Jump to content
You must now use your email address to sign in [click for more info] ×

Keyboard shortcut to decrease/increase opacity (to allow for MIDI control)


Recommended Posts

Hi there!
 

One Affinity photo feature that is dearly missing for me is a keyboard shortcut to increase and decrease opacity of the currently selected layer. I would need this, so I could map this shortcut to a MIDI controller and be able to quickly set a layer's opacity with said controller. Since there is an ever increasing number of people who use MIDI controllers as quick input devices for the graphic softwares, I believe I am far from the only one who would benefit from such a feature.

Currently there is only the possibilty to use the up/down arrow keys (+ shift optionally) to increase and decrease the opacity once I have set the focus to the opacity field. This does not really help me all that much as I would always need to focus this field first, before i can start to change the opacity. It would be great if there could be a global shortcut for this as well, preferrably also with the possibilty to use shift optionally to increase the increments to 10.

I would not care if it is an obscure shortcut or if it is even turned off by default, as soon as there is any shortcut for this MIDI users could make use of this and map it to their controllers.

Thanks!

trych
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, trych said:

One Affinity photo feature that is dearly missing for me is a keyboard shortcut to increase and decrease opacity of the currently selected layer.

Select your layer and then just use the number keys, 1 = 10% 5 = 50% 5 5 real quick = 55%.

Mac Pro (Late 2013) Mac OS 12.7.4 
Affinity Designer 2.4.0 | Affinity Photo 2.4.0 | Affinity Publisher 2.4.0 | Beta versions as they appear.

I have never mastered color management, period, so I cannot help with that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

28 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

Select your layer and then just use the number keys, 1 = 10% 5 = 50% 5 5 real quick = 55%.

I know about this shortcut, but this is not at all what I need. I need shortcuts to increase/decrease the currently set value. The shortcut you suggest sets the opacity to an absolute value, which does not help me for the scenario I described above.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, trych said:

Currently there is only the possibilty to use the up/down arrow keys (+ shift optionally) to increase and decrease the opacity once I have set the focus to the opacity field.

 

Are you aware you can select a Layer in the Layers panel then click on the word "Opacity" and drag left and right to change the Opacity of the Layer?

To save time I am currently using an automated AI to reply to some posts on this forum. If any of "my" posts are wrong or appear to be total b*ll*cks they are the ones generated by the AI. If correct they were probably mine. I apologise for any mistakes made by my AI - I'm sure it will improve with time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, carl123 said:

Are you aware you can select a Layer in the Layers panel then click on the word "Opacity" and drag left and right to change the Opacity of the Layer?

Yes, I am well aware of that. However, that does not help me to control the opacity via a MIDI controller.
I am exactly trying to avoid using the mouse, as the MIDI controller would be a way faster form of input.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...

I just got a TourBox and I am unable to configure Opacity increase and decrease because there is no keyboard shortcut that I know of that specifically handles such a thing. Has there been any progress on this? I cannot get the TourBox to go find the Opacity section and click in it, so please don't recommend that or the numbered row.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, PaintNut said:

configure Opacity increase and decrease

On Mac, I can access the field via AppleScript's System Events:

try
	tell application "Affinity Photo"
		activate
		tell application "System Events"
			tell process "Affinity Photo"
				delay 1
				click static text "Opacity:" of splitter group 1 of window 1
				delay 1
				keystroke "4" & "2"
			end tell
		end tell
	end tell
end try

This, for example, will set the value to 42%.
"Delay 1" is a safety pause of 1 s for debugging purposes. It can likely be shorter.
I haven't found a method to access the value field directly – let alone the slider – other than trying to click an absolute position within the window. But by simply clicking the "Opacity" label, the value field gets keyboard focus, hence you can simulate typing a numeric value. This should work regardless the panel position, as long as you work in the "Normal" window mode and the Layers panel is open in the Right Studio (that's the "splitter group 1 of window 1").

From apps that I'm already using, I would translate MIDI input to AppleScript via Keyboard Maestro: https://wiki.keyboardmaestro.com/trigger/MIDI

Whether it's usable with a device like TourBox?
No idea.
This script is just a "proof of concept".
But in theory it might work.

Edited by loukash

MacBookAir 15": MacOS Ventura > Affinity v1, v2, v2 beta // MacBookPro 15" mid-2012: MacOS El Capitan > Affinity v1 / MacOS Catalina > Affinity v1, v2, v2 beta // iPad 8th: iPadOS 16 > Affinity v2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, loukash said:

From apps that I'm already using, I would translate MIDI input to AppleScript via Keyboard Maestro: https://wiki.keyboardmaestro.com/trigger/MIDI

^ Strike that.

There's also MidiPipe!
http://www.subtlesoft.square7.net/MidiPipe.html
How could I forget…
Haven't used it for over a decade.

MidiPipe can translate MIDI into AppleScript directly.

MacBookAir 15": MacOS Ventura > Affinity v1, v2, v2 beta // MacBookPro 15" mid-2012: MacOS El Capitan > Affinity v1 / MacOS Catalina > Affinity v1, v2, v2 beta // iPad 8th: iPadOS 16 > Affinity v2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

I bought the Turbox Elite recently and I also want to be able to control the opacity of my brush using the dials and knobs. Plus one here on additional shortcut keys for the opacity control and brush hardness in the future update.

 

Not just for Affinity Photo but for all the Affinity apps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines | We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.