Steps

I would prefer limited resources to be targeted at improving the existing apps.

A fast note here to mention that - crazy as it sounds- I was not aware about Opentoonz (free, open source animation package) having a raster to vector conversion feature. But also, that apparently, the also free and open source (you can contribute with donations, or patreon, etc) Synfig is going to have as well a raster to vector autotrace. Based as well on Opentoonz autotracing system. I still heavily recommend everyone needing this type of workflow,  to use Inkscape's autotrace feature (or the original potrace in command line), but is nice to know more free, opensource alternatives for this operation. Synfig will get it through a Google summer of code project (a programmer will be adapting Opentoonz code for that feature, it seems), but still does not have it. So, linkies for those with curiosity and flexible brains : 
https://inkscape.org
http://potrace.sourceforge.net
https://opentoonz.github.io/e/index.html
https://www.synfig.org  
 
Edit: Link to the part in the doc of open toonz where the feature is explained. Please realize that Synfig hasn't got it yet, but Google summer of code projects tend to get  finished, done as is in the interest of  the developer, student, etc. But it could be months from getting it:  https://opentoonz.readthedocs.io/ja/latest/drawing_animation_levels.html#converting-raster-drawings-to-vectors

I second that.
Why not using the plugin-philosophy for something like this? Does photoshop have bad reputation because of providing the possibility for third party plugins? It just enhances the application. If provided, I find it very useful in each and every application i use, be it 3D modeling, graphics or audio.
As context for the serif staff: I'm testing affinity for our company in terms of switching our graphics suite. The lack of functions like this (or for example: batch processing/synchronizing for raw images in Photo) keeps us from doing so. We have many clients to install the applications on and a very restrictive IT policy where everything has to be processed by the admin. Workarounds for tasks by using additional application B for this and and additional application C for that (as discussed in this thread) are therefore a straight no-go in our IT-ecosystem.
So please go agile with features like this. I would really propose to release also stuff which is just 80% of perfect in a contained environment like a plugin. This way, you can have a beta feature within a fully functional application. It might even be a fair way for Serif to be paid adequately for more specific features.
We WANT to get away from a certain company and Affinity does so many things right. But we have have to keep up our productivity. Please try to get rid of the non-switching reasons on the functions side by flexibilizing the approach.

For a start it would help if Designer just gets a GUI for potrace like Inkscape has. The algorithm can be changed later on.

A Wiki might be another option to consider, with limits on who can edit it.  There could be links back and forth between the Wiki and the forum.
A public ticketing system for feature requests and bug reports might be another option to consider.  That might make it easier to keep organized.
Just some food for thought.

Are you using the latest release version because it's working fine and as it should in release 1.7.3.481

I can confirm that it's still broken in 1.7.3.481. It's super annoying, especially in big documents.
 

Hi,
I was trying the isometric studio in the latest beta, in an effort to use it as e replacement for a real "Free transform" tool and ... well ... it does not cut it ! It is hard to use and with a result very far from precise enough to replace a real free transform and distort of an object.
So, I'm trying to rise this question again - when do we get a real "Free transform" tool in Designer (both vector and pixel) ? Since basically every other tool on the market including Illustrator and even the now dead Fireworks has it, I guess it is not that hard to implement, for vectors at least.

It is amusing that you are requesting and waiting for this feature that is available in an even cheaper program developed by a company... heard about it? Serif Software.  They abandoned it so you could wait all over for similar features for years. It is not supported anymore - but chances are... it will support your workflow. Works like a charm on Windows 10.
Reintroducing Serif Drawplus X8 from 2015 featuring:
Envelope tool Distortion tool Roughen tool Knife tool Replicate tool Blend tool Palette designer Mesh fill Support for multiple pages Erase tool Flood fill tool I suspect that this was possible with the help of Microsoft technology (code libraries that Serif had to purchase licenses for) - and that Serif must to develop these features from the bottom and up now. Perhaps. Personally I don't expect to see any of these features before version 2.0. When? 2021? The roadmap is just promises. I suspect someone also had a roadmap for Brexit...
Anyway - purchase the good not so old performer Drawplus X8 from Serif right here

@Steps Yeah, I do understand that fixing those nasty bugs is only taking up resources and won't necessarily sell more licenses. Yet it would be nice to have something like a "no more features, only fixes" release. Something like MacOS Snow Leopard where nothing changed but the most annoying bugs were fixed.
I don't know, just to show some respect to the customers who -- in good faith -- bought the software non the less and supported the development. Maybe I am too naive on this ...
 
edit: Ok, tbh, I forgot the code name of that MacOS release. Maybe Snow Leopard wasn't the one I had in mind. But you get the idea...

