ianrb

solved via Ap FB page -- worked well enough and a bit easier than the video 
 

solved via Ap FB page -- worked well enough and a bit easier than the video 
 

certainly not everyone's taste ; but still well done 

While the image is cool, it seems unnatural to have both things in focus, it doesn't sit well with the universal laws of blurriness lol! 
Having said that a great image would be to have the moon in a spiders web between the branches.

Basically, its all about manipulating the RGB pixel values and its relationship with neighboring pixels, using software. I found this very useful and I think the same calculations applies to AP also. https://photoblogstop.com/photoshop/photoshop-blend-modes-explained
If we understand the algorithm and the maths behind the tool/filters/function etc, things become clear but always, the maths or algorithm details are not available. Then we have to guess from results. Open source softwares and forums give out may such details. AP has more than enough tools and functions for working professionally on images but there could be different opinions when it comes to productivity, time, printing, etc, especially when comparing with adobe packages. I plan to use Rawtherapee if the need arises to work heavily on raw image stage. NIK collection can be used to create additional effects (detail extractor of color effex pro is very useful). To work around the color problem, NIK can be used in standalone mode with the intermediate image saved as TIF in any colour space and after working on it, the TIF can be imported back to AP. A slightly long route but its okay I think. @ianrb

Learning any new program is always frustrating @unni; and even more so when one is very used to other programs -- that's as I find anyway.  I still remember going from PS7 to Lr2 and having to turn off Ps to get my head around lr. Gave up a few times but so glad I persisted . Back then PS was over Au$1000 !! [no; I didn't buy it lol]
I have spent 18 months learning and using On1--- too many dramas sadly so I'm giving Ap a go but I haven't given up totally on On1 as they do have some great ideas. In many ways Ap is too much like Ps and things I didn't understand or use enough in Ps are just the same/similar mystery in Affinity . 
In many ways; dollars, time, fitness, and frustrations; I would have been better to have kept using lr5/Pse12/Nic color+HDR/ICE (pano) instead of reading the sale blurb of other programs . Or just got into the shed with all the woodwork tools there  . 

@ianrb : Personas are probably a different way of expressing , to keep up with change, otherwise its just switching between stages in the workflow.
If you learn to use the develop persona( similar to camera raw) where the RAW file is processed, then it will be useful because from the photo persona(similar to photoshop),
you can go back to develop persona. For people who are well familiar with LR and PS, there will be some frustration and resistance to change but in the long run, it will
be better to explore and find out the equivalents in AP if its being considered as the primary platform. I am basically a hobbyist, so these differences don't matter.
Its about three months since I bought AP and I have been able to get a reasonably good grip now. The videos are very helpful. Its a bit confusing to learn the application
of masking, channel loading, etc and hardly any elaborate printed material explaining the details of various tools and options, when compared to PS. But by experimenting,
searching the forum topics, most of the doubts gets cleared.

When it works it is great, but I've wasted too much time trying to be clever in less than ideal circumstances, where I should have just made a manual selection!

thank you, I will try certainly try those ideas later and get back to you 
Opacity can changed with the "1" to "0" keys 

Morning firstdefence, I also think holding Ctrl down will move it in increments of 0.1 :-)

Morning Toltec, I also think holding Shift down will move it in increments of 10

You can position the mouse pointer over the brush size entry box (context toolbar) and spin the mouse wheel, if that helps?

just some more mirroring magic -- I'm still fascinated by the Affinity mirror tool!! 
Honest comments, suggestion and questions welcome
Affinity is becoming my go to editor after Lr5 --- I would find it hard if I lost Lr

That's better re the house, I can hear the birds tweeting now and the cows mooing lol!
The river scene needs levelling up. still water doesn't slope, see your image below for the difference. (Rotated -1.7º)

I'm liking your ideas, subject and how you looked to edit the files
However; I hope I can be honest without offending. Good editing starts in the camera and the first thing we need to do it get a sharp as possible photo. Having said that, there is no reason we cannot practise on our reject photos; although I would not post them. 
Foreground Vs background . From my chair; I don't see a need any of the sky area -- our eyes are drawn to the lighter/brighter parts of a photo. I would think the better crop would be just above the log so there is no doubt the fungus is the subject . Your photo would be near impossible if it was a sunny day
Fungus can be a very hard subject; it's usually wet, and dark so long exposures are often needed there a tripod is a must. The best natural light is under cloud or thick foliage
Hope that helps for next time 

I drew a potato! 
I have no other words, haha!

I've been fooling around with this idea of a legged oven for some time. It started as an unremarkable sketch for Inktober, but I liked the idea and am bringing it further. I am doing some moods and concept sketches in AD/AP, which might end up as guides for a 3D scene.

I was a bit concerned with the "color models" until I worked out the models weren't coloured  
Great write up; thanks for your time 

What??
Nevermind.
Matte, as I understand it, is a way of defining what is shown and what is not through another image, almost like a mask.
 
Here you have Apple's logo.
 

and here you have Apple's logo as a matte to this mountain photo.
There's this other concept of matte as "matte painting", which is a background to be inserted and composited in movies/videos/photos to fake the scene.

I really like the final stage.

They doing it wrong they need a candle and lay their hands on an upturned glass. I like it.

I have always enjoyed wasting time by manually mirroring images as it's always a surprise to see what pops up on the screen; but yesterday, I discover Affinity's mirroring tool. That thing really does do the brain in!!
I took the first photo and gave it a spin to end up with the second photo. That was too easy so I decided to add my personal touch with a collage; something I have been making since film days and picture framing. And last one is just another of the first
Amazing techknowledge, and so damn fast it's boring LOL 
Photo taken in 2012  in the hard country around Broken Hill, Australia 
Honest comments, suggestions and questions welcome.

My question: how do I copy and paste 'layer effects' onto other photos in the same collage?