smadell

Hello @Ron P. and @Komatös. I watched the James Ritson video (as well as some others) and it still leaves me with questions. I've got to say, however, I re-watched it just now and it does seem to answer one question. That is, once you've got the frequency range identified, the Intensity Map affects the "opaque pixels" (which I assume to be the white areas of the mask). I'm still a bit in the dark about the range defined by the Low Band and High Band sliders; do I define that range simply by random movement of the sliders or is there some logic that I'm missing? As I said in my first post, I can make it work (whether for sharpening, noise reduction, or simply creating outlines) but I still don't entirely grasp the logic of the thing. I do appreciate your inputs, though!

Can someone explain the Live Band Pass Mask for me? I understand that I can use it to isolate edges (e.g., for sharpening filters) or to isolate non-edge areas (e.g., for noise reduction). But just what the hell do the settings do? I've watched a bunch of videos that mostly show me examples of people using the band pass mask on a particular photo, but none have dug into the "why" of setting the sliders and graph the way they do, except in the most obscure terms. As a for-instance, I've managed to get some settings (see the attached image) that isolate the edges, and I can attach that to mask a sharpening filter. But I managed to do this by haphazardly moving sliders and graph points around. I don't really understand what I did, and I'd really like to. Someone (anyone!) tell me what the Low Band and High Band sliders actually do in practical terms. For instance, my settings (below) define a range of 0 (for the Low Band slider) to 0.6 (for the High Band slider). What does this range mean in terms of what my mask affects (reveal vs conceal)? And please tell me what the Intensity Map graph is all about. I seem to have made everything above 5-10% on the graph 100% (of what?) and everything lower than that falling off to 0%. So, the values are percentages of what? And how do I figure this graph out for next time except by random choice? Most of Affinity Photo 2 seems to have a logical explanation, and if I spend enough time I can figure out why things work the way they do. But this one has me completely confused. Can someone explain?

Good morning, @kat. Regarding the import of gradient maps, I simply don’t think there’s any way to do this. For some reason, Serif decided that gradients and gradient maps are so completely different that can’t share a file type. I have always maintained that there should be a centralized repository for gradients (in a manner similar to Photoshop's) which can be accessed to form linear, radial, and other types of gradients, but can also be used as the basis for creating gradient maps (even if the user edits the position, opacity, etc of the various color stops). Alas, this is not (yet?) the case. Since there is no file type extension for an Affinity Photo gradient map, they cannot be easily exported and/or imported. The only way I know of to share them is to create a document using multiple gradient map adjustment levels and share that document. Then, the recipient can open the document, turn on each individual gradient map adjustment, and save it as a preset. Clunky, to be sure. A gradient map’s settings can also be stored in a macro, but that’s even more difficult if the primary purpose is simply to share settings. I’ve attached an .afphoto document for you with all of the “cool gradient maps” you asked about earlier. If you want to keep all or some of them, open the adjustment layer and click “Save as Preset” in the panel. I’ve also included a link to a macro I posted a while back for enhancing skin tones, which you might want to try out. Gradient Map Transfer.afphoto

Hi @kat. To answer your questions… 1) I put the mask on because I was in a hurry. Also, if there’s more than one area to shade/color, I’m not sure if the shading might spill out into the other shapes without a mask. Hadn’t really thought that one through entirely. 2) The “cool” gradient maps all started with a manually created gradient map that I made by hand and then saved as a Preset. I don’t remember for sure, but I may have based the gradient maps on some downloaded gradient swatches. 3) As to switching back and forth between two (or more) open .afphoto documents, I don’t know that there’s an easier way than just clicking in their respective tabs.

