not very well thought out, or very well executed.
 
Actually, I have come to the conclusion that the original "Layer Concepts" video is wrong. Dragging some items to the thumbnail gives very unexpected results.
 
It all needs a Clarity Filter applied !

Please DO something! I'm in the same boat! I want use LUTs but no way i add them one by one!!!