Alan9940

Agreed. In my testing, I've found the Inpainting tool to be pretty incredible...easily as good, if not slightly better, than Adobe's Healing brush. And, FWIW, I've found that when dealing with fairly complicated image areas (read lots of surrounding texture, etc) that keeping a keen eye on brush size and using short strokes amazes, once again! Best regards, AlanH

- Having an easier way to create a black layer mask would certainly get my vote, but... Since we can add an empty layer mask, and then drag it onto whatever layer I'm not sure how much priority this request will see. An issue I've had, though, is adding an adjustment layer that comes along with a reveal all mask, and then trying to invert the mask for hide all. Many times it just doesn't work for me. But, I keep in mind that this is beta software. - Blend If has been discussed in other threads and I'd be surprised if we don't see that functionality come along at some point. - Brush size limitation with other tools has been an issue for me, too. Many times, I like to zoom out on my image using a large, soft brush to paint in some change; this more overall zoom level enables me to see how the change is affecting the whole image. Can't tell ya how many times I've pounded on the right bracket key being puzzled why the brush wasn't getting any bigger! :) Then, I look up and see that I'm at 1024 pixels on the brush. When you're dealing with very large image files and you're zoomed out, that ain't big enough... - Yep, file sizes are ridiculous once you've got a few adjustments and layers in there! I first noticed this with Pixelmator; their Tech Support folks wrote back pontificating about included image previews, recovery history, etc. In other words, it's all Apple's fault with the latest versions of OS X! Hmm...I use another photo editor (not PS) on my Mac that doesn't have this exponential file growth anomaly! What do you think that means? ;) Best regards, AlanH

Currently, there is no way in AP that I'm aware of to simply change file resolution--I'm thinking similar functionality to PS Image>Image Size dialog where I can change the Resolution box under Document Size with Resample Image unchecked. I have written about this issue in another post as it relates to printing and I hope it's addressed before the final shipping product. Best regards, AlanH

Hmm...not that this is any help and FWIW... I have my working space in AP set to aRGB and I don't use ProPhotoRGB, but 99% of my RAW digital image files from a few different RAW file formats are converted in standalone RAW converters and tagged with a custom color space built specifically for digital cameras. I have compared the view as opened in AP against PhotoLine (my primary editor on Mac) and against the view in a few different RAW converters and I haven't seen any odd and/or over-saturated colors. Oh, and I regularly calibrate my monitor. Best regards, AlanH

1) File>Open Recent doesn't retain filenames between open/close/re-open of the program. 2) The anchors for Document>Resize Canvas should include, at least, left and right in addition to top/middle/bottom. Best regards, AlanH

Hello Andy, I have no idea how folks work with Designer or what their needs are for output, but please allow me to explain how I believe most photographers (certainly this photographer) work with images intended for web presentation or paper output. 1) Some way to modify the pixel density without interpolation of the image is necessary; for example, AP's Document>Resize Document dialog should allow me to change from 300 PPI to 240 PPI without actually resampling the image. I know that I can get acceptable prints using anything from 240 - 360 PPI and if I sent a 300 PPI file to AP and want my print to be slightly larger, than I know I can change it to 240 PPI and still get good quality. Currently, there is no way that I know of to make this change in AP. 2) There should be a basic Page Setup dialog that allows me to specify paper size and orientation (landscape/portrait.) 3) I'm really not sure what's going on with this last issue... Normally, when working with an image editor such as PS if I send a small image (say, 5x7) to the printer driver whereby I've specified an 8.5 x 11 paper size, the image is centered by default because a checkbox is set to center the image. However, I can uncheck that box and move the image anywhere I need it on the page. Many folks print greeting cards exactly this way; the image is moved where needed allowing the paper to be folded in half. Currently, since I have no way to specify paper size I can't tell if the driver is simply not responding as expected, since my image appears in the driver as if I am printing borderless. To be honest and to speak frankly, with all the thought I've seen put into the development of AP I'm shocked that printing from the application is not more flushed out! Many, many photographers print their images and, as AP stands today, another application will be needed for printing. IMO that's really bad and will reflect poorly on the great product that I anticipate AP becoming when it's released. I cannot begin to express how strongly I feel about the lack of printing facility in this application. I really hope others on this board agree and campaign hard to get this resolved. Thank you for allowing me to express my opinions. Best regards, AlanH

@billtils Thanks for the validation that I'm not simply loosing my mind! :D I use external RAW converters to do initial processing, and then send a TIFF file to AP for further post-processing so my file dimension, PPI, etc, is pretty much already set. Yeah, it would be nice to change PPI on the fly like Image>Image Size in PS, but I could learn to live without it. I know that I could export my edited file and bring it into some other editor or LR or...to print, but...DANG...a Page Setup command is pretty basic! C'mon, how could anyone call a photo editor even a basic editor, let alone professional editor (read PS replacement), without a basic thing like dictating that I want my image printed in portrait or landscape mode? I'm not expecting a fully realized print UI such as Print Options in PhotoLine, but I'd like to be able to print from AP. As it stands now, I really can't! I really, really, r-e-a-l-l-y hope this changes... Best regards, AlanH

Hello Andy, My vote would certainly be for the following functions: Merge Down, Merge Visible, and Flatten All Layers. Thanks for your consideration regarding adding a Flatten command, too. Best regards, AlanH

OMG...I'm perplexed, confused, amazed, and even dumbfounded... Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong. I wanted to print a landscape image on my Epson 3880 today and was totally confused when I couldn't find a Page Setup dialog to direct my landscape oriented image to print landscape on the page! I went through all the menu items, but couldn't find anything related to Page Setup (I would expect it to be on the File menu.) Am I missing something? Didn't we have Page Setup for output going back as far as the Commodore 64? ;) Best regards, AlanH

