Rob W

The problem originally surfaced on my iMac Pro (intel) but it also happens on my MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip. It seems to occur if (all?) the pixel layers in the group have transparency. From limited testing, if I draw onto a pixel layer within a group (glitchy), then move it out of the group (now with some non-transparent pixels), then move it back into the group it draws just fine. (Only tested on my laptop.) I think this might explain why I've not encountered it before—previously I would group layers I'd already drawn but in my attempt to be more organised, I've begun to group layers before drawing on them. So much for being organised!

Thanks for the insight, Walt. I'd never encountered it before. It seems quite the limitation on using groups.

I probably should have included: MacOS Ventura 13.1 & Affinity Photo 2.0.3

When a pixel layer is included in a group the drawing on the screen is glitchy (see attached screen capture). Steps in screen capture: Drawing with a simple brush on a pixel layer included in a group (glitchy) Undo drawing and move pixel layer out of group Draw in pixel layer outside group (OK) Undo and move pixel layer into group Drawing is glitchy. AP Drawing bug.mov

I contacted Apple Support earlier this week and will do so again, however, having performed a clean install of Big Sur 11.2.3 as per their instructions and reset the SMC and PRAM I doubt there is much more they can suggest based on my earlier conversations with them. I've trawled though several discussions on the Apple Forums noting other issues with the WindowServer—clearly there is a problem—but I hope that the Affinity developers have some leverage with Apple in highlighting this obvious issue. Fortunately in my case, I have a workaround simply by setting the Display to "OpenGL (Basic)" ("OpenGL" also seems to be OK but I haven't tested it thoroughly). The only other graphic intensive app I've tested (FCP) seems immune to this issue.

WindowServer Crash.rtf

Thanks for getting back to me. I reset the PRAM, changed the display to "Metal", opened an existing file and experienced the WindowServer error 500 seconds after boot up. Would the crash report be of any help?

System Affinity Photo 1.9.1 MacOS 11.2.3 iMacPro 64GB RAM Radeon Pro Vega 64 16GB Intuos Pro Graphic Tablet Background (This bug is also present in Affinity Designer) This did not occur on MacOS 11.1, only manifesting after upgrading to 11.2.3. Having spoken to Apple Support, I have since performed a clean install of MacOS 11.2.3. Issue During routine editing of a file (roughly 70MB, new or existing) the program would freeze for a few seconds, disappear to a black screen, then I would be forced to sign back into my MacOS user account. According to the console, the WindowServer had crashed (consistent with the symptoms I have described). This occurred every 5 to 10 minutes or so. Changing the display option in Preferences > Performance from “Metal” to “OpenGL (Basic)” seems to fix the issue, however, given that it previously worked with the display set to “Metal” this would seem to indicate a regression of some sort. I have not yet tested the other display options “OpenGL” or “Software”.