bengedlow

I'm a newbie.  I click the layer (a photograph) I'm working on.  I click the 'Blur' tool.  I choose size, hardness, flow etc.
 
And click click click ... it doesn't seem to have an effect on the layer.
 
If I choose an adjustment layer, say Gaussian blur, then my only choice is to blur the entire image.
 
So I'm missing something on the 'Blur' tool ... and can't seem to find an answer in all the terrific tutorials you have.
 
A hint?  A clue?
 
All the best,
 
Ben

Hi bengedlow,
You will find the dodge and burn tools (along with a host of others) in Photo Persona only (after you click the Develop button on the top left of the interface).
 

 
Alternatively you can use a brush overlay with the Exposure or any other adjustment you find apropriate (in Develop Persona) to achieve similar results.
Here's a video tutorial covering Overlays in Develop Persona.

Alfred,
 
'Layer Masks.'
 

 
Sorry about that.  Meant to.  It was late.  I was sleepy.  Great tutorial.  I have to make the step sideways from what I'm used to, working in film.  The layering protocols of Affinity appear to be a lot more sophisticated, and I'm still trying to figure out what's going on.
 
Love it.  Thank you kindly reminding me above ... you're absolutely right.
 
All the best,
 
Ben

Oops.  Two tutorials later I see my question is answered.  I need to learn the 'language' of Affinity.
 
Thank you James.
 
 
Ben

Alfred,
 
'Layer Masks.'
 

 
Sorry about that.  Meant to.  It was late.  I was sleepy.  Great tutorial.  I have to make the step sideways from what I'm used to, working in film.  The layering protocols of Affinity appear to be a lot more sophisticated, and I'm still trying to figure out what's going on.
 
Love it.  Thank you kindly reminding me above ... you're absolutely right.
 
All the best,
 
Ben

Hi Ben,
 
With quick masking, just double check you have the brush colour set to white (there's an annotation on the video). White adds to the selection, black erases, and you can use tones in-between to vary the strength of the selection. Other than checking that, quick masking should work fine. Let me know if there seems to be another issue and we'll look into it!
 
I'm also slowly going through older videos to see if they could do with re-recording, so I'll look at adding more detail to the Quick Mask video.
 
Thanks,
James

R U using a white brush?
 
What tutorial?
 
What selection tool? Marquee tool? ..... there should be both a feather radius box and and an antialias checkbox (just above workspace window, when tool is selected).
 
Latest Beta for Photo is 1.4.2 beta 4.

Hi Ben,
Welcome to Affinity Forums :
Depending on the state of the Text tool you may have to press ESC once or twice to deselect the text and get back to the text frame to then press V to change to the Move Tool.
If you need to move the text frame, there's no need to change tools, just mouse over the frame box until the cursor change to the cross arrows icon and drag the frame.