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Pen-drawn Paths Staying On Same Layer …


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Oh … hello again. Time now for another exciting question in the never-ending series ‘How You Do Dat!?’ This time it's a Question From The Crypt regarding creating separate / multiple paths on a single layer with the Pen Tool in Affinity Designer 1.9.3 … to begin:

When drawing a series of paths (e.g., neon light tubing pieces 'n parts) intended to be on a single layer but separated by a small space indicating connector points (rather than a continuous path), Designer insists on creating a new pixel layer for Path II's segment after I conclude creating the initial segment with Path I. I've found NO way to keep the paths unified on a single layer. Penning the entire path and going back afterward to dance the ‘Break Curve’ tango has been tried, but … Dat Don't Work! It simply creates a new layer and breaks the formerly intact path into Multi-Paths. Frustrating it is. I need the multiple paths for the neon light tubing on one Paths layer so as to apply lighting FX, etc to ONE layer rather than multiple layers (which can - and does - create errors in FX uniformity).

All hints, tips, trix, and Secret Sauce recipes are appreciated … 

Mac Pro (Mid-2010) G5, 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon i7; macOS ‘Sierra,’ 12GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5770; S271HL Acer Display (1920 x 1080); Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher 1.10.8, Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, QuarkXpress 9.5.4.1, ON1 RAW 2020, Portrait Professional Studio64, Topaz Labs Suite, Nik Collection, LibreOffice; separate Western Digital external HDs for storage  

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Draw your path segments. Select them. Go to Layer > Geometry > Merge Curves.

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.

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Does that procedure work with the line segments being on separate layers? Is there no way to create all segments on the same layer? I hafta ask ’cos I don't know …

Mac Pro (Mid-2010) G5, 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon i7; macOS ‘Sierra,’ 12GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5770; S271HL Acer Display (1920 x 1080); Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher 1.10.8, Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, QuarkXpress 9.5.4.1, ON1 RAW 2020, Portrait Professional Studio64, Topaz Labs Suite, Nik Collection, LibreOffice; separate Western Digital external HDs for storage  

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4 minutes ago, Dr_No said:

Is there no way to create all segments on the same layer? 

Not to my knowledge.

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.

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  1. activate the "Add new curve to selected curves object" button
  2. create a path
  3. Select > Deselect (actually deselects only the last node but keeps the path/layer selected)
  4. start a new curve on the same layer
  5. etc.

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

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Thanks for the tip … this appears to be able to do exactly what I'm attempting to do. If I'm reading the steps correctly (and that's always a crap-shoot), it seems that this enables all drawing to be completed on a single layer with separated sections of a single unitary path, nicht wahr? If that's the end result, then the logical extension is that the single yet magically separate path segments are on a single layer, thereby making all FX applied to that layer appear on all separate segments contained thereon. That, in turn, means the single-yet-composite paths layer can further be modified with blend modes, etc. Alles ist richtig, ja? Thanks again for this tip …

Mac Pro (Mid-2010) G5, 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon i7; macOS ‘Sierra,’ 12GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5770; S271HL Acer Display (1920 x 1080); Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher 1.10.8, Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, QuarkXpress 9.5.4.1, ON1 RAW 2020, Portrait Professional Studio64, Topaz Labs Suite, Nik Collection, LibreOffice; separate Western Digital external HDs for storage  

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Genau so isses.

The real trouble begins in the very moment you decide to move some of those path segments to a new layer, after all… :D
This has been discussed a few times recently – been there so I know – but in case you can't figure it out or can't find the other threads, feel free to ask for a … wait for it … workaround.

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

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Keep in mind that whether you use Merge Curves or Add new curve to selected curves object all the curves will share the same fill & stroke properties as well as any applied FX. That may or may not be what you want.

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.0 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

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‘Workaround’ appears to be The Word of Majique … it sounds as if moving the path segments post-creation is when the fun really kicks in. Maybe the majique words one path can speak to the others are ‘Bitte, vorbeigehen zum durfen?’ - or not, as the case may be. 

Mac Pro (Mid-2010) G5, 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon i7; macOS ‘Sierra,’ 12GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5770; S271HL Acer Display (1920 x 1080); Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher 1.10.8, Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, QuarkXpress 9.5.4.1, ON1 RAW 2020, Portrait Professional Studio64, Topaz Labs Suite, Nik Collection, LibreOffice; separate Western Digital external HDs for storage  

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3 minutes ago, R C-R said:

Keep in mind that whether you use Merge Curves or Add new curve to selected curves object all the curves will share the same fill & stroke properties as well as any applied FX. That may or may not be what you want.

(Harrumph-harrumph! Ahem … oyez! oyez! oyez!) … Actually, that's REZACKLY what I'm hoping to achieve. If those properties apply equally to all combined strokes and curves, modification is then uniform. Oh lawdy! I yam a happy boi.

Mac Pro (Mid-2010) G5, 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon i7; macOS ‘Sierra,’ 12GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5770; S271HL Acer Display (1920 x 1080); Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher 1.10.8, Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, QuarkXpress 9.5.4.1, ON1 RAW 2020, Portrait Professional Studio64, Topaz Labs Suite, Nik Collection, LibreOffice; separate Western Digital external HDs for storage  

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2 minutes ago, Dr_No said:

… it sounds as if moving the path segments post-creation is when the fun really kicks in.

As long as you keep all the paths in the same layer you can use the Node Tool to alter the paths in the usual ways. But there is no way to move a curve out of the layer other than by dividing or separating the curves into individual layers & then optionally using Add, Merge curves, etc. to move the others back into one layer.

Usually, it is much less hassle to use groups.

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.0 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

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13 minutes ago, R C-R said:

much less hassle to use groups

Or compounds.

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

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24 minutes ago, Dr_No said:

moving the path segments post-creation is when the fun really kicks in

Some folks enjoy dancing on glass splinters, others are getting the same kick by splitting merged Affinity curves.

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

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I'll try anything … well, once, anyway. Thanks for the tip.

Mac Pro (Mid-2010) G5, 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon i7; macOS ‘Sierra,’ 12GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5770; S271HL Acer Display (1920 x 1080); Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher 1.10.8, Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, QuarkXpress 9.5.4.1, ON1 RAW 2020, Portrait Professional Studio64, Topaz Labs Suite, Nik Collection, LibreOffice; separate Western Digital external HDs for storage  

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21 minutes ago, PixelPest said:

Maybe try this setting:

It is the same one @loukash mentioned above as step 1.

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.0 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

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Thanks to all for your input … Da WINNAH! Is: Add New Curve to Selected Curves Object. Works fine, tastes great, less filling, and lower in calories. Can ya aks for more … ? I think not. Thanks again.

Mac Pro (Mid-2010) G5, 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon i7; macOS ‘Sierra,’ 12GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5770; S271HL Acer Display (1920 x 1080); Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher 1.10.8, Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, QuarkXpress 9.5.4.1, ON1 RAW 2020, Portrait Professional Studio64, Topaz Labs Suite, Nik Collection, LibreOffice; separate Western Digital external HDs for storage  

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