How to insert image above currently selected layer?

[BleachedLizard]

I've just migrated from Photoshop to Affinity Photo.  In Photoshop, placing a new image in the document would place the image directly above the currently selected layer.  In Affinity, the image is placed at the top of the layer stack.

Is there any way to change this behaviour to match Photoshop?  I've looked through the preferences but can't seem to find anything.

Many thanks.

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums @BleachedLizard,

I think what you need is called Targeting.

https://affinity.help/photo/en-US.lproj/pages/LayerOperations/target.html

I'm fairly familiar with AP, and the on-line help (link above) is all I could come up with after about 30mins of searching.

At the very bottom of the Arrange Menu, there's 4 options:

These are the same as what the 3 buttons in the toolbar provide.

[R C-R]

18 hours ago, BleachedLizard said:

In Photoshop, placing a new image in the document would place the image directly above the currently selected layer. 

Just like it says in the help topic @Ron P. provided a link to, it should do the same in Affinity Photo:

Quote

 

By default, layers are positioned:

• Directly above the currently selected layer.
• At the top of the layer stack, if there is no layer selected.

 

If this isn't working for you, make sure you have a layer selected in the Layers panel before placing an image or adding a new pixel layer.

[walt.farrell]

Also, precise terminology is important.

For me, in Photo, if I Place an image (File > Place) or Paste it from the clipboard then by default it goes just above the layer that is currently selected in the Layers panel. This can be influenced by setting the behavior to Insert Behind (goes just below the selected layer), or Insert at the Top of the Layer (goes at the top of the stack) or Insert Inside (becomes a child of the current layer).

However, if I drag/drop an image file onto an open document in Photo, it goes at the top of the layer stack. This can be influenced by setting the behavior to Insert Behind. If I do that it goes at the bottom of the layer stack.

[R C-R]

49 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

However, if I drag/drop an image file onto an open document in Photo, it goes at the top of the layer stack.

For me on my Mac, it also goes directly above the currently selected layer, if there is one, just like the help topic says.

Does that not happen for you in the Windows version?

[walt.farrell]

24 minutes ago, R C-R said:

Does that not happen for you in the Windows version?

No.

[R C-R]

9 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

No.

If it does not happen in the Windows version, this might be a bug that should be reported (if it has not been already).

All I know for sure is on my Mac File > Place & drag & drop both put the image above the currently selected layer if there is one selected.

[BleachedLizard]

I've just checked and the behaviour for me is the same as for Walt (and I am on Windows) - Insertion Default places it at the top of the stack and Insertion Behind places it at the bottom when using drag & drop. 

[BleachedLizard]

On 7/3/2021 at 5:48 AM, Ron P. said:

Welcome to the forums @BleachedLizard,

I think what you need is called Targeting.

https://affinity.help/photo/en-US.lproj/pages/LayerOperations/target.html

I'm fairly familiar with AP, and the on-line help (link above) is all I could come up with after about 30mins of searching.

At the very bottom of the Arrange Menu, there's 4 options:

These are the same as what the 3 buttons in the toolbar provide.

Thank you for this.  However, it looks like there may be a bug on Windows (described above).  Also, I've noticed that when I enable any of the targeting buttons on the toolbar, if I drag & drop an image into the document, the buttons then all become unselected again and it reverts to the default.  Is this also a bug or expected behaviour?