counterprojects

Hi MEB. . . It's great to hear - I know people will use Affinity photo in different ways. . . and me coming on here saying 'I use it this way - please make Affinity Photo the way I need it' could be annoying. .. . I just think these are SO fundamental.. . they really need to be priorities. .. what's more important than this? I'd drop smart objects for later - I can absolutely see how that's a different thing - but you already have linked adjustable (image) layers - is it to much to just extend that to linked adjustable (mask) layers. . .. easy peasy. M.

Ah - I see the bit that was confusing . .. 'recolouring alpha channels'. What I mean is to take a separate greyscale image (alpha or zdepth) and then recolour it and apply it in the normal worspace - not as an alpha or mask - but as a coloured greyscale image.. . . oh my it is confusing isn't it?! Should I add pictures? (no - not being condescending - trying to be more helpful!) M.

Thanks for all these replies! I really appreciate the time people take to write back - it means a lot. I understand what you're saying - switching between mask layers and alpha channels - I was talking about bringing in completely separate greyscale (or colour but only a greyscale version is shown/used - but not destructively applied!!!) images as a dynamically linked (image) layer as a mask - anything that requires the user to rasterise should be avoided if possible - I should be able to select any placed (image) and directly replace it with another version. 3d software can output a LOT of different renders containing different information - zdepth, specular, reflection, refraction, movement, normals.. . . I build up an image with many (image) layers, then the client wants a change to the final image - but I _NEED_ to keep absolutely everything looking exactly the same... so I just replace the linked layers - easy.. . except for images I'm using for masks. .. especially if I've adjusted the masks. .. . then these are NOT easy to replace and the changes are not easy to reproduce. . . the amended image looks different - the client gets angry. A 3d artist will do lots of bonkers things in image editing - but at the end of the day - they all need to be reproduceable. Which is why the Develop process HAS to easily repeatable.. . . it just HAS to - especially if Affinity wants to appeal to more professionals. Looks like Affinity knows that and are acting on it - another part of this 'Reproduceability' comes from dynamically linked images - and then, eventually, photoshop style Smart objects - which people have also been clammering for. Marc.

i have these - and they're brilliant - 'command' is the 'windows' button - but maybe some PC people don't know that. .. was asking for others rather than myself. Of course - I just hit the photoshop keyboard shortcut and it's usually the same. ACE!

Fair enough. I use them in every image for mixing different render outputs.. . . of course - not everybody is using Affinity for 3d viz stuff. M x

This is fantastic! I knew I was being an idiot! I've got all the menus up on my second screen - could never find the colour swatches . . . I apologise for my complete idiocy ! I'd even been trying to apply gradient overlays to masking channels - which doesn't work - but maybe it could. . .. Actually - this is linked to my THIRD big problem - do you allow a linked (image) to be a mask or alpha layer? I can't see how - the best I can get is (Embedded document) - but it doesn't let me 'replace' that. Again - if I have an image and I re-output an alpha channel and want to easily replace it.. . especially if that layer is then moved. .. dynamically linked (image) mask layers please. This final problem is the last of my big four. .. and with one solved, and one understood and hopefully being addressed.. . . why not do them all in one go!?! My last problem is recolouring alpha channels and then using them as an 'add' or 'screen' layer (I often use a recoloured zdepth output as a fog layer) . . .. in (cough) photoshop the blacks stay black when 'recolouring' and so they don't affect the colours on layers beneath - but your recolour affects blacks - I have to add another adjustment on top to squash the blacks back down.. .. I'm all for Affinity doing things in its own way. .. so maybe there could be your 'recolour' and also more photoshop like 'colourise' (or 'colorize' if you're american) - where it 'overlays' the colour adjustment - only affecting everything below black. Maybe it's a bitdepth issue. . . . Oh - and PC keyboard shortcut cards please. Cheers, Marc.

I was just about to write a few questions for the forum - but decided to check if they've been mentioned before. I have this 'problem' too - each section of the develop UI has its own preset - there should be, I think, a single central place for saving Develop presets that gathers ALL of the separate presets together as a kind of easy global preset. A key thing professionals need is repeatability - and for anybody in the office to be able to repeat the action if possible. Seeing as the Develop stage isn't dynamic - the next best thing would be to have a single point preset - and preferably one that can be saved and shared. . .. instead of 4 or 5 different presets in different parts of the UI. I'd say this is genuinely THE biggest problem I have with Affinity Photo at the moment - especially as I've been brave enough to completely make the jump from Adobe CC !!! In the main I am incredibly incredibly happy to have made the jump - and I love the Develop persona. . but you MUST make global shareable presets your very highest priority - and if you can make it a dynamic editable part of the process (with a dynamic flattened top 'Develop' layer? which users can pause and play when editing below is happening?) - then that would be perfect. The other biggest problem is the AWFUL. .. and it is awful. .. gradient tool. Is there anything used more often than a black to white gradient? No- there is not - can I make it the default? No. Can I save it as a preset? No. Do I ALWAYS have to click 6 times to be able to create, each time, a black to white gradient.? YES!!!!!!! Insane! I have more problems. . . but maybe a few at a time is best. Cheers, Marc.