I also went to use PDFs only for presentations. Even if I use a PowerPoint master I export a PDF.
First of all for compatibiliy and long term archival.
But second I don't need or use those animstions. It's kind of not serious to use that gimmicks.

Most of the time I saw PowerPoint presentations it was just for fades between pages (sometimes a new effect on each slide) and having bullets points fly in. So basicly baublery.
I see that some people really might need such a presentation tool, but most of the people I know would do a better job with static PDFs.

I used the Pro version for several years. Yep, the interface is, well, different. But like you write, the output is good for the various devices.

It is. You nailed it.

@Steps I really hope they reconsider that. Not having those 'sticky settings' is absolutely detrimental to a streamlined workflow.

Having to customise those settings every time you open the app feels almost like if you had to reset all the clocks and watches in your house every time you wake up, rewrite an entire recipe every time you want to make a meal, or recreate an email account from scratch every time you want to send an email. I know those analogies seem weird, but it honestly feels like it's that unnecessary. It's as easy as adding an option in the app preferences that says "Remember Settings" with a toggle box, and give the user the ability to choose what they prefer. So far I've noticed that a lot more people are drawn to sticky settings than not, so I don't understand why they wouldn't consider it.

Sticky settings have been asked nomerous times for years now.
I believe devs decided not to support that.
But keep asking if you want.

@microjez
Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums
To all readers of this thread,
The ability to insert a number of pages of one publisher document into another publisher document is being worked on actively at the moment, and will appear in a beta when it is ready for customer beta appraisal. It requires quite a lot of programming to achieve what would be desired with respect to text styles, master pages, index links, text flow etc, as you have seen from the participants of this and other threads.
 

Hello,
 
I've got a feature request: It would be great if one could generate vector based QR codes out of the affinity programs. If possible, setting a few parameters by the user (front and backcolor, size, error reduction, ...) could be helpful.
 
Perhaps you could implement this in a future version? That would be great!
 
Best regards
Jan

@Jon P
Please add this improvement to the database,as without it the font cannot be used properly, exposing the bug in the screenshot.

I think it might be useful if a moderator pinned a note about this to the top of the forum.
It could help to stop this issue from being posted repeatedly, or as much.
It doesn’t need to say much more than: “Variable fonts – such as Bahnschrift – aren’t supported yet.”, maybe with a list of well-used fonts that people can search for to get to the post itself.

Love the applications, Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher but I've one ot two suggestions

1: Affinity Photo / Designer - Would it be possible in the next set of updates for both applications to have "Smart Object" support, so I can place my designs onto Mockup PSD's
2: Affinity Designer - (a)Would be possible again with the next set of updates to include an " Image Trace" option, that would be fantastic?  (b) for Affinity Designer, if yous could make the pen tool really easy to use, instead of "Click and Drag" to form a curve.
Thanks Affinity Team, keep up the good work
 

Your title is misleading. There is no request here for "Urgent Attention"! Just polite requests that have been made before in numerous posts.
John

Although the OP was about  PDF1.3,  problems exist for PDF 1.7 as well.  Transparent items come out much paler in the PDF file - the rasterisation used in export to PDF appears to be broken - pre-rasterising transparent areas before exporting fixes it - but at a cost in terms of usability.

Just pointing out that your idea of "complete" and someone else's idea of "complete" are not the same.
 

Are you making fun of us? Can't tell...

HOW DARE WE wanting a complete suite of programs to be finally free from the enslaving subscription-based competitor... HOW DARE WE!