Roland Rick

Thanks! So, at the moment it would be a good idea not to use this feature but always work with a separate mask. This enable also such things like "Edit mask" etc.

I love the "mask within adjustment layer" of Affinity Photo. Often I add later additional adjustment layers and they should all have the same mask. A picture says more than 1000 words: For that, it should be possible, to extract the mask from it's adjustment layer and become a mask layer of its own. If it's possible: I didn't find it how to to do so... Appreciate any help!

Ahhh, OK. So, then it becomes an enhancement request to remove selectively files after focus merging. Chris, can you please move it to an equivalent group? I have no clue how to do that...

Independent of "Toggle Source Preview" being ON or OFF, an not wanted/needed Source Layer can not be deleted. The complete Focus Merge process must be done again . May be I am interpreting the trash bin in a wrong way, but what else should it be for...? I also tried to drag and drop the unwanted Focus Merge layer (the blue, selected one) into the trash bin, but this didn't help either... Greetings, Roland

Yes, that's exactly where the halos come from. But the point is, they only appear using "pyramid" algorithm (and I am quite sure, AP is using such algorithm or a similar/derivate one). Helicon also makes the same ugly halo using "Method C" (pyramid). But the halo does not occur on usage of depth map algorithm ("Method B" in Helicon). It just seams to be, sometimes pyramid, sometimes depth map does the better job. That is what one of my points listed above are targeting: Serif, please add a depth map algorithm.

Hi Affinity Photo Team I am a hardcore user of the Focus Merging function. In 90% of all tasks, it does an excellent job and I really prefer it even over Zerene and Helicon, because the AP (Affinity Photo) Focus Merging is super convenient to use. But sometimes, the results the "pyramid" alike stacking algorithm, produces halos, where one never will expect it. FYC, to compare, Helicon Focus delivers using the "Method B" directly a much better result: Method C (pyramid) of Helicon delivers similar "halo" results as AP's focus merging. Even if Affinity has - in comparison to Zerene and Helicon - for sure the most convenient and fastest post focus merging edit process, please let me suggest this: Please add a depth map algorithm like Helicon's "Method B" (which should also to be tweaked in "radius" and "smoothing"), and make usage between pyramid and depth map selectable. Loading raw files into Focus Merge always ends up in RGBA/16 - sRGB IEC61966-2.1 colour profile, please make this selectable I normally work with e.g. ProPhoto RGB. Almost spinning wheel of death alike: If raw files are dropped into Focus Merge, switching between source layers in post feels like it takes an infinit amount of time, jpgs are faster but they are only 8 bit, fixed to white balance etc. and no go anyway. I prefer to do all edits post to the focus merging process and not prior to it. For this I need files in 16 bit and/or raw file quality as output of merging process. For post editing only the dial above, it would take hours just because of waiting source layers to be switched. This using a top of the edge iMac 5K. In Focus Merge's post edit process, it should be possible to switch to next/previous source layer by pressing up/down arrow key, independent of "Toggle Source View" is active or not. Now, this is not possible at all. And as I already mentioned: please make source layers switching much much much faster. I uploaded the raw files for you to test into https://drive.google.com/open?id=114J16UPSjvibHkN-Z5Rf1TyU3_SO7zpx FYC: the images in link above are I are quick and dirty check of the cameras Focus Bracketing function, coming with the X-H1 firmware 1.10 yesterday. One set is with the XF16-55 lens the other one with the XF80mm Macro + XF1.4X tele converter. I uploaded also the Helicon "Method B" output for both without any mods. Please do not hesitate to ask, if you have any questions. I'd really appreciate any reply. Best regards, Roland

Hi guys I sent 200 files to Focus Merge, 1/10 second later I realised there is something missing. Once Focus Merge has started, it is impossible to stop it. Except you brutally kill it... Is this a bug or an enhancement request? Not sure, where to post this... Would be nice, if it will become fixed in one of the next versions. Cheers, Roland

Hi all Affinity Photo friends, two questions: Is there something like a Clipping Mask as in Photoshop? It seems to be, that the tweaking made in Effects tab has zero effect on e.g. Masks and Adjustment Layers. In case I don't do something wrong or just couldn't figure out how to do it: This must be urgently added... Need to blur a mask non destructively all the time. If there is a possibility, please let me know, many thanks in advance. Appreciate any reply!

