[Data merge that isn't just labels]

I'd very much like to see the same. I've got data sets with some standard information (which is summarized in a block), followed by some number of paragraphs. It would be lovely to get them all in one flow so I can have as many per page as fit, with breaks happening in appropriate places as they flow to other pages.

I'm doing this now by having a script that punches out a big Word file, then copy and paste that into APub. It works, but it's one more step.

On the other hand, it allows me to have formatting and arbitrary content options not easily done via data merge, so this is a 'nice to have' or a 'really nice to have' for me at this point... but it would be a great thing to have available.

[Affinity Photo Bump Map using Existing Layer]

On 10/1/2017 at 11:52 AM, edferg said:

The Live Lighting Filter allows you to import an image to use as a bump map. 

I would also like the option to use an existing layer within the open document as the bump map (Much like the way the Displacement Map filter allows you to use another layer as the source. However I think entering or selecting the layer name in the Lighting filter panel would be preferred over the "Use layers below" approach in the DM filter)

With an imported bump map, you can't make any edits to the bump map without opening it as a separate document.  That makes it very difficult to edit the bump map in context of the image you are applying it to.

By allowing an existing layer within the open document to be used as the bump map, you could easily modify it and quickly see the results.  Examples: erase a portion of the bump map where you want no texture, alter the contrast of the bump map, rotate, re-size the bump map, etc. all without the trial & error of editing a separate image.

Thank you for your consideration.  Love Affinity!

Hi Edferg,

I think I see a way to do what you're trying to do. You might have to dedicate a layer to your bump map, but you'll be able to edit it locally.

1. Create a pixel layer, give it a solid color (I'm using a darkish green, #1d710c. Call it 'grass'.
2. Create another pixel layer on top of that. Call it 'bumps'.
   1. This layer will get your heightmap (I used Filters -> Noise -> Perlin... and on my second try, remembered to set my colors to black and white, rather than black and dark green).
   2. Add to this second layer a Live Lighting layer of type 'Directional', with azimuth and elevation set appropriately.
   3. Set the pixel layer to 'overlay'.

This gives you a layer that can provide your bump map:

• Hide the pixel layer to turn off the bumps.
• Hide the lighting layer (and change the pixel layer's blend mode back to Normal) to see the height map.
• Edit the pixel layer (height map) to change the bumps.
• Add a mask layer to the pixel layer (height map) to turn the bumps on and off selectively.

(I tried cropping my sample file but the cropped version was bigger! So I went with the original)

Keith

bump map.afphoto