Mask Layers don't work...

[NoZof]

So i add a layer to another layer as layer mask and nothing happens.. in the small preview icon i see that there is the map and when i do edit mask i see the map but nothing happens on the image where the masking should actually happens... it stays untouched?!?!

2nd picture shows the mask (edit mask)

 

[GarryP]

Welcome to the forums @NoZof

It looks like you are using a pixel layer as a Vector Mask (notice the black ‘crop’ symbol) – sometimes called a clipping mask – which means that the layer to which the vector mask is applied will only be visible within the area of the vector mask. If the layer which is being used as the vector mask is the same size as the other layer then you will see all of the other layer, as you can see.
Try using a Mask Layer instead – go to the Help and put “mask layer” (without the quotes) into the search box.

[MEB]

Hi @NoZof,
Welcome to affinity Forums
Duplicate the pixel layer you want to use as a mask, then with it selected go to menu Layer > Rasterise To Mask to convert it to a mask. If you want it to affect the grey pixel layer specifically drag the mask layer over the thumbnail of the grey pixel layer until you see a small vertical line on the right of the thumbnail. Drop the layer and that point to use it as a mask on that layer only.

[Old Bruce]

Do you have anything in/on the indicated Pixel layer?

[MEB]

@Old Bruce
Seems a layer filled with grey. An empty layer would be way darker (almost black).

[NoZof]

Quote

Do you have anything in/on the indicated Pixel layer?

Yes 50% grey

[NoZof]

3 hours ago, MEB said:

Welcome to affinity Forums
Duplicate the pixel layer you want to use as a mask, then with it selected go to menu Layer > Rasterise To Mask to convert it to a mask. If you want it to affect the grey pixel layer specifically drag the mask layer over the thumbnail of the grey pixel layer until you see a small vertical line on the right of the thumbnail. Drop the layer and that point to use it as a mask on that layer only.

Oh ok that worked... thanks. Didnt knew that you need to rasterize a pixel layer to mask to use it as mask... shouldn't that happen automatically when i drop the pixel layer as mask? a bit confusing but works thanks

 

[slizgi]

So with all that amazing nondestructive workflow, to actually use a linked resource as a pixel mask you have to rasterize to a mask, and you lose all linked benefits. Just why? Can we get something like use a linked resource as a mask?

[loukash]

48 minutes ago, slizgi said:

to actually use a linked resource as a pixel mask you have to

… use Live Procedural Texture:

I don't remember which user here came with this Texture preset idea but it's simple and brilliant!

[slizgi]

9 hours ago, loukash said:

use Live Procedural Texture:

Whoa, this is what I was looking for, excellent news. But there is no way I would try to find something like that in Live Procedural Texture

[loukash]

1 minute ago, slizgi said:

this is what I was looking for

After posting, I did a few more tests to actually understand how it works:

• "R" stands for the Red channel, so that's was applied there as mask. If you want any other combination of channel being the mask, use e.g. "R+G+B" instead. Any math you need, depending on the image you're using…
• You can add further filters, adjustments and effects to the LPT filter, e.g. Invert, Levels, Threshold, Blur, you name it. As usual, z-index inside the mask matters.
• As you have noticed, those nested clipping adjustment/filter layers seemingly disappear if you apply the mask (bug?!). Instead of temporarily releasing the mask to edit their parameters, you can also work around by duplicating each mask adjustment/filter as a Linked Layer first, putting all duplicates into a disabled group so that they don't interfere with anything else, and using them as "remote control" for the now unreachable adjustments inside the mask:

[slizgi]

No problem, I understand the math and how it works I was just not aware that this kind of thing is in Affinity Photo. And yea I was thinking about making the duplicate of them, to have still the link active or something. After all it is a big step up in what I can do with it in AP.

[loukash]

1 minute ago, slizgi said:

I understand the math and how it works

I have more difficulties here because the last algebra lessons that I had were in 1982, I guess…

[slizgi]

Nah, I do not understand them this way either, but on daily basics I'm working with games and textures and overall 3D, so there is sometimes a lot of trickery with RGBA channels.