Medical Officer Bones
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Posts posted by Medical Officer Bones
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@JET_Affinity Auto tracing quality also depends on the the particular type of task. For example, OpenToonz features an auto-tracer that specializes in converting drawn lines into high-quality vector strokes that are NOT simply outlines based on overall shapes, but are actual centerline strokes with custom thickness - all based on some very nifty algorithms converting a black-and-white scanned (or digitally drawn) drawing to high quality vector strokes that can then be filled with colour. And be adjusted/perfected manually with a thickness (pump) tool and smooth tools.
In this case it makes sense since OpenToonz is meant for production-level 2d animation - and the drawings become high quality scalable ones. Manually tracing all the drawings wouldn't be feasible, and take too much time.
I wouldn't mind an auto-tracer like that one to become part of the toolset in Affinity Designer. I use OpenToonz's Convert to Vector option quite a lot, actually. Illustrator's auto-tracing is indeed a hit-and-miss affair. Almost never used it, because it always resulted in vector garbage (most of the time), like you say.
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2 hours ago, Wizaerd said:
That's just silly, if I need Inkscape to get it traced, why not just use Inkscape and forget Affinity altogether?
Because it is silly to expect any illustration application to do everything? Each app has its own strengths. I agree with @SrPx : a modern workflow more often than not entails many helper tools aside from the main ones. To limit oneself to just one illustration tool is akin to being the frog in the well.
- cloudbusting, Alfred, SrPx and 1 other
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22 hours ago, affinitydesignerfan said:
Adding resizable, infinitely repeating seamless vector backgrounds to elements/artboards would be useful. Seems like there might be performance issues, though…
No, as Vitor pointed out, Illustrator has no performance problems with these. Nor does PhotoLine. Actually, I hope that when Affinity finally gets proper vector patterns, it will be implemented similarly to PhotoLine: nice on-screen widgets, and patterns support a combination of both bitmap and vector. Even text.
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@Tom Schülke In Photoshop layers can be independently linked (with the chain symbol in the layers palette), which means completely unrelated layers' transformations are linked together. Move one, the other linked layers move. This is the one required missing link (pun intended) in Affinity Photo for certain compositing tricks. Certain operations are really inconvenient and awkward without an option to link independent layers.
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@kirk23 Totally agree, I would love to see this in an image editor other than Photoshop. Photoshop is just a very awkward and its layer stack is stuck in the nineties.
Affinity Photo, PhotoLine: both are quite close, but still missing features (which you mentioned). I've stopped waiting years ago, and now use nodal editors to do these type of jobs myself.
Still, I often ask myself why no-one integrated a "layer node" in nodal editors or an extension of nodes in a layer-based editor.
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Sounds like a very specialized feature aimed at 3d compers and texture artists. Perhaps too deep and advanced for 98% of the Affinity Photo users?
Not saying it wouldn't be welcomed by me (also working in 3d), but I'd like to see how this can be implemented in an intuitive and easy-to-use way. After Effects has expressions like these, although I doubt many Affinity users would see the benefit of having these in a general image editor.
I feel it would be better to do complex texturing tasks in Substance Designer and Painter anyway. Aside from the missing transformation links, (many) more features are missing to turn Affinity Photo in a texture editor.
Cobbler keep to your last, as the expression goes.
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Correct, you list a couple of reasons that explain why I prefer to use either Fusion or the built-in compositor in Blender for 3d compositing. And those support animation: not something I would ever want to do in a layered-based image editor anyway. Layers become too convoluted and confusing when the comp becomes slightly more complex, and requires a lot of asset recycling throughout. Compare After Effects, which becomes a mess with all that pre-comping...
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For inspiration how to implement this in Affinity Photo, refer to PhotoLine's virtual layers, which instance layers, layer masks and groups, groups of layers, and even adjustment layers. A master layer can be cloned, and the clone then adjusted with any of the live adjustment layers. Unfortunately independent layers cannot be linked yet, though. But I do wish Affinity Photo would have a layer stack more like PhotoLine.
Krita also supports cloned layers, but those cannot be used to clone masks. Still, the principle is identical to PhotoLine: select a layer, instance/clone the layer, and when the original source layer is edited, the instanced version updates in real-time. Even Photoshop cannot do this (although the latest version now FINALLY offers mirror painting after decades of users requesting this basic option).