@kat - You got me hooked. Never one to shy away from a challenge (or so I claim…) I watched the video. Obviously, Clip Studio Paint is wholly different from Affinity Photo, but I think that what I came up with is essentially the same process. I've attached a video, but basically I (i) masked out the area I wanted to paint; (ii) added a Pixel layer in which I added shading in black and white; and (iii) added a Gradient Map above that shading layer. Since the Gradient Map will apply different colors depending on the luminosity of the underlying layer, I can change the color by lightening or darkening the Shading layer. Effectively, it's dodging and burning with the goal of changing the luminosity so that the gradient map applies different colors. A picture is worth a thousand words, so a video is probably even better. Try this: Gradient Map Painting.mp4

@kat - If that’s what you’re after, then have I got a solution for you! Seriously, I saw the same YouTube video a while back, and posted a macro to create the same effect. You can download it (along with an explanatory PDF) here:

1) Download and save the .grd file 2) Open in your browser: https://mikestimpson.com/GrdToAfpalette/ 3) Find the .grd file and convert it to an .afpalette file. Save this file to disk. 4) Import the .afpalette file into the Swatches panel Technically you’ve created a palette full of gradients, not gradient maps. But you could create gradient maps from these, using the various gradient stops for your gradient map. Personally, I would love to see Serif revamp the way it handles gradients entirely, including the glaring omission of the ability to create a gradient map from an existing gradient. But, for now, this is the only way I know of.

I've watched this thread (with great anticipation) but haven't posted, since I don't see myself actively "scripting." However, I am an avid user of macros in Affinity Photo. I would love to ask (confirm?) that the Macro recording feature will be upgraded to allow a script to be added as a step in a macro. I can only offer a comparison to Apple's Automator app, which allows the user to insert AppleScript, JavaScript, or a shell script as a step within an Automator workflow. This would allow a programming simpleton (like myself) to add a few simple script-like steps (e.g., looping, if/then statements, conditional steps, etc) without having to write full-blown end-to-end scripts. It might also allow me (and others, certainly) to create macros that incorporate third-party scripts, either purchased or posted on this forum! Is such a Macros enhancement planned?

To use Frequency Separation, you must have a pixel layer selected in the Layers panel. In practical terms, I usually choose “Merge Visible” to create a new pixel layer that encapsulates all the editing I’ve done up to that point. Then, with the “merge visible” layer selected, I choose Frequency Separation… from the Filters menu. Once you set the proper radius in the dialog that opens, you will have a High Frequency and a Low Frequency layer. The High Frequency layer is already set to Linear Light blend mode. And, your “merge visible” layer is no longer there - it has been replaced by the Freq Sep layers.

Are you using a Pixel layer as a mask? In other words, did you drag a “New Layer” into the masking position? If so, that would explain what’s happening. Using a pixel layer is fine, but the rules change a bit. Instead of “white reveals, black conceals,” the rule for pixel layers is that “painting reveals, erasing conceals.” Put plainly, anywhere there’s a pixel painted your image will be shown. Conversely, erasing those pixels will hide the image in that area.

Software roadmaps are tenuous things. Features, improvements, new applications - all these can be promised with the best of intentions, only to fall prey to the ill winds of fate and circumstances out of everyone’s control. That having been said, Affinity issued the most important roadmap of all back in March 2024: 1) Perpetual licenses will always be offered… 2) Affinity is here to stay. Honestly, guys, everything else is icing on the cake.

Well, I’m glad that someone seemed to like it!

Go forth and vanquish your foes! To the victor go the spoils!

One other thing, @twosheds - if you find yourself “inside” a Group while recording a macro and want to select a layer that is outside of the Group, you cannot select the outer layer directly. You must first select the Group itself (you’ll be asked if you want to select the Parent, to which you should say Yes). Then, you can select the second layer. In essence, once inside a Group (or a layer that is a child of another layer) you must first “escape” the group before doing anything further outside of that group.

I do not hate Affinity Photo (quite the contrary!) But I don't use the Develop persona. I don't use it primarily because it is terrible at dealing with shadows and highlights. It makes them a muddy mess. I am not a professional by any means, and I am not an Affinity basher. For the most part, I love this software. But I use Capture One for my raw development, and the video below will show you why. A few caveats. (1) Since I don't use the Develop persona, I have never gotten very good at it. My attempts are probably not as good as they would be if I used that persona more often. (2) While there are numerous ways to tinker with shadows and highlights, my feeling is that if I shoot raw I should be able to recover shadows and highlights in the raw file, where they are most appropriately dealt with. (3) Workarounds aside, recovering shadows and highlights in AP is needlessly clunky. As shown below, what I could barely accomplish in Affinity Photo I was able to do in Capture One in a matter of seconds. If Serif needs to think about where to allocate time, effort, and money, this would be a good place to start. Raw Comparison.mp4