How do I crop imported images (and some other issues)?

[CheesyServiette]

I just downloaded Affinity Photo and I absolutely love it. However, there are some major issues that I have (2018 regular iPad):

- the app is crashing *constantly*. It always crashes while applying a refined selection to a new layer with mask, and right now, I’m editing a larger document and I can’t even move images around without it crashing. Restarted iPad, didn’t help. I will stop using it for a few hours now. Is this normal?

- is there a way to crop (destructively, for performance) images independently from each other? This seems like a super basic function, but I haven’t found a way yet. Can I crop imported stock images? 

- is there a way to mask a layer without using the „refined brush“ tool? (Edit: this was a very basic question and I since found out how to work with masks)

Thanks a lot for your help!

Edited March 10, 2020 by CheesyServiette

[DM1]

12 hours ago, CheesyServiette said:

is there a way to crop (destructively, for performance) images independently from each other?

Yes. Select the image layer, apply crop tool and adjust to suit. Apply crop setting. (So far non destructive as basically you are just hiding the cropped areas.) With the cropped layer still selected, use the layer studio menu and select 'Rasterise and trim'. Your crop is now permanent. Your other image may appear cropped too. This is simply because the crop action has clipped the canvas. Go to Document menu and tap unclip canvas.

12 hours ago, CheesyServiette said:

Is this normal?

It’s not normal to have the app crash so much. Apparently 1.8 has involved a big rewrite of code resulting in some new/unexpected issues. There is a lot of work going on currently with improvements to beta builds. It seems to effect some models more than others. Hopefully a fix will be released shortly.

[Paul Mudditt]

22 hours ago, CheesyServiette said:

I just downloaded Affinity Photo and I absolutely love it. However, there are some major issues that I have (2018 regular iPad):

- the app is crashing *constantly*. It always crashes while applying a refined selection to a new layer with mask, and right now, I’m editing a larger document and I can’t even move images around without it crashing. Restarted iPad, didn’t help. I will stop using it for a few hours now. Is this normal?

- is there a way to crop (destructively, for performance) images independently from each other? This seems like a super basic function, but I haven’t found a way yet. Can I crop imported stock images? 

- is there a way to mask a layer without using the „refined brush“ tool? (Edit: this was a very basic question and I since found out how to work with masks)

Thanks a lot for your help!

As well as the method Dave outlines above there at least two other methods.

1. Load image, scale to suit, use selection tool to select your crop, duplicate selection, delete the imported layer.(Destructive)

2. Use a shape to define your crop and mask your image to the shape (non -destructive), extra step If needed rasterise layer, (destructive)

Also try a Forced Restart on your iPad occasionally although there is a beta version being tested which is a lot more stable coming soon.

Force Restart iPad (Not the same as power off/power on)

On older iPads this is done by pressing home and power buttons continuously until you see the Apple logo. 
On new iPads it is volume up, volume down then press power until Apple logo appears,

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/ipad/ipad63d30b5a/ios