Often I wish image editors with layer stacks would allow us to work with basic nodes as well, or somehow create links between layers in a more visual manner. One can dream :-)
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On 10/27/2017 at 5:40 AM, omega-particle said:
Hello, is there a non-destructive way of achieving the same result?
I have a group with a bunch of layers that finally output a B&W image that I want to use as a mask, but I'd like to still be able to edit the contents of the group without having to re-rasterize the mask.
It would be nice if the layer stack in Affinity Photo could be expanded to accommodate such a workflow. Last time I checked it is easily possible in PhotoLine (the layer system is very flexible compared), while Photoshop can use smart objects as clipping masks (bit awkward, though). And of course this is one of the strengths of nodal editors such as Fusion, Nuke, Blender, and Natron.
Aren't smart objects on the roadmap?
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That's what Photoshop did, and look at the state of its 3d "rendering" and 3d functionality: utterly outdated, slow as a snail moving in mud, and the quality is awful. No wonder Adobe teamed up with Maxon to provide 3d capabilities in After Effects: it just takes too much developer time to keep up with dedicated 3d applications and customer's expectations.
Install Blender, and enjoy high quality rendering and modeling tools instead. The upcoming 2.8 release will have real-time rendering (which already looks FAR better than Photoshop's "final" rendering).
Anyway, I think improvements in interoperability between Affinity and 3d applications would be preferable over half-hearted 3d features that distract the developers from core feature set enhancements.
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I am repeating myself here, but...:
Really nice DAMs out there already. For example iMatch, DigiKam, Daminion, Photo Supreme, and many more (including open source ones).
Some searching led me to this page - which mirrors my opinion. Always plan for contingencies - is there an escape route? Software may be discontinued (or go rental only, in spite of "a certain company's promises").
https://www.bkwinephotography.com/technology/found-best-digital-asset-management-dam-system/
Don't confuse a DAM and a RAW processor/developer, btw.
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I am repeating myself here, but...:
Really nice DAMs out there already. For example iMatch, DigiKam, Daminion, Photo Supreme, and many more.
Some searching led me to this page - which mirrors my opinion. Always plan for contingencies - is there an escape route? Software may be discontinued (or go rental only, in spite of "a certain company's promises").
https://www.bkwinephotography.com/technology/found-best-digital-asset-management-dam-system/
Don't confuse a DAM and a RAW processor/developer. Lightroom is both, but there are a number of excellent professional DAMs available NOW - and it will allow you to choose Affinity Photo and other RAW processors to develop your photos.
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I agree. I believe many users confuse DAM software with RAW processing software: Lightroom does both, of course, and (in my opinion) it is more flexible (and safer) to separate the two. Many RAW processors out there, including Affinity. Lightroom is capable, but arguably not the best RAW processor compared to others.
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Really nice DAMs out there already. For example iMatch, DigiKam, Daminion, Photo Supreme, and many more. No need to wait, right?
Some searching led me to this page - which mirrors my opinion. Always plan for contingencies - is there an escape route? Software may be discontinued (or go rental only, in spite of "a certain company's promises").
https://www.bkwinephotography.com/technology/found-best-digital-asset-management-dam-system/
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4 hours ago, toltec said:
As I said, I experimented with Linux but there was so much missing. No printer drivers ( Mitsubishi dye sub printer) no green screen software, no internet design software, no DAM, no colour management software. The list was very long . . . . .
Things may have improved on the software support ?
Green screen software: Nuke, Fusion, Blender, Natron... Industry-standard solutions are available. NLEs: Davinci Resolve, Lightworks, etc.
Internet "design" software: Atom, Netbeans, PhpStorm, Eclipse, Sublime, Brackets, ... the list goes on and on. If you need something similar (but MUCH better) to Dreamweaver, Pinegrow + Atom is a quite excellent combination. Much better than DW ever was.
Dreamweaver is a 'has-been', and pretty terrible nowadays - a shame, though. Adobe ruined it. Muse... Let's not mention Muse or similar tools: abysmal.
DAMs are available, if you look around. Perhaps not at the same level as some available for Mac/Windows, but still.
Colour Management: I use DisplayCal on both Windows and Linux. Works well.
