Exporting selection exports the entire document

[David Jameson]

I have an image which consists of about 10 separate parts. I wanted to export each of them as PNGs to individual files.

However, when I select the export option and choose "selection" (with or without background), the entire document is exported rather than just the stuff inside my selection rectangle.

[carl123]

Where it uses the word selection in the Export screen it is not referring to a pixel selection it is referring to...

"currently selected layer content"

Which means you need to copy each part of your image to separate layers in order to export them as individual PNG files

[David Jameson]

Thank you --- perhaps the label and text there should be rethought.   The term "Area" implies (to me) a, well, area on the screen. The term "Selection" implies (to me) something that has a marquee around it.   Perhaps the word "Layer" should be used rather than "Selection"

In any case, thanks so much for the quick response. I've gotten almost all my friends to switch from an Adobe subscription to Affinity --- everyone loves having this alternative.

[carl123]

1 minute ago, David Jameson said:

The term "Selection" implies (to me) something that has a marquee around it. 

Agreed, it will no doubt confuse a lot of users

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, carl123 said:

Agreed, it will no doubt confuse a lot of users

I agree that the term "selection" is overused and ill-defined.

But the particular usage under discussion has, I think, been there for many years already in the Affinity suite, and I don't recall having seen this question very often, if ever. So it is, apparently, not confusing many users (or, at least, they're not posting about it ).

[David Jameson]

Or that feature has rarely if ever been used!

[markw]

Another option might be to use Slices of the different areas needed in the Export Persona.

[Chris B]

I haven't seen this raised before so I don't think it is overly common, as Walt suggests.

However, I wonder how many people have spent valuable time figuring this out for themselves. 

Saying that, the issue issue changing the wording of the UI for what is a questionable improvement would mean a revision of the workbooks, online material, Help etc. This would obviously be worth doing if it was factually incorrect but like I said, this is questionable. I will however forward the feedback on as it is not my place to make these decisions  Thank for posting David. 

[David Jameson]

43 minutes ago, Chris B said:

I haven't seen this raised before so I don't think it is overly common, as Walt suggests.

When my internet goes out and I determine that the problem is outside my home and I call, the response is inevitably, "nobody else has reported this".

Someone has to be the first to raise the issue.

Now, the problem is answered for me (thanks @carl123) and maybe others will find it by search. Whether the developers chose to modify/update their documentation/help is their call.