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How do you set up a custom ratio of 3:2 for instance? I have not been able to figure out how to add custom ratios to the ones that come already preset which are 1:1, 5:7 and 8:10. Sorry, I just figured it out! No answer to this post required.

Thank you both! That helps me understand better the cropping tool.

I am unclear about certain aspects of the cropping tool. Why is it that when I choose 1:1, 5:7 or 8:10 the crop frame preserves the ratio when I move the horizontal or vertical side, but when I choose 6x4 or 8.5x11, the ratio is not preserved when I move either the vertical or horizontal side? And why do the first 3 options use : while the other two use X? Is there a way to create a custom cropping frame that is 6x4 that is "constrained" meaning that it preserves the ratio when I move either the vertical or horizontal line? Thanks!

Thank you Walt!

Ok. Now I am embarrassed. , I looked more closely and realized that the Profiles only show up in the Develop Persona. I guess that takes care of that problem. Sorry for waisting your time.

My apologies but the video where I saw James doing this is "Wide Color Profiles vs RGB". Attached is the screen snapshot that shows what it looks like.

Thanks but that is not what I am asking. I know how to change a file's ICC profile for Export. What I want to find out is how to add a Profile tab in my dashboard (if that is the right name of the panel that sits on the right of my AP). I know it can be done because I saw James doing it on the video I mentioned earlier. Now, it is possible that that video was created with a prior version of AP and that in the newest version that is no longer an option. But if it is still an option I would like to know how to enable it. Typically to enable these tabs, you have to go to View/Studio and enable it from there. But when I go there, there is no option for "Profiles". I already know that I can change the ICC profile of an image (prior to exporting) by going to Document/Convert ICC profile or Assign ICC profile. I am looking for a shortcut. Hope this clarifies my query a bit more. Thanks!

Thanks for your reply, but I think we are talking about different things. In the video "Big Stopper Effect", James is able to change the ICC Profile directly from the Dashboard, rather than having to go into Document/Convert ICC Profile. Typically the options that show up on the Dashboard (although I am not sure that is the right name for the right hand panel) can be turned on and off by going into View/Studio. When I go there, there is no option for turning on Profiles. So my question is How do you turn it on so it shows up as an option in the Dashboard. Hope this clarifies my query a bit.

I saw a video where James was clicking on Profiles from the Dashboard (I think that is what it is called) to change the ICC profile of an image without having to go to Document - Convert ICC Profile. Yet, when I go into View - Studio, there is no option there to activate an ICC Profile so that you can access it from the Dashboard.

Thanks. I had not seen that video. It helps clarify this confusing topic.

Ok, thank you for all your responses. I am still not totally clear on the following: When I open a New Document in AP it is set at 72 DPI by default. Should I change that to 300 DPI instead? What difference is that going to make in the dimensions or quality of the final image which I am uploading to a vendors' website in order to be printed onto a variety of objects. My goal is to send the best possible quality image. Given the original raw image size I have to work with, what is the best way to ensure that I am sending the highest quality jpg file to the vendor?

Thanks for that information. I didn't realize that 300 ppi meant 300 pixels wide. You are right, that is very small. I will ask for clarification.

I need to submit a photo to a website and was told to submit it at 300 ppi (not dpi). First of all, I am not sure what does 300 ppi mean in terms of actual picture dimensions. And as far as I can tell, currently there is no ppi option in AP. Is there a way that I can ensure that a photo is at least 300 ppi on AP using the options currently available such as resizing the document or exporting? Thanks for any suggestions or help on this matter?

This is great!! Thanks so much for explaining it so clearly!

Ok there it is. This is just a sample of a logo design project. I am just showing the text part of it. Example of pixelated text.afphoto

Clearly, it is working for you but somehow I am not getting that result. What could I be doing or not doing that makes the text appear pixelated? This problem happens before saving the text. Not that saving it makes any difference though.

When I write text with Artistic text on a blank canvas or on top of a fill layer the text looks pixelated. The bigger I make it the worse it looks. Why is that happening? Isn't the text supposed to be a Vector shape rather than Raster layer. Please help!

Thanks so much for the LAB technique to convert a picture to B&W. I tried it and the limitation I see with it, is that once you clear the color Channels, you can't use the B&W, HSL or White Balance adjustments to further tweak the image. In other words there is less flexibility. You can change the tonality using Curves but you can't change the relationships between different tones, like you can with the other method. I also tried comparing the same approach in LAB that I use when working in RGB (using the B&W adj + HSL), and it seems to give very similar results, at least visually. I am just wondering if, from a technical perspective, there is any difference worth considering, between working in either color space, specifically for doing what I just described.

Hi, I am still trying to figure out what is the most flexible and powerful method for converting and editing color images in B&W. For the most part, I have been working in RGB, using the B&W adjustment and further tweaking the image with an HSL and sometimes a White Balance adjustment, both placed underneath the B&W layer. It works great. But now I am experimenting doing the same thing in LAB. I don't quite understand if I should use the same approach as I do in RGB (described above) and whether the B&W and HSL adjustments work in the same way in LAB as they do in RGB. Or if there is a better way of doing the conversion and editing when working in LAB (by better I mean more flexible and powerful). I would appreciate any insights you can share on this topic.

Thank you so much!

Love it! Thank you.

Thanks!

In the video "Affinity Photo - Uplift Epic Skies (1.6 Bonus Content)" James repeatedly clicks something that brings up a small Finder screen that floats over Affinity Photo. From there he is able to move flies from the Finder screen to AP. I found that very useful but I have been unable to replicate it on my Mac. Attached below is a screen shot. How does he do that? Is that a shortcut that needs to be programmed within AP or is it a Mac Keyboard Shortcut? If anyone knows the answer, it would be much appreciated!

Thanks MEB. I will try that. But why does the Gradient tool behave differently with a Fill layer instead of a Pixel Layer?

I don't quite understand the behavior of the Gradient tool. I know what it is for and how to use. The problem I have with it is that if I click outside the image or on another layer before I have finished working with the Gradient, there is no way to bring it back so that I can continue making adjustments. Which means I have to be very careful when I use it. At least with some other destructive adjustments, you have to click on Apply before the changes become final, but in this case there is no such a thing. Am I missing something? Is there a way that i am not aware of to bring back the gradient tool if I happen to click outside the image or on another layer by mistake before I am done with it? Thanks!