The new toggle system for alt+R click+L click are missing some settings

[Frozen Death Knight]

In the Beta a new toggle feature was added for various tools using brushes where you change the functionality for alt+R click+L click. I did notice however that it doesn't support a few settings as seen in the video:

For the Brush Tool you are not able to change Opacity and Flow with this shortcut, which I think are pretty important settings to change on the fly as well. The Smudge Tool is also missing two important settings like Strength and Flow from the toggle options. I think there are more examples of this for some other tools as well like Blur, Sharpen, Sponge, and more.

P.S. Could you also increase the contrast of the UI elements for the shortcut please? Notice how much they blend into the painting in the background, which makes them a bit hard to see.

[walt.farrell]

11 minutes ago, Frozen Death Knight said:

In the Beta a new toggle feature was added for various tools using brushes where you change the functionality for alt+R click+L click.

I don't recall seeing any information about that. Is there any that you can point to?

[Frozen Death Knight]

14 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

I don't recall seeing any information about that. Is there any that you can point to?

Nope. I just noticed it being there while trying the Beta. Then I went back to 1.7.3 and tried the same thing and the feature wasn't there, so I just concluded that it was a brand new 1.8 feature. Seems like Serif forgot to write about it in the patch notes, since I don't know when it was added honestly. This happened last year for the 1.7.0 Beta as well when they forgot to mention shift producing straight vertical and horizontal lines for brushes.

[walt.farrell]

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding what is new (or what you think is new) in the Beta in this area.

For any brush-related tool, Alt+right-click+ (drag right/left) has always adjusted the brush size. And Alt+right-click + (drag up/down) has always adjusted the hardness.

I don't see anything additional happening in the Photo 1.8 beta.

[Frozen Death Knight]

6 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding what is new (or what you think is new) in the Beta in this area.

For any brush-related tool, Alt+right-click+ (drag right/left) has always adjusted the brush size. And Alt+right-click + (drag up/down) has always adjusted the hardness.

I don't see anything additional happening in the Photo 1.8 beta.

Check the video again and go into Photo. In the Beta, if you keep pressing L click while holding down alt+R click you will toggle between size/hardness, shape/spacing, and rotation. So you can replace size/hardness while dragging to something else on that same shortcut. That is a brand new feature exclusive to 1.8.

[Frozen Death Knight]

@walt.farrell Here is a full video demonstration.

[walt.farrell]

6 minutes ago, Frozen Death Knight said:

Check the video again and go into Photo. In the Beta, if you keep pressing L click while holding down alt+R click you will toggle between size/hardness, shape/spacing, and rotation. So you can replace size/hardness while dragging on that same shortcut. That is a brand new feature exclusive to 1.8.

Sorry. but I'm not seeing how to enable that from either video, and I'm not able to replicate that behavior from your description on my copy of Photo Beta .526 on Windows.

It does look interesting, but I've no idea how you're doing it. Sorry.

[Frozen Death Knight]

Just now, walt.farrell said:

Sorry. but I'm not seeing how to enable that from either video, and I'm not able to replicate that behavior from your description on my copy of Photo Beta .526 on Windows.

It does look interesting, but I've no idea how you're doing it. Sorry.

Ah, okay. Well, the best way to explain it is this:

1) Hold down alt and then hold down R click on your mouse (Doesn't work yet on my tablet because of Windows Ink bugs.). Now the UI for brush/hardness will appear.

2) While holding down alt+R click you press L click. Remember to fast click and not drag your mouse, or it will perform the regular command.

3) Once you've switched to shape/spacing or rotation, just drag your mouse while holding down L click. Remember not to release alt+R click from step one.

4) You've done it! Congratulations! : )

[walt.farrell]

Interesting. Thanks; that works.

[David Quail]

I  must admit I was pretty confused with these options, but have them working now. Agree that Opacity should be included in the L-click options.

[walt.farrell]

The Photo Beta Help for "Painting Brush Strokes" does not yet describe the new behavior.

[Frozen Death Knight]

4 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

The Photo Beta Help for "Painting Brush Strokes" does not yet describe the new behavior.

So it flew under the radar until I found it. A neat little surprise, but probably a good idea if they documented it for everyone else to see. : P

[Chris B]

I'll pass the feedback on and ask the documentation team to address what has been missed. Thanks! 

[Frozen Death Knight]

46 minutes ago, Chris B said:

I'll pass the feedback on and ask the documentation team to address what has been missed. Thanks! 

Thanks! Question, any news on the Windows Ink bugs I reported a few weeks ago? Will they be fixed for the next Windows Beta or will we have to wait longer? It's a bit of a bummer working with Affinity without some shortcuts like the ones mentioned in this thread. ^-^

[Chris B]

I'm not sure, to be honest. There have been Windows Ink improvements in the beta but we never give dates/times for fixes