Kyle76

Sorry, Affinity Photo 1.8.6.

There seems to be no way to create a text block with a contrasting background to make text stand out better on top of a picture. In addition, I can’t figure out whether it’s possible to put shadows on text, again to make it easier to read over a variable background. Am I missing some functionality?

OK, I think I figured this out using the bucket tool to fill all non-black area and then using the same tool to remove the color from that area. Seems to have worked.

I have imported a logo into the app by taking a screen shot of a .pdf file and pasting into Affinity. The logo is solid black letters. I have roughly erased around the outer area of the logo (removing the screen shot artifacts and much of the background), but is there a way to select all of the non-white logo and then eliminate the remainder of the white area in order to change backgrounds or superimpose the letters over a picture?

I’ll try it differently. Thanks.

Thanks. I am following a tutorial that calls for selecting from the mask layer, unless I somehow got my notes wrong.

I have uploaded the original file that I’m working on. I’d like to select the baby as the foreground and blur the background for a bokeh effect (can the blurring be done in a gradient so that the top of the photo (farther from the subject) is blurrier than the lower portion? Thanks for your help. I have tried following a tutorial for workflow, but it doesn’t seem to be working as the tutorial described.

Thanks. I’ll be glad to upload to Dropbox, but I’m not even sure how to so that. In what format do I export my project?

Thanks. I watched the appropriate desktop tutorial but could not figure out how to create a duplicate for masking. I do check the videos before asking a question.

I'm trying to create a mask in a mask layer. I started with the smart selection brush tool and then tried to refine the edges of the selection with the refine selection tool, but it did not produce the clean result that I was seeking, even in some areas where the background and foreground are notably different. There is a baby in the foreground that I am trying to select, but the hair areas and some other areas are just not working.

OK, great! It's good to get past step one!

I'm trying to follow the bokeh effect tutorial (for desktop) on my iPad. I can't even get past the first instruction, which is to duplicate the background layer in order to create a mask for the area that should not be blurred. I'm in the layers studio and tried several buttons (I figured the plus button was what I needed), but I see no command to duplicate the background layer. Are things that different between the platforms, or have commands changed in later versions or am I just looking in the wrong place?

An updated tutorial on this subject that is iPad-specific would be very helpful. Creating background blur is a primary reason that I purchased the program.

The video tutorials are great, but I’m more of a text-based learner and find it easier to follow written, illustrated instructions. Where are the best written tutorials for Affinity Photo for iPad to be found? I’m starting from scratch, but I do have some GIMP experience.