Masked shapes shrink slightly

[segts]

Since I started using Affinity Designer for desktop (Mac) and iPad, I have had a very specific issue. When I create fills for my illustrations, I used the pathfinder tools to subtract and add.

The shape fits inside perfectly, but when I start adding shapes inside the new fill shape (for masking), the fill shape shrinks by just a hairline and shows a sliver of white canvas between the two shapes. If you turn off the shapes that are being masked inside the fill, the hairline disappears again. So far my work around has been to increase the outside shape with a very small stroke.

Is anyone else having this issue? I love using Designer and it is becoming my go-to for illustrations.

Below I included a sample file for you to see the issue and a rendering of that file. I also included a sample of my art to show you how I am using multiple mask fills. Any help with this would be great. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

Best!

Stephen :)

Untitled_1.afdesign

[Sean P]

Hi Stephen,

The issue here is that they're not objects themselves are shrinking but they do have anti-aliasing applied to smooth the edges. This unfortunately causes areas where the background colours will start to show through. and you get those slivers of white.

It is actually a common issue with many vector applications unfortunately. We have recently added the ability to turn this off on an object or parent level basis using the Anti-Aliasing options in the Blend Ranges dialog.

We would like to improve this some more but its a very complicated matter.

[segts]

@Sean P Firstly, thank you so much for the quick response. I am glad to hear that this is not user error:) Your masking is a game-changer for my work and I no longer need to handle fiddly Illustrator clipping masks. This is something that I didn't notice with clipping masks though.

Wondering if there is a way to "grow the shape" to accommodate the shrink when you start masking, kinda like your Contour Tool, and let the program add that lost math? So then when you turn off the shapes inside the masked shape the grow disappears? Stop me if I am acting like I know how software engineering works:) This is an artist trying to think like a developer obviously:)

As always, I can't thank you enough for your team's brilliance and dedication to make something so fantastic for makers!

All the best!

Stephen  

[Sean P]

Unfortunately other than turning of Anti-Aliasing in Blend Ranges I don't think its quite possible sadly

[segts]

1 hour ago, Sean P said:

Unfortunately other than turning of Anti-Aliasing in Blend Ranges I don't think its quite possible sadly

It was worth a shot! Is that setting on the iPad version of the app?

Good luck and let me know if you come up with a solution and want someone to kick the tires. I would be happy to help out!

S:)