billbir

Hi
It is not necessary to use inpainting, healing etc on the background layer. I always create a new, empty pixel layer above the background. And - important - select "Current layer and below" in the top toolbar.
 
If I'm not happy with the result, I can just trash that layer  ;)
 
Magnu

> I am beginning to think that Affinity is too complex for my level.
Hang in there, it's worth it! See for example http://manuschwendener.ch/2015/12/23/affinity-photo-dodge-tool
 
> I am having the same issue
> Impainting brush, healing brush, blemish removal brush
 
If you're new to Affinity Photo and - as I am! - new to working with layers, maybe try the inpainting brush etc. as the first step after opening a picture in AP. 
 
Like this you'll get the hang of it and know what to look for when it's disabled.
 
---
 
A very usual workflow for me is:
- I open a picture
- I crop it
- In the right hand column I click Adj for Adjustments
- I click on Levels
- I drag the Gamma slider to left left to make the picture brighter
- I close the popup from the Levels adjustment
 
- Now I want to remove some of the branches using the Inpainting brush tool
-> Inpainting brush has no effect whatsoever :(
 
Solution (see screenshot): 
- In the right hand column I have to switch from the Adjustment tab to the Lyr. tab
- Here I see that the (Levels Adjustment) layer is active <- which AP created and made active without my knowing
- All I have to do now is click on Background (Pixel) so this is blue and the (Levels Adjustment) isn't blue any longer
-> Inpainting Brush Tool is working again

billbir, in the last screenshot you uploaded, an adjustment layer is selected.
to make the inpaint tool work (like many other tools) you have to select a "pixel" layer.
again, referring to your last screenshot, just click on the layer called "background" to select it and the inpaint tool will work.

Hi Alex,
 
I think that the penny has dropped somewhat after your explanation of the difference between ticking a layer and 'selecting' one. 
 
After all that, my inpainting was not successful anyway. I have a photo of my two grandchildren at a restaurant table and I was trying to remove a rose, which seemed to me to be dominating the photo. It did not work as what surrounded the rose was too complex for the inpainting feature to cope with.
 
Thanks for your help, it is much appreciated.

Hi Alexjh
 
I do have some Macphun editing software and it is good, but I guess, is not as comprehensive, as Affinity.

I have just downloaded Affinity Photo for Mac, having looked at a number of tutorials before doing so. Having travelled to China, I have a number of photos that could usefully use the Haze Removal feature. However, that does not appear when I search in the App. I guess that this is because it is still in Beta mode. Any idea, when this feature, will be incorporated into my App, or any suggestions how I can remove Haze, prior to any update. Ironic, that the first thing that I attempt to use, is not available.

Hi JFisher/justwilliam,
 
Thanks for your extremely helpful and supportive comments. If this is the quality of response that you get from this forum, I am going to really enjoy it. It was much appreciated and has persuaded me to download Affinity Photo for Mac, later today.

I am teetering on the edge of buying  Affinity Photo for Mac, but wondering whether I will drown in the complexity and have the photographic knowledge to be able to utilise it to my advantage. I am interested in amateur photography and watercolour painting so hopefully I have some artistic bent, which might be useful. However, when it comes to photo editing terminology, I struggle! For example : Sharpen, Unsharpened and High Pass are, I understand, all means of 'sharpening' an image, but what each do, and which is the most appropriate for a given circumstance, is a mystery to me. Is this a novice issue, or is it something that will come to me, through using Affinity? I have used Aperture, Intensify etc but not Photoshop. Would Affinity Photo for Mac, help me or is it too big a jump?

Hi JFisher/justwilliam,
 
Thanks for your extremely helpful and supportive comments. If this is the quality of response that you get from this forum, I am going to really enjoy it. It was much appreciated and has persuaded me to download Affinity Photo for Mac, later today.

Hi JFisher/justwilliam,
 
Thanks for your extremely helpful and supportive comments. If this is the quality of response that you get from this forum, I am going to really enjoy it. It was much appreciated and has persuaded me to download Affinity Photo for Mac, later today.

Hi JFisher/justwilliam,
 
Thanks for your extremely helpful and supportive comments. If this is the quality of response that you get from this forum, I am going to really enjoy it. It was much appreciated and has persuaded me to download Affinity Photo for Mac, later today.