toltec

This is from a pc but you have to scroll down a bit.

If you put some text on a path, click on the Pen Tool and then the extended Context Toolbar arrow (to the right of the Toolbar) and there is a "Reverse Text Path" button in there. P,S I believe you need to have On-screen modifier keys switched on (Preferences > Interface) to access the extended Context Toolbar option. If you don't have them on already.

Not really sure what you are after. Why cant you just adjust the colour of the gradient ? In that case, I think you would need to apply the gradient to the group, as in my last example and adjust that to suit. You can adjust the gradient and the shape of the shapes. The moment you use a shape as a mask it becomes black (a mask) and I don't think there is any way around that. Edit, Would it work if you made a duplicate group on top of the first group and applied the transparent gradient to that, rather than try to mask a rectangle? You would not need a mask at all!

Hi @GraphicDesigner You just need to drag the group to the masking position of the rectangle. One group and one semi-transparent rectangle. Drag the group to the masking position of the rectangle layer. (right side or thumbnail, see the blue vertical bar) Filled with the rectangle However, if you are worried about redundancy, just add the gradient to the group. It will extend across it.

Oh yes, well I never I'm sure I tried that once and got nowhere. You learn something new every day

You have to realise that Photo is part of a suite of programs that share a common file format. You can move files between the three programs and edit files in each, So create a document in Publisher and edit it in Designer, etc. As I understand it. Can you edit an InDesign file in Photoshop, or edit a Photoshop file in InDesign? Although I don't know the features in Publisher or why some features exist as they do, this approach obviously means some things have to be changed in the way they work. You will just have to accept a few compromises in order to get the benefits from the overall publishing suite, or so I assume.

A placed image is an embedded file. That way it keeps it's original resolution so if you export it as a slice, it can be exported at a higher resolution than the background image. Useful for web design. It also saves extra processing. Technically, it is a raster image but Rasterise just tells photo you want to edit it. P.S If you press Ctrl + J it duplicates the image part in one step, so no need to press copy, then paste.

Is it an Image layer ? If so Rasterise it.

'Convert to text frame' turns any vector shape into a text box. If you convert the shape into curves before converting it to a text frame,, you can edit it using the node tool into any shape you want like the one @firstdefence shows. Edit. You can use the Node Tool to adjust the frame afterwards and the text will re flow. As R C-R points out. With the following, I cut an ellipse from a rectangle with a Boolean subtraction. You could also cut a donut type hole in the middle to make text flow around it.

I don't know about miracles but you can improve things. Apply a Levels adjustment layer, concentrating on getting the left hand side about correct. , Use the Gradient Tool on that Levels layer and drag a gradient from white on the left, to black on the right. That will apply a gradient fade on the Levels. Experiment with that.

There is no sensible way to automatically batch crop lots of different images, unless they were all taken at the same size and the products are all the same position. Especially if you want them to look neat in swatches. The best method is to create a document at the exact size and resolution you want the swatch image to be. Then, one by one Place (File > Place) the images and size and position them inside the document, saving (or rather exporting) them one by one. The document boundaries act as a cropping boundary for the images. If you place guides on the document, that will help to position and size each item so that it looks professional. See in the image that the original boundaries of the image are outside the document boundaries, which is exactly the same as cropping it. The guides help sizing and positioning so that each wee beastie would be the same size and position. If the swatch opens up a larger image, you could use the same technique to position the item in the image. It that case, work with the larger image and output the smaller image by resizing it on Export. You can place many images inside one document (memory allowing) as each new image you 'place' will simply cover the previous one. That save a lot of saving and naming. If you create a keyboard shortcut for Place and for Export, it soon becomes a very fast process. I have done many catalogues using a very similar technique.

Long press with one finger and choose Invert Selection.

Not in the northern hemisphere (which is where Serif are), the astronomical summer ends on Sunday, 23 September. Not that I am trying to encourage Serif to take it easy

I was a bit confused at the time by I find that happens a lot these days But it makes more sense to me after taking my meds. P.S walt.farrel had not yet posted when I replied and pressed Submit Reply, so there was no other post there at that precise moment, except for the OPs. It's all a question of timing Hence your confusion

Something has definitely gone wrong. Quit Photo then restart it with Control held down, until you get this. I am pretty sure it is Control too on a Mac, i.e. not Command. Click Clear If that doesn't work try again, click Select All then click Clear, but you will lose custom brushes, user settings etc.

You don't seem to have the Context Toolbar with the Develop Button or the Cancel button on. That is View > Show Context Toolbar although yours is ticked or the Studio on the right with all the panels. View > Studio > Hide Studio. Try clicking on both of those once or twice and see what happens. Or something might have gone wrong. There is a master reset, hold down the control key while you launch Photo and click on reset when it starts up.

Do they all have to end up the same size ?

A quick way to duplicate an item is to press two fingers on the screen, then drag the item, or you can use the edit menu. To power duplicate you just keep going to the edit menu and pressing duplicate. There is no shortcut. You can duplicate an item, rotate it, resize it etc and Designer applies those changes as it duplicates. https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/designer/ipad/#/video/272729523

A good way is to select the performer using one of the tools in the Selection Persona (like the Smart Selection Brush), Refine the edges (Refine Edges Tool) and then, in the Layers studio create a New Mask Layer. That will 'erase' the background but is non-destructive, so you could get it back if you ever needed to. All the options and tools show if you press the ? The New Mask Layer icon is the white square with the black circle in it, inside the layers panel. Then just Export it.

I haven't painted for years, which might explain a few things

I think that is because it's a book ? Remember the old days when people used paper n stuff?

I'm confused I thought you wanted a transparent background? If you put a white layer behind it, and export it as a PNG it will have your white background, so will not be transparent. Have a look at the attached .afppoto file. Note, it would need a little bit of hand retouching for the final version as a few bits of the background remain due to uneven lighting. A more evenly lit photo, or a good scan would help, if possible but if not.it could be retouched. If you hide my red layer and export it (showing the transparent chequerboard background) as a PNG it will have a transparent background. If you show the red layer, it will have a red background. What You See Is What You Get. ckm.afphoto

With the Pen tool selected, this will appear on the Context Toolbar. Click it to select it.

You can also use the Affine filter. Make a selection, select the Affine filter, select Mirror in the Extend Mode and drag on the X offset. It is no better than than the method suggested by @stokerg but it's something else to play with

You can select the Artboard Tool and convert the document to an Artboard (Insert Artboard) and resize the 'canvas', just like Photo. If you must, it is also possible to turn the Artboard back into a document and it will be 'cropped'. Although there is no real need to do this? Insert Artboard button. Resizing the canvas (aka Artboard) by dragging on the corner. You can also use the Transform panel for exact sizing.