Brian_J

Fill layers are non-destructive and editable. https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/pages/Layers/layerFill.html

Similar looking outcome, but unrelated issue.

@R C-R Okay, I see the issue. Take a look at the 73389.png resized layer in your file. Notice how all sides of the graphic (the last 3 or 4 pixels on each edge) are semitransparent? That's the issue that is caused by resizing a pixel selection before copying. The issue can present itself in different ways. In the OP's case, the pasted layer had an extra 1 px width — the right edge has 1 px of semitransparent pixels (the color is almost imperceivably). Other times, like you experienced, all edges of the pasted pixel layer have semitransparency. I don't know what causes different outcomes... maybe it's related to the anchor point, sequence of steps, method used... I have no idea.

We are getting our wires crossed somehow. As far as I know, it’s not possible to avoid the issue the OP described. If you feel like providing a file showing an example, I’ll take a look and see if I can replicate it.

@Return @fde101 Editing a pixel selection in the Transform panel or in Quick Mask mode does not produce desirable results when the selection is used to copy from a layer. There is a long discussion about the issue here (see comments by lepr and myself):

It could be the size difference between your initial selection (made with one of the Marquee Tools) and the final selection (selection size edited in the Transform panel) is not large enough to produce sub pixels that are visible, or that appear to affect the copied/pasted layer. I’m not sure if I’m describing this correctly, but that’s how I understand it. The affect editing a pixel selection has on the edges of the selection are not always evident or easily detectable… that’s one of the things that makes this topic confusing. The explanations that @lepr has provided are consistent with the results I get when editing a pixel selection in the Transform panel or in Quick Mask mode. Have you tried making a small selection (say, 10 x 10 px), and increasing the selection quite a bit (say, 500 x 500 px) in the Transform panel?

+1

If you have Publisher V2, another option is to apply the text frame border in Publisher (Menu Bar: File > Edit in Publisher). After making the edit in Publisher, File > Edit in Designer. The border will display in Designer even though it has to be applied and edited in Publisher.

It’s frustrating when a feature you like in one app is missing in another app. I’m with you on that. I don’t know why pixel selections are handled the way they are in Affinity apps. I hope it’s something Serif can address at some point. It could be there’s something in how Affinity is coded that makes the functionality we’re used to difficult to achieve… I have no idea. Unfortunately, it’s not possible. In order to copy a pixel-perfect selection, the Transform panel and Quick Mask can’t be used. I’ve found that using the Spacebar to reposition the rectangle marquee as it’s being drawn is quite helpful. Other than that, you may want to post in the Feedback & Suggestions forum to share your thoughts with Serif.

Unfortunately, using the Quick Mask function to change the size of a selection produces the same undesirable results.

As I pointed out in a previous comment, the extra 1 px width isn’t completely transparent… the edge of the pasted layer is “fuzzy” (antialiasing), but it’s barely noticeable. The variance between the initial selection made with the Marquee Tool and the final selection finished up in the Transform Panel effects how “fuzzy” the image is… just like when resizing a raster image — the more it’s resized, the more antialiased it is.

The selection is changed in the Transform panel by entering new values in the width and height fields. If I understand how pixel selections work, transforming a pixel selection (e.g., in the Transform Panel or in Quick Mask mode) is equivalent to transforming a raster pixel layer — even though the pixel selection doesn't contain anything, the initial selection dragged out with the Marquee Tool is treated as if it's a raster image being resized... and thus it loses quality, which creates anti-aliasing when using the selection to copy/paste.

Here are the steps CyberAngel used to make the selection, as I understand it: Dragged out a rough selection with the Rectangle Marquee Tool. (Note: make the initial selection fairly small to make sure the issue is replicated.) In the Transform Panel, edited the width and height of the selection to be 224 x 248. Positioned the selection to the location that was to be copied. Copied the original 73389.png layer and pasted. The above steps resulted in a new layer that is 225 x 248 px. There is 1 px on the right side of the copied layer of semitransparent pixels caused by transforming the selection.

That doesn't correct the issue for me. Transforming a pixel selection in the Transform panel "blurs" the selection (for lack of a better word) even if an empty Pixel layer is selected when making/editing the selection.

@Old Bruce @R C-R The issue was identified earlier in this thread. CyberAngel used the Transform panel to modify the pixel selection before copying — this is what caused the unwanted semitransparent pixels in the copied/pasted layer.

I was referring using the Rectangle Tool to create a shape the size of the desired selection and making a pixel selection from the Rectangle layer. It doesn’t matter if you deselect before or after pasting.

Good suggestion. It didn't occur to me, that's something I often do if I need to make a precise pixel selection. To make the selection, Ctrl-click the Layer thumbnail also works. (I'm assuming Command-click on Mac.)

Pixel selections can be a hassle. You can add or subtract to a pixel selection using the Mode options on the left side of the Context Toolbar.

Yep, what GarryP said. In order to get a pixel-perfect selection, you have to drag it out with the marquee and not edit it in any other way. If it helps, as of V2.1, you can now hold down the spacebar to move your entire selection.

Yes, perfect. That's the info I was looking for. It doesn't appear to be a pixel alignment issue. At least, not in the way I was thinking it may be. The extra width isn't completely transparent. If you create a black background, you can see a very faint color. The only way I've been able to replicate the issue is to begin making the selection with the Rectangle Marquee Tool, then click Toggle Quick Mask (in the Toolbar) and finish making the selection by dragging the selection edges out. Using Quick Mask to edit selections has the effect of "blurring" the selection, for lack of a better term. If you only used the Marquee Tool to make your selection, I'm stumped.

After you copy. In the Layers panel, select the "games grid" layer that you pasted. The layer you pasted may not be aligned to whole pixels. But, it could be something else is going on in your file. If the layer you pasted is pixel aligned, it would be helpful if you could upload a file that shows the issue. Someone in here will be able to get it figured out.

@CyberAngel With the pixel decimal places set to 4 or more (I would set it to the max of 6, myself), in the Layers panel, select the layer that you copied/pasted… i.e., the layer that seems to be 1 px too wide. What is shown in the Transform panel for the dimensions and x and y coordinates? Are all values whole pixels? If you can take a screenshot of your entire screen that includes the Layers panel and Transform panel, that would be helpful.

Here are ICO files (with transparent backgrounds) you can use for your shortcuts. Each ICO file contains Affinity app icons in the standard Windows icon sizes: 16, 20, 24, 32, 40, 48, 64, 256 px. If you're not familiar with customizing the icon: 1. Right-click the shortcut and select the Shortcut tab. 2. On the Shortcut tab, click Change Icon. 3. Click Browse, navigate to the location where you saved the ICO file, click the icon file that you want to use, click Open, click OK, and then click OK. Affinity_Designer_2.ico Affinity_Photo_2.ico Affinity_Publisher_2.ico

Awesome! There are a number of excellent enhancements in 2.1. Thank you Serif.

I'm confused about how inches and pixels are converted when the unit of measure is entered in various fields in Affinity apps. Some fields seem to convert inches to pixels or vice versa based on the DPI set in the document, while in other fields the conversion always seems to be based on 96 PPI and the document DPI doesn't matter. For example, when editing the document margins or editing an object in the Transform Panel, both behave as I would expect — if Document Units is set to Inches and Document DPI is 72, entering 72 px sets the value to 1 inch; if Document DPI is 300, entering 300 px sets the value to 1 inch. However, when editing Text Styles, entering px values in any of the Paragraph Spacing fields doesn't convert the px values as I expect... 96px is converted to 1 inch no matter what I have the Document DPI set at. Is this intended behavior, and if so, can someone help me understand why?