Lrsa

In response to a post I made last May, MJSfoto1956 suggested the use of Blend Options as an alternative to more traditional luminosity masks. It turns out that the use of the Blend Options panel, combined with a little math, makes luminosity based selections quite effective. The trouble is that the method is cumbersome if you do them from scratch each time.

What I have created is a series of Macros that automates the process. The attached afmacros file contains macros for creating Luminosity Selections in their usual and anticipated forms: Lights 1 through Lights 4, Darks 1 through Darks 4, and Midtones 1 through Midtones 4.

Notes:

1) Each action will select a luminosity-based portion of the selected layer.
2) NO additional channels are created, so files don’t become bloated.
3) Once the selection is made, it can be used for an adjustment layer, a mask, a live filter, etc. It can be deselected (like any selection). It can be replaced by using a different selection (e.g., click on Lights 2 to replace the selection made by Lights 1).

Caveats:

4) You must have a Pixel layer or an Image layer selected for the macros to work properly. If you have any other type of layer selected, or if you have NO layer selected, the results you get will be wrong.
5) The macros will undo any Blend Options you may have set on the selected layer.
6) I am one person with one computer. Obviously, I have not tested these macros in every possible situation. Use them if you like them. No guarantees are made.
7) However, if you like them, they are yours. They are my way of saying “thank you” to the Forum for helping me learn a wonderful piece of software!
Luminosity Selections.afmacros.zip

I have previously posted 2 sets of luminosity based macro sets. The first set worked on Image and Pixel layers, and created Luminosity Selections that could then be used to create masks, adjustments, filters, etc. They can be found here:

https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/27214-luminosity-masks/

The second set of macros was meant to be used directly on Adjustment and Live Filter layers. These applied luminosity based Blend Options to adjustment and filter layers, based on the Image or Pixel layer(s) below the adjustment. They can be found here:

https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/30523-luminosity-masks-for-adjustment-filter-layers/

Recently, a post from @danlhayes brought up the question of creating a greyscale representation of the luminosity selection. This would be similar to Option-clicking on a luminosity mask to see that mask in shades of grey. After (admittedly) quite a bit of trial and error, I’ve come up with a set of macros that will do just that. They are attached to this post.

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To use the Luminosity Visualization macros, you should do the following:

1) You need to start with a Pixel or an Image layer selected. An embedded Affinity Photo document also seems to work.
2) Click on the macro you would like to represent as a greyscale image.
3) The macro will create a new Pixel layer with the name “LuminosityVisualization” and put it on the top of your layer stack.
4) You can get rid of the LuminosityVisualization layer by clicking on the macro named “Delete Visualization Layer.”

As always, some caveats:

5) You should always delete a previously created LuminosityVisualization layer before creating another one.
6) When you create a LuminosityVisualization layer, it will be placed at the top of the layer stack (so that any other layers you have placed over your Image/Pixel layer don’t confuse the visualization). If you delete the LuminosityVisualization layer and want to create another one, be sure to choose your Image or Pixel layer again.
7) These macros were created using the same Blend Options curves that I used in creating the first two sets of macros. As such, they are meant to be used together with those macros, and not with luminosity selections that may be available from other users.
8) As always, I am one person with one computer. I believe that these macros will work as I’ve stated, but I cannot possibly have tested every possible combination of situations. No guarantees are made; use them if you like them!
9) If you like the macros, they are yours. They are a “thank you” to everyone for helping me learn, and a request to “pay it forward” with continued generosity.
Luminosity Visualization.afmacros.zip

About a month ago, I posted a number of macros for creating Luminosity Selections. These macros acted only on Pixel and Image layers, and could be used to create masks, adjustment layers, filters, etc. Today’s macros are a follow-up set, and are created to act on Adjustment Layers and Live Filter Layers.

These macros apply Blend Options to the adjustment and filter layers to produce the same results you would get with traditional luminosity selections and masks. However, these changes can be viewed in real time.

Instructions (see attached pictures):

1) Create an adjustment layer or a live filter layer like you normally would.

2) Apply the effect that the layer provides.

3) Now, click one of the Luminosity Blend Options macros to restrict the adjustment or filter effect to a luminosity range.


Notes:

1) Each macro restricts an Adjustment Layer or a Live Filter Layer based on the luminosity of the underlying composition - that is, the visible pixels in layers below the one being restricted.

2) NO additional channels are created, so files don’t become bloated.

3) Once you apply a macro to an adjustment or filter, you can change the luminosity restriction by choosing a different one, AND you can see the updates in real time. (For instance, if you want to darken an overexposed sky by applying a Levels layer, create the Levels adjustment layer and apply the “Lights 1 for Adjustments & Filters” macro. If you have affected too many of the midtones and darks, select “Lights 2 (or 3, or 4) for Adjustments & Filters” to restrict the adjustment toward lighter and lighter pixels.)

4) There is an additional macro called “Reset Blend Options to Normal” that will undo any changes the other macros have created, and return the Adjustment or Filter layer to its normal function.

Caveats:

5) Do not apply these macros to your baseline photo. They will not have the desired effect. These macros should be applied to Adjustment and Live Filter layers that are situated above the photo they are modifying.

6) As with my previous set of macros, I am one person with one computer. Obviously, I have not tested these macros in every possible situation. Use them if you like them. No guarantees are made.

7) If you like them, they are yours. Consider this to be “pay it forward” software. Enjoy it.
 
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Edit (Dec 7, 2016) - The afmacros zip file below has been replaced with a new file, named differently. This is in response to the post which follows this one. The edited attachment should work better (or, should I say, it should simply work).
 



Luminosity Blend Options for Adjustments.afmacros.zip

Is it possible to set Affinity apps to generate larger QuickLook previews on the Mac? This is for all 3 apps.
For instance, in Finder when I press the space bar on an Affinity Photo document, the Quicklook window is small - about a 1/3 the size of my screen. The exact same file exported to any other graphics format will fill my screen with Quicklook, giving me a much better preview.
My understanding is that the apps control how their format plugs into the Quicklook functionality. Thanks!