Publisher - Linked images with layers

[Maze]

Hello, 

I have a question about how to handle layers at linked images. Maybe some one can help me :)

This is my case: I have linked a Affinity Photo image at many pages of my Publisher file. At every page I want to show different layers of the file. If I copy the image frame and change a layer then every frame that includes the image automatically changes the layer composition. After that try I did another... I have placed the image at every page and at every frame new. The changed layers remained at every page and everything was great. I saved the file and reopen it... the layer composition was gone and every frame has shown same layer :(

Is there a chance to use different layer settings at images that are multiple used in a file?

 

Thank you :)

 

[Callum]

Hi Maze

Welcome to the forums

There is no setting to prevent this behaviour I'm afraid.

Thanks

C

[walt.farrell]

2 hours ago, Maze said:

I have placed the image at every page and at every frame new. The changed layers remained at every page and everything was great. I saved the file and reopen it... the layer composition was gone and every frame has shown same layer

If your Placed .afphoto files are linked, then any changes you make to them within Publisher (via Edit Document, or double-clicking) are made to the original file. I think you would have to Embed them, instead of Linking them, to accomplish what you want.

[Maze]

Hello,
thank you guys for the quick help. 

This makes my projects much more complicated. I'll try to embed them but I think this will blow up the file size extreme. The file that includes all the images is huge. Probably i have to split the big file into many small ones.

It would be great to have  the option to choose to keep the content of a frame parallel with other frames or to keep the content individual.

Maybe this will be a great new feature for a future release. I would be glad 

 

Thank you,

Maze

[GarryP]

Is it possible for you to export the Photo image in its different ‘stages’ and place those exported images in the Publisher document instead?
That should help to keep the size of the Publisher file down by not having multiple similar copies of the Photo document in it.
Not an ideal situation but maybe better than having a very large Publisher file.
Just out of interest, what sort of document are you making?

[Maze]

Yes, it is possible to export the images... but it is a lot of work and I was hoping I didn't have to . In future work I now know that it is necessary to save the pictures in smaller bundles. At the moment all product images of a category are in one file at different layers. In the past it was a good way to keep the files clear and sorted.

I have to do different product cards for print. The card includes a image, text, EAN etc. The layout is always the same only the details change. So my process in the past (with InDesign and Photoshop) was, that I duplicated the page, change the text and EAN link and change the layer of the image. It all happened very quickly. I have now switched to the affinity programs and I currently in the process of finding a new way for my work  

[walt.farrell]

8 minutes ago, Maze said:

Yes, it is possible to export the images... but it is a lot of work and I was hoping I didn't have to

Note that you can use the Export Persona in Photo to simplify this. Once you're in that Persona, you can use the Layers studio panel to automatically create a slice for each layer, then use the Slices panel to export each slice to a separate file.

[GarryP]

Walt’s suggestion looks like it could be very useful.
I’ve attached a video showing how you might set-up a Publisher document and a Photo document which could be good for what you need.
Note how each image in the Photo document has been given its own slice and the slices are exported en masse.
Then you can use the Resource Manager in Publisher to quickly update all of the images.
I rasterised all of my layers in the Photo document so that changes were made to the pixel layer slices rather than being added as other layers (may be important).
I hope this helps to give you an idea about what could be achievable.

[Maze]

Thanks  I've never used Export Persona bevor but it is a very cool tool. I've checked the basic functions today. 😊 I think this is the way i will go.

Thank you so much GarryP, your video shows me the details and a very fast and good solution for my case.  You've helped me a lot! 👍

[GarryP]

You’re welcome. Glad to be of assistance.
One extra thing that I didn’t mention (I forgot about it) is that there’s an option in Publisher’s Preferences (see attached image) to automatically update linked resources. Checking this option may speed things up a bit more by you not needing to go to the Resource Manager to update the images.