Layer folders

[doodledude]

I've noticed recently using Affinity Designer that I really could do with arranging layers into folders.

I feel the layer arranging a bit unintuitive in Affinity products also.

I find the layer folders in Adobe products really useful and think it should be easy enough to implement for all Affinity releases.

[dominik]

9 minutes ago, doodledude said:

I've noticed recently using Affinity Designer that I really could do with arranging layers into folders.

I feel the layer arranging a bit unintuitive in Affinity products also.

I find the layer folders in Adobe products really useful and think it should be easy enough to implement for all Affinity releases.

Hi @doodledude,

you can do this. Create an empty layer and drag other layers into it 
You can assign different colours, too.

d.

[Pšenda]

9 hours ago, doodledude said:

the layer arranging

Select layers, Ctrl + G nested to group. 

[dominik]

21 hours ago, dominik said:

you can do this. Create an empty layer and drag other layers into it 

Hi @doodledude,

I want to add, if you create a new layer in AD it is displayed with a folder icon. It works the same way in APub.
After you add (or group as @Pšenda pointed out) the icon turns into a preview of the folder's content.

d.

[doodledude]

On 11/16/2019 at 7:55 AM, dominik said:

Hi @doodledude,

I want to add, if you create a new layer in AD it is displayed with a folder icon. It works the same way in APub.
After you add (or group as @Pšenda pointed out) the icon turns into a preview of the folder's content.

d.

Thanks for the advice. When I create a new layer I don't get a folder icon, I just get a black or blank square.

[dominik]

5 minutes ago, doodledude said:

Thanks for the advice. When I create a new layer I don't get a folder icon, I just get a black or blank square.

Hi @doodledude,

we have to make sure to do the same thing. This is what I do:

• Work in Affinity Designer
• In the layers palette click on the icon (at the bottom) that looks like a page. Not on the one that has a checkerboard background. (If you hover over them you will see tooltips saying 'Add Layer' and 'Add Pixel Layer'. Do not choos 'Pixel Layer')
• This should create a new layer with a folder icon.

Does this do what I am describing?

d.

[Pšenda]

4 minutes ago, dominik said:

Does this do what I am describing?

Yes, but it changes to a preview (black square) after any operation (adding any content).

[dominik]

1 minute ago, Pšenda said:

Yes, but it changes to a black square after any operation (adding any content).

This is true and I mentioned it in my above post already:

Quote

After you add (or group as @Pšenda pointed out) the icon turns into a preview of the folder's content.

I personally think it is an advanced feature to see a preview of the folder's content instead of a plain folder icon 

Cheers,
d.

[Pšenda]

4 hours ago, dominik said:

I personally think it is an advanced feature to see a preview of the folder's content instead of a plain folder icon 

Definitely yes, active/interactive information is always more useful than a passive icon. Although the preview in the layer panel is not yet optimal.

[Move Along People]

-

[doodledude]

15 hours ago, dominik said:

Hi @doodledude,

we have to make sure to do the same thing. This is what I do:

• Work in Affinity Designer
• In the layers palette click on the icon (at the bottom) that looks like a page. Not on the one that has a checkerboard background. (If you hover over them you will see tooltips saying 'Add Layer' and 'Add Pixel Layer'. Do not choos 'Pixel Layer')
• This should create a new layer with a folder icon.

Does this do what I am describing?

d.

Hi @dominik, yes I did as you instructed, but when I create a new layer (not pixel layer) it appears as a blank (or black in dark mode) square for me. I can't see any settings I have on that would make the folder icon not appear if it should do by default.

The layer1 & layer2 below are both newly created layers to show what I mean.

I'm using the latest designer version on Mac OS Catalina BTW.

[dominik]

20 minutes ago, doodledude said:

Hi @dominik, yes I did as you instructed, but when I create a new layer (not pixel layer) it appears as a blank (or black in dark mode) square for me. I can't see any settings I have on that would make the folder icon not appear if it should do by default.

The layer1 & layer2 below are both newly created layers to show what I mean.

I'm using the latest designer version on Mac OS Catalina BTW.

Hi @doodledude,

this definitely looks different from here. I'm not at the Affinity computer right now so I can't provide a screenshot.

Since I am under Windows this may be related to differences between the two OSs. Can anyone confirm this?

d.

[Move Along People]

-

[dominik]

12 hours ago, Pšenda said:

Although the preview in the layer panel is not yet optimal.

Out of interest, may I ask what you have in mind?

d.

[Pšenda]

On 11/27/2019 at 11:21 AM, dominik said:

Out of interest, may I ask what you have in mind?

d.

Hi @dominik, I mean this.

Red (bright color) ellipse = thumbnail OK
 

Green (bright color) curve = thumbnail OK

Dark ellipse/curve = thumbnail is OK?

The purpose of thumbnails is to improve orientation in the layer panel. In this case (dark color) the preview is unusable.
Why is the preview background dark? - just to match the dark scheme. In my opinion, the background of the thumbnails should correspond to the selected background of the document. That is, either a chessboard or white paper, or a set artboard color.

[carl123]

16 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

That is, either a chessboard or white paper, or a set artboard color.

      Use "Checkerboard Background"    

[dominik]

34 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

 

Dark ellipse/curve = thumbnail is OK?

Hi @Pšenda,

thankyou, now I understand. It's a valid point, but I think @carl123 just pointed out a solution (see above)  

d.

[Pšenda]

2 hours ago, dominik said:

a solution

I would prefer the color of the document/artboard (it seems more native to me), but even this is better than the dark thumbnails background.

P.S. this option of thumbnail settings is not described in the help - at least I have not found it anywhere.

[walt.farrell]

31 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

P.S. this option of thumbnail settings is not described in the help - at least I have not found it anywhere.

Very briefly mentioned in:

• Photo Help: https://affinity.help/photo/en-US.lproj/pages/Panels/layersPanel.html
• Designer Help: https://affinity.help/designer/en-US.lproj/pages/Panels/layersPanel.html
• Publisher Help: https://affinity.help/publisher/en-US.lproj/pages/Panels/layersPanel.html

[dominik]

1 hour ago, Pšenda said:

I would prefer the color of the document/artboard (it seems more native to me), but even this is better than the dark thumbnails background.

I agree, there is room for improvement.

d.

[Pšenda]

1 hour ago, walt.farrell said:

Very briefly

Yes, very briefly. Even though I looked exactly here, I didn't notice - I was expecting a detailed description of the "hamburger menu".
So in the help the user will know that something like this can be somehow set up, but how to do it has no chance find out.

[carl123]

49 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

I was expecting a detailed description of the "hamburger menu".

The in-app help file has that, not sure why the online version does not.

 

[Pšenda]

20 hours ago, carl123 said:

The in-app help file has that, not sure why the online version does not.

That's what I was looking for :-)
In-app help almost no longer use. There will probably be more differences - even if they are not fully functional.

[walt.farrell]

On 12/17/2019 at 10:40 AM, carl123 said:

The in-app help file has that, not sure why the online version does not.

Interesting. That section of the Help is present only for English (UK). And in English (UK) it is present both online and in the application.

Edit: Reported as a bug in the Help.