Dazmondo77

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You can select and unselect "Overprint" from the context menu, as long as it's a global color.
(Or is it a Win only issue? Works on Mac.)
That said… +1,000,000 for object overprinting!

The deform filter in Affinity Photo is nice, but in addition to that it would be awesome with a proper Puppet Warp tool similar to the one in Photoshop.
In addition I just want to say that I can't state how much I appreciate the great work you are doing with the Affinity Suite. Love it!

Neither for me, for that matter. I was only experimenting with it as a "proof of concept".

I find incredibly annoying having to continually displace windows to alternate between showing tools and showing the documents behind the foreground one. A really odd way of working.
Paolo
 

Is there any possibility separated mode will ever return?

I't would have been nice for an improved Separated mode rather than getting rid - I've always had photoshop setup this way, CS5 still works great like this in Mojave - the float mode is pretty useless in it's current state, and can't even do the super handy application windows shortcut (I have F10 setup) to see all and select the files you have open which only works in separated view - I really hope it makes a comeback? 
Anyhow, V2 is still a total steal as it stands with the Universal Licence.
Screen Grab.mov

The feature request concerns editable content in the slug area, e.g. a custom text frame. Your various shown print marks were available since V1, while on export any user object gets hidden outside the bleed and text seems to get exported but masked by a cropping rectangle.

The attached opera ad includes a slug at the bottom. Created in InDesign. When inserting the PDF in an Indesign publication, options allow only showing the art, or the bleed, or the whole PDF including the slug. I use slugs to identify the art, and occasionally to include specific art instructions.
Bob K

Same display options exist if you place your PDF in Affinity, see the "Page box" menu. – This is regardless of the missing ability to get custom objects in the slug area exported unmasked in Affinity.

Default behaviour is, by definition, whatever the developers have chosen.
Given that the developers will have their own ideas about what should happen with a single shortcut keypress and what should happen if one or more modifier keys are also used, I see nothing wrong with enabling the user to swap things around so that their preferred behaviour is easier to invoke.

That is a good thing, but I still wonder if it should be the default behaviour. To me that feels more like an optional behaviour - one that would be more inline with having to use a shortcut key.
That said, if Designer (and the Affinity suite in general, ahem Publisher’s text wrap feature) didn’t leave a mess of nodes around or have an automated means to clean-up geometry this wouldn’t be an issue.

Yes, sure! 
But if I would be on Adobe or C1 I probably would not need / not use Affinity to color grade the pics for live previewing. Therefore my research was how do it with Affinity.

I have this vector halftone workaround that has worked well on a few T-shirt jobs, which involves using Publishers data merge layout tool, it also works well for creating vector fill patterns - still no substitute for a real vector fill tool, but still usable.
Just realised the attached vector halftone workaround .afpub file was done in the latest beta so isn't compatible with the retail version😮  
Screen Grab 2023-08-18 at 10.02.34 am.mov Vector halftone workaround.afpub

I have this vector halftone workaround that has worked well on a few T-shirt jobs, which involves using Publishers data merge layout tool, it also works well for creating vector fill patterns - still no substitute for a real vector fill tool, but still usable.
Just realised the attached vector halftone workaround .afpub file was done in the latest beta so isn't compatible with the retail version😮  
Screen Grab 2023-08-18 at 10.02.34 am.mov Vector halftone workaround.afpub

Thanks Dazmondo for sorting that out and for posting!

Thank you for taking the time to expose this! 
It also concerns keen graphic designers who like to check the files they send to printers. 
As you said:
Today, this control can only be done with additional software, once the work has been exported as a PDF.
It would be much more convenient to be able to check the quality of our work at any stage of the design process. 

Just like in InDesign or Illustrator

I would like to chime in on this as well. I currently cannot use Affinity Designer for the commercial work I do. Though I love the tools and the non-destructive vector effects.

I am a Prepress Technician/Graphic Designer and all our files need to be prepared with the correct overprints and verifiable color separations. This is the first step in the Quality control process, and every print company I have worked for does this. Exporting to PDF, (which is not always accurate) is a workaround, which simply adds another step to the process,

Not to mention, if you are going to pay the sub for Acrobat, you might as well pay the sub for Illustrator. Acrobat should not be a solution for this issue.

Hello fellow Developers,
I trust everyone's having a productive coding day. I wanted to bring to light a topic that's incredibly relevant in the realm of Professional Print Production – the importance of Overprint Simulation and Color Separation, and why we need to integrate these features into the next version of Affinity Publisher and Designer.
The world of print production is complex, blending an intricate mix of color science, material properties, and digital-to-physical rendering. Overprint Simulation and color separation are two pivotal elements in this process, largely overlooked in many design software, including ours.
Overprint Simulation is the digital process of replicating the effect of printing one color on top of another. It's used to anticipate and prevent gaps or 'white halos' from appearing between colors due to misalignment - a common issue in print production. Overprint Simulation ensures clean, precise printing, particularly around intricate graphics and texts. It also facilitates unique color blending options that can be indispensable for graphic designers.
Color Separation, on the other hand, is the process of decomposing a graphic or image into the primary print colors – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black), collectively known as CMYK. This is fundamental in transforming digital designs into tangible print products. The precision and accuracy of color separation directly influence the quality of the final printed piece, making this an essential tool for professional designers and publishers.
Affinity Publisher and Designer, while powerfully equipped with many other advanced features, lack built-in overprint simulation and color separation functionalities. The absence of these features complicates the print production process and can negatively affect the print output. Our users currently have to depend on other software for these functions, which is far from ideal considering our goal to provide a complete and intuitive solution for professional design and publishing needs.
Implementing these features would significantly enhance the efficacy of Affinity Publisher and Designer for print production. Overprint Simulation controls would offer more control over how colors interact, reducing potential print issues and broadening the creative palette for designers. Robust color separation tools would ensure that designs are print-ready straight from our software, saving time, and reducing the risk of color discrepancies in the final product.
Not only would these features better serve our current user base, but they would also make Affinity Publisher and Designer more competitive in the professional design software market, potentially attracting new customers who primarily work in print.
In conclusion, I urge everyone to consider the significance of overprint simulation and color separation features in our future updates. These are not just bells and whistles – they're fundamental tools for print production. Let's help our users to transform their digital art into printed masterpieces with the accuracy and color fidelity they deserve.

Examples:
https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/inks-separations-screen-frequency.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/overprinting.html
Best Regards

Changed to open with default application and it's now working great

For me, on a Windows laptop, Page Up, Page Down, Home and End allow me to move around in the Place Images Panel to a rough extent but I cannot find a way to move between individual images – e.g. Next, Previous – without using the mouse.
If such functionality isn’t implemented, rather than I just haven’t found it, then I agree that it would be nice to have.

ACE
 

I've looked through the Affinity Publisher V2 tech specs but saw no mention of a slug area, nor on the preview of the 'New Document' window. I'm losing heart that this fundamental feature will ever be included. Have I missed something?

Adding my name to the request list. Slugs are nearly a mandatory item for advertising art.

Yep, add me to the list as well - was hoping to see this in the v.2 update.