Soft airbrush problem and quick eraser switch

[Vofyn]

Hello,
Id like to switch 100% to affinity by now. 
Feels like it has most of the tools i need (digital paintings)

Ive got 2 more questions:
1) Is there a way to create soft airbrush like in photoshop? As you can see in the attached file, the gradient of brush colors seems to be much better in photoshop than Affinity photo 

As you can see. The "transition" of the value is much smoother in photoshop.
Both versions are RGB/8bit. 

2) In photoshop when you click AND HOLD 'E' key (eraser) your brush changes into eraser. When you release the key, it changes back to the previous brush. 
Is there a way to make it work like this in AP? 
 

[firstdefence]

drop a screenshot of the brush settings in Affinity Photo and Photoshop

[Vofyn]

@firstdefence Here you go: 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Vofyn

[Vofyn]

Soooo, am i the only one who uses soft airbrush? 

[Vofyn]

up^

[firstdefence]

Hi @Vofyn I've had a go at improving the blur on the airbrush brush but I can't get it as good as PS, it looked a little better dropping the flow a bit but still seems "mottled"  

The only way I could get it close was to add a bit of gaussian blur to the layer using a spray-paints brush.

I wonder if making a gaussian blur texture, exporting that and then making an intensity brush might work.

 

[firstdefence]

This is a single airbrush made using PS airbrush: Airbrushes.afbrushes

Let me know what you think?

[Vofyn]

@firstdefence Ive noticed that if you open a document in RGB/16 bit instead of 8bit, the airbrush (created by me, or you) will look MUCH smoother (it actually looks better than in photoshop) 
I need my documents to be in 8bits, but thats something to start with. 

Do you think it should be categorized as a BUG? It looks like 8 bits in AP arent real 8 bits (?) - dont know if its possible. 

Btw. it amazes me that it looks like no one noticed that before. I couldnt find any thread about it. Airbrush is very common and widely used brush and that makes this situation even weirder.
Though there is actually easy solution to that. 

[firstdefence]

5 hours ago, Vofyn said:

Ive noticed that if you open a document in RGB/16 bit instead of 8bit, the airbrush (created by me, or you) will look MUCH smoother (it actually looks better than in photoshop) 

Hi, I've just created a document @ 32 bit (HDR) and exported to an 8bit tiff and visually it's practically identical.

[Vofyn]

On 11/14/2019 at 7:28 AM, firstdefence said:

Hi, I've just created a document @ 32 bit (HDR) and exported to an 8bit tiff and visually it's practically identical.

Thats right, but working in 32 bit is very power consuming and wihile working on big files it can lag a lot

After all ive decided to work in, 16bit since its pretty much smooth. 

Im just curious why does Photoshop's 8bit looks MUCH better (gradient wise) than AP's

[Jowday]

On 12/20/2019 at 9:02 AM, Vofyn said:

Im just curious why does Photoshop's 8bit looks MUCH better (gradient wise) than AP's

"Vorsprung durch Technik"