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As a long time Photoshop user, I've come a long way to understanding how to work in AP over the last few months, but some things remain a bit confusing and unclear to me. I'm sure I'm not alone. The distinction between images, pixels and alpha is one of them. Exactly what are they and what makes them different? For me, it raises questions about masks, adjustment layers, filters, etc. Is a mask made up of pixels, or is it just pure alpha. Same with adjustment layers, live filter layers, etc. Is an "Image layer" pixels? Trying to understand the Channels Panel has brought up a lot of questions. I used channels extensively in Photoshop and was able to easily tweak these channels for blending, masking and other operations. In Affinity, it appears a mask is different from a grayscale pixel layer and needs to be treated differently. How to edit a mask as a pixel layer, so I can apply ANY filter or adjustment, is a bit confusing and seems somewhat complex. I have made progress for sure, but I'd like a more in depth understanding of these differences. I've watched most of the tutorials I can find, and I've done some searching, but haven't found clearly presented information that has examples to clarify these differences. I'm hoping Affinity can create a video tutorial that addresses some of these questions (or point me to something I haven't found in my searches). Some of the issues I'd like to understand include... The distinction between image layers, pixel layers and alpha. What is each made up of and how are they different? Exactly what are masks, adjustment layers, live filter layers, etc...(pixels, alpha, etc) Is there a way to apply ANY adjustment, filter or effect to a mask? If so, how? Why does one sometimes need to 'rasterize' what is already a pixel layer? What happens when one "rasterizes to a mask"? R,G,B channels are pixels (I assume), but what about the alpha channel? These are the sort of questions I'd love to see addressed in an in-depth video with plenty of clear examples. It would make the transition easier and help many people get more out of AP more effectively and quickly. At least, it would for me. If such information is already available, I'd love a link. I think this information would be a valuable addition to standard list of AP tutorials. Thanks.

I've been reading over the many questions and comments regarding the, let's say, unusual method that Affinity has for creating and using alpha channels and the difficulties in saving out files with "correct" alpha channels to be read in other applications. And although there are several workaround, this all seems somewhat problematic given the otherwise robust nature of this software. So the question to the programmers is this. Is there a reason that your alpha cannot be standardized with other applications, and if not is there a reason this is not being done, and if no when do you think we might see it. thanx otherwise for an excellent alternative to adobe.

So my biggest gripe with Affinity Photo has to be the channels workflow. I use my image editor for texture work for 3D and I have to be able to edit color and alpha channels. I was able to do everything I needed with photoshop but I'm not willing to support subscription models, so I would love to be able to just use affinity and not need anything else. Thanks to this post https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/4730-split-channels/I was finally able to figure out how to create a layer from a channel. (In photoshop this is done by showing only one channel in the channels panel, selecting everything and hitting copy, then pasting into a new layer) Now I need to know how to paste from a layer into a channel. So that I can combine 3 separate images (or layers) into a single image/layer where each of the previous ones is one of the color channels? (In photoshop I would just click on my layer, select all pixels, copy, chose a layer to paste into, show only the color channel I want to edit and paste) Likewise how can I paste a layer into the alpha channel? (In photoshop I could chose a layer, select all, copy, chose a layer, go into the channels panel select the alpha channel and paste)

Can you please add alpha channels to lighting effects. This would be a killer enhancement.