Brian_J

I have this issue, too.

Sure thing. Each layer type has its advantages. Among other things, image layers retain all the data in the original image file, and that data is used when exploring the file, which may be desirable.

An image layer needs to be rasterized — which turns it into a pixel layer — before you can copy or delete a selection.

I can't remember what the default is. I thought it was disabled by default, but not positive. It's just an option that may appeal to users, depending on how they like to work or what they're working on. It's faster to single-click to select a nested object rather than having to double click, sometimes multiple times, to drill down into a folder to select an object.

Further down in that help article it explains the different ways to modify gradients.

With the Move Tool selected, and a layer selected, is 'Allow selection to consider items inside a group' enabled in the Context Toolbar? If so, disable it and that should allow you to select the Picture Frame. Note: The 'Allow selection to consider items inside a group' may be in a different location than in my screenshot, depending on what type of layer you have selected.

Ah okay, yes that works for me. In V1 clicking the layer thumbnail escapes the cursor, I didn't realize the location moved to the layer icon. Thanks for your help.

In the Toolbar, open the Snapping options and deselect Show Snapping Candidates. I think I have he name of the option correct… if not, it’s something similar.

I downloaded your file and recorded deleting the selection. Not sure if this video will be helpful. You can reduce the video playback speed (icon lower-right on video) to make it a little easier to see what’s going on. IMG_0460.MOV

After making the pixel selection and then selecting the layer you want to delete from in the Layers Panel, tapping Delete in that same long-press menu will delete only the area that is selected. Are you sure the pixel selection was active when you hit Delete? If there is no pixel selection, the entire layer will be deleted, which is what appears to have happened to you.

Understandable. I overlooked that category at first, myself.

With the layer selected in the Layers Panel, long-press anywhere on the canvas and a dialog will appear, tap Select From Layer. I don’t know if the artist in the video assigned a shortcut to a piece of hardware he’s using or if there’s another way to make a pixel selection from the layer.

There are several options for how adjustments, filters, and masks are added in: Preferences > Assistant. See the last 4 options.

Would it be worth logging out of your affinity account in the apps and using the apps logged out to see if that makes a difference? I’m shooting from the hip… I don’t know a thing about how Affinity apps use system resources.

The leaves may have been created with heart shapes. Heart Tool https://affinity.help/designer2/en-US.lproj/pages/Tools/tools_heart.html You could create one leaf, duplicate it, and rotate the duplicate using the bottom tip as the origin point. Then nudge the leaves inward towards each other to make them overlap however much you want. Rotating and shearing objects (see transform origin) https://affinity.help/designer2/en-US.lproj/pages/ObjectControl/rotateShear.html