The only things that are really missing are indeed some drivers, and a good DTP app. I miss InDesign/QuarkXpress level software on Linux. If you are on Linux it is best to shop for printers that are actively supported, and not the other way around. For scanning I use VueScan on both platforms - no need for scan drivers. My old scanner was no longer supported on Windows either, and Vuescan is heavenly in use.
But yes, although Linux is quite capable as a designer platform now, the lack of a native high-level image editor is quite conspicuous. Krita is excellent for artistic work (better suited than Photoshop!), and PhotoLine works like a charm in Wine, which make a great combo. But it would be nice to have a native port of either Affinity or PhotoLine. Gimp is okay, but just can't compete at that level.
I just don't see it happening, though. Nor for years and years to come.
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It's not happening anytime soon, if ever. Just use PhotoLine in WINE (the devs support this even with an alternative Linux-compatible colour management option), Krita, Gravit Designer, InkScape, Gimp, Fusion, ... Lots of options already. Affinity would have to compete in an already quite small market.
Another question is (to which Toltec alluded to) what Affinity would be used for by "professionals" on Linux: which, as far as I am aware, predominantly consists of developers (I am one myself). I don't see more visually-inclined graphic designers and photographers using the platform (in my experience). Linux is great as a development platform, not so great for graphic designers, or motion graphic designers. It is used quite a bit in VFX/3D production houses, though, but we are talking about a relatively small group of users in this case.
The average developer/UX designer has very different needs compared to a graphic designer and photographer. Great tools already exist on Linux to help front-end devs in this regard, which isn't going to help sell Affinity products.
Statistics are a small part of the total equation: other factors must be taken into account as well. In 20 years of teaching in graphics, design, and web development, only a handful of students had Linux installed on their laptops. Linux still isn't part of the "design culture".
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Blackmagic Fusion is available for Linux, as is Krita, Gravit Designer, Blackmagic Davinci Resolve... Aside from the obvious ones such as GIMP and Inkscape.
Use Fusion for image editing - very powerful. Even Krita is quite a capable image editor now - and as a drawing/painting tool it leaves Affinity in its dust. Or run PhotoLine in WINE (which also supports colour management).
Affinity Designer and Photo might not be as popular on Linux as some here are led to believe.
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In PhotoLine this is easily fixed by assigning a linear color profile to the gradient/color layer.
In Photoshop gradients/colors are correctly blended as well when the "Blend RGB Colors Using Gamma: 1.0" is checked in the Color Settings. Or switch to 32bit mode.
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Blender traditional quad view:
- Press <N> with the mouse cursor in the 3d viewport. This opens the view properties on the right.
- Locate the DISPLAY sub-panel and open it if required (click the "Display" title to show and hide the properties)
- Click the button Toggle Quad View.
Done. Traditional 3DS quad view.
However, 3d applications have evolved a LOT since the old 3DS days. You will have to spend a couple of days (re)learning the basics. This (German) video tutorial may be helpful:
And:
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Markdown support would be awesome, I agree.
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I don't think Serif is in the composter or music business... :P
All jokes aside, the Affinity devs have stated multiple times now that they are NOT planning to work on an animation or compositing app that supports animation. Besides, competition is rather fierce - it is rather difficult to compete with Fusion and Natron (and Blender) which are all free, and extremely capable.
Many options already out there (depending on the type of animation you need):
Compositing
Fusion (free)
After Effects
Motion
Nuke
Natron (free)
3d animation (including 3d character animation)
Blender (free)
Maya
Max
Cinema4d
Lightwave
Houdini
2d animation (including 2d character animation)
Tumult Hype
OpenToonz (free)
Toonboom
Moho
Synfig (free)
TVPaint
ClipStudio
Krita (free)
Flash/Animate CC
Blender
Retas
Photoshop
...to name just the major ones. Many more online tools are available too.
I would like to see basic animation features in Designer and Photo (for animated GUI mockups), although I doubt this will happen anytime soon, if ever.
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Found it: https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/2308-3d-extrude-and-3d-paths/?p=129209
Looks pretty good, in particular the first example - very smooth.
Can Affinity Photo load 3d objects?
in Pre-V2 Archive of Affinity on Desktop Questions (macOS and Windows)
Posted
To expand this answer a bit: Photoshop's 3d painting and rendering are pretty bad compared to current standards. Good 3d painting software would be Substance Painter, 3dCoat, or Mari.