About the only thing I'm missing from AP that I do occasionally in PS is to select all layers, and then do an Auto Align Layers. I use this mostly when combining differently exposed files of the same image to ensure exact pixel alignment. Any idea if this functionality will be added to AP? And, if it's already there and I just missed it please let me know. Best regards, AlanH

Everybody has different needs, of course. Why would I want to flatten layers while continuing to edit? Because when starting with a 120MB (or more) background layer, and then adding several adjustment layers along with a few pixel-based layers mushrooms my filesize to 1/2 - 3/4GB. Continuing an edit session at those file sizes really takes a toll on performance with my system. Therefore, when I notice things are getting slow I flatten all current layers and continue working. Certainly not a non-destructive workflow, but sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do. :) Best regards, AlanH

Hello sapphie, I've read comments on these boards that the Develop Persona is still a "work in progress." That said, however, I doubt seriously if AP modifies the RAW file itself. Regarding the increase in file size, this is to be expected. Any RAW file converted in any software that I'm aware of will result in a quite drastic increase in file size, even if no adjustments are made. For example, my Canon 5D II RAW files are approximately 24MB off the card, but morph into 120MB TIFF files once converted. Toss into this equation the fact that the latest versions of OS X are saving previews, history, etc, along with your file and all of a sudden we have HUGE file sizes before we do much of anything. This file size thing really took me by surprise when I got a new iMac and started using Pixelmator. In that software, if I make just a few adjustments I'm looking at 1/2GB in its native file format! Best regards, AlanH

Hello bu99er, I think you would benefit from some PS tutorials on basic adjustments such as Curves, Levels, Unsharp Masking, etc. But, other things like masking, for example, are quite different in AP. I wouldn't fret, though...I'm sure that more AP specific training will become more readily available once the program hits the mainstream. My advice would be to try and learn some basic editing, play, have fun, and wait for more advanced topics down the road. Good luck! Best regards, AlanH

I'm guessing that the theory is that if you want a flattened version of your image you would export it to TIFF, JPEG, or whatever; otherwise, you would be saving in the native .apphoto format which will retain the layers. All that said, however, I, too, would like to have a flatten command. Best regards, AlanH

Hello Matt, Thanks for your reply. So, it sounds like AP will honor the embedded color profile and display accordingly...that's is exactly the way I'd expect it to work. That said, however, I think it would be very helpful if AP prompted the user when there is a profile mismatch between the file and the set working space. That way, there's no guesswork involved vis-a-vis whats going on before you begin an editing session. I'm happy to hear that you're considering this option! As for my working space mysteriously setting itself back to sRGB...I think I know what happened...user error. :) When I updated to beta 2 it didn't occur to me that my selected working space might revert back to default. It really shouldn't do that should it? Best regards, AlanH

Does AP honor the color profile tagged with a file (TIFF) when opened? It does seem to know what profile has been assigned, but is the preview shown through that profile or the one set in Preferences->General for RGB Color Profile? Also, I haven't been able to replicate it, but I've seen the selected RGB profile in Preferences revert back to sRGB. This is rather disturbing because I don't know that it's happening! Anybody else notice this? I guess it really doesn't matter what RGB profile is set in Preferences, if the software always honors the in-coming assigned profile and the Preferences RGB profile is used only for new document creation. Thank you for any insight provided. Best regards, AlanH

Definitely a +1 for this idea!! Best regards, AlanH

Hey Mike, Nice to see you 'round these parts, too...we seem to be chasing down many of the same tools lately! :) Like you, I invert my selection/refine edge/etc all before creating the mask. That said, though, it would be nice to have a convenient way to invert a mask after the fact. IMO, the whole masking concept in Affinity Photo needs some work. Creating a masked adjustment layer from a selection, for example, is straightforward and pretty much how I expect it to work. However, creating a pixel-based layer with adjustments and/or filters/etc applied to it, and then masking as needed is not intuitive. I hope this is an area that the developers eventually refine. Best regards, AlanH

Hello Justin, No, not what I would call intuitive, but it works nonetheless! As long as I know I can do what I want and how I'm a happy camper!! :) Thanks for the tip. Best regards, AlanH

It's kind of funny how difficult it is to learn a new photo editor after 15 years of Photoshop! :) OK, let's say I create some sort of adjustment layer and want a hide all (black) mask allowing me to paint with white to reveal those parts of the layer I wish to show through... This simple thing seems more difficult than it should be in Affinity Photo or, more likely, I don't understand what I'm doing! :) I created a curves adjustment layer affecting the entire image. Now, I wish to hide that layer with a mask so that I can paint back the areas I wish revealed. The only way I could find to create a hide all mask is Layer>New Empty Mask Layer. This does seem to create a hide all style mask, but it shows what looks like transparency. Yes, I can grab the brush a paint on it, but how does one see where you're painting? If you uncheck layer visibility of the mask layer, you can now see where you're painting, but the changes aren't visible to you reactivate the mask layer. Then, if you want to adjust opacity, for example, of the layer below you can't see how that masked layer relates to the entire image! Is creating a hide all mask, and then painting back what you want that difficult in this software? It can't be this difficult... Thanks, again, for any help provided. Best regards, AlanH

Thank you Wheetman and Andy...that is exactly what I was looking for! Best regards, AlanH

Hello All, Just learned of Affinity Photo and downloaded the beta. Based on the "sneak peek" video on Affinity's beta web pages, it looks like the app has a Photoshop-like Content Aware Fill option, but all I can find is the standard Clone/Heal tools. I've looked through Help and searched these boards, but find no reference to Content Aware Fill. Am I dreaming this stuff up? Thank you for any insight provided. Best regards, AlanH