To make it clear, what I am missing, FYC attached screenshot This is how other programs do during runtime of batch processes, it the computer goes to sleep - and it will - you must start all over and this is super annoying:

@owenr, working with raw files such as RAF from an e.g X-T2 slows down the manual corrections process extremely when switching between source layers - it feels like infinity to switch between them. FYC: Activity monitor shows almost empty memory - which could be used to unpack the raw images for faster edit speed. If I export first to JPG and load them into focus merging, this is way faster. But I get rid of editing capabilities on finalised focus merged image.

Unfortunately not. After Mac was asleep the sources had also disappeared. Strange is: it depends how long sleeping phase was. FYC: Affinity Photo always open, never closed. Also during sleep of Mac of course.

I face the same problem also. First, sources are there. But if you have to discontinue work and iMac goes to sleep, after wakeup, files in sources are lost and you must start over, what is quite annoying.

The Artistic Text Tool does not display Emoji characters. Please add this to the ATT, thanks Please see also the attached video, maybe I do something wrong, if so, I appreciate any help and hints. Artistic Text Tool 2018-05-25 09-14-54.mp4 Cheers, Roland

LOL, oh yes What an embarrassing typo

Exif data is totally cut of by Export Persona It is only properly exported/adapted from RAW by File/Export function. Generally: The Exif handling should be implemented much better. In comparison to Lr/Photoshop it is de facto inexistent. Of course there is the "All" view. But in there, I mess up with the countless xml tags, which are quite inconvenient to use - if you don't know the correct meaning by heart - what I do not and I have no intention to learn them. Guys, I want to use the program and not mess around with xml tags I have no clue of Appreciate any help, reply, whatever... Cheers mates, Roland PS: I was not sure, shall I post this under bugs or enhancement requests. Somehow it is like Schrödinger's cat: both

Due to this post, I assume you do no longer need the .afphoto like asked for above. I have a super slow upload speed where I life, that's why I want to avoid any non necessary uploads...

Using the filter is super intuitive - but I can not get easily the selected content... screencast 2018-02-12 13-51-45.mp4

So many thanks for your efforts, but in your demo - also the first short you sent - from start on everything is square, my selection if totally off any centre, I selected with magnetic snap OFF. Here's the link to the NASA's original world.200401.3x5400x2700.jpg

Thanks for reply, but I didn't get that with the vector mask. How can I use the Ellipse Layer as vecor mask? Following your instructions, I am stuck here and I have no idea, how the Ellipse should snap exactly to the Sphere live filters content, there is also such a strange + like distraction in the image as soon I drag the Ellipse under the Sphere Live Filter Layer. There is a snap, bit it's related to the Backgrounds edges not to content of Sphere Filter.

Thanks, but that need first a workaround to make that part of image I am interested in to a square and it's necessary to type in the figures. Can not select the section I like intentionally... Anyway many thanks, it is a workaround delivering a solution. The filter tool itself is super convenient, because you can reposition it in real time and you get a WYSIWYG, but you can not "Cmd+J" the selection of it

How do I cut out precisely (!!!) the range I selected with the distortion filter "Sphere" - no matter live or destructive. I tried everything, giving up... FYC: if I make a circle selection first, I never get the range spherized I want to... Why is this filter limited to 1024 pixels??? Thanks for all reply in advance

Hi Lee Have the same issue like Dieter. Thanks for your hints. Is it planned to add something equivalent? I am currently using AP 1.6.6. Thanks for reply, Roland

I have a problem by using the Shadow and Highlight sliders of the Develop Persona. Please compare the two results. The only thing I tweaked have been the Highlight slider to -100% and the Shadow slider to +100%. All other switches set to OFF/Unchecked, in Camera Raw and also in Develop Persona. The only exception was the usage of the Camera Colour Profile "Neutral" the RAW file offers (not available in Develop Persona), but this only affects subtle the colours. Camera Raw also applied the automatic lens correction profile, which is also not recognised by Develop Persona. Everything else was disabled (sharpening, denoise, etc.). Please see attached results. The one on Develop Persona is unfortunately much worse than the one of Camera Raw/Lightroom. I also attach the RAW file. I am very keen on your reply to this, and I really appreciate in advance. Hey guys, there is a problem on upload of Lightroom/Camera Raw generated JPGs to Affinity Forum sites, this error only occurs if I want to upload the Adobe generated JPG sample: Best regards, Roland RAW File: DSC00644.ARW Camera Raw Output attached as Zip: DSC00644-CameraRaw.jpg.zip

Thanks for help and the link to ronniemcbride. But I want of course to do it myself instead of download and import (missing a reply to my "howto" question there). However: found meanwhile something on Youtube, but I always check first the original Affinity tutorials before I grab YT...