Add image to layer

[JeffHerbst]

How do I open new image files and have them go into a new layer? So far the only way I can get a new image into a layer is to open it, it opens in a new 'project(?)', a completely separate window. Then I select the image, copy, then go back to the project I'm working on and paste it into a layer.

There has to be a direct way to just point to a file and have it open in the selected layer.

[JFisher]

Hi JeffHerbst 

Welcome to the forums!

You can click File>Place to insert an additional image into your project :)

J

[MEB]

Hi JeffHerbst,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

You can also drag it directly from Finder to the document in Affinity.

[cirkē]

On iPad pro (IOS 11) I cannot find the way to add a photo (jpg) on a layer, sorry but it should be more intuitive  

[brebro]

I have the same problem. The ipad PLACE command acts like it is going to work after it lets you pick a photo from your gallery, but then nothing is there in your document.

[kingbee]

I have the same problem too...

[MEB]

Hi erickb,

To insert an image as a new layer tap the More menu (the three dots on the top left of the interface) and select Place ▸ Place from Photos or Place from cloud. Select the image on the next screen then tap the canvas to insert it as a new layer (or drag on canvas if you want to set a size for the placed image).

 

Hi brebro, kingbee,

Welcome to Affinity Forums

After selecting the file (Place command) you have to tap the canvas once (or drag on canvas if you want to set a size for the placed image) to actually insert the image on canvas.

[mick560]

hi,  i am having similar problem,  i was downloading from the cloud but when i tap the pic it says downloading but never appears in the layers ?

[Adds]

I am trying to File->> Place the same image (different exposure) as a new layer, but am not able to get 100% alignment (by dragging it over the canvas). Is there a way to re align all the existing layers with the new Layer?

[firstdefence]

@Adds File > Place... choose the image, then just click in the file window, this places the image in the document, now choose from the menu bar: Arrange > Align Centre and then Arrange > Align Middle If you need to rotate the image first use Arrange > Rotate 90° Clockwise or Rotate 90° Anticlockwise

[AnnyLaurie]

I have tried several times to add another image through place it takes me to photos but nothing shows up - as a side note it would much more efficient and intuitive if images were add  in layers module

[Jking]

I am having the exact same issue as mentioned by @AnnyLaurie

[Rabi]

I’m having the same issue from long time. I watched several YouTube videos but non of them shows how exactly this issue can be fixed. It’s utterly frustrating with this software. 

[walt.farrell]

10 hours ago, Rabi said:

I’m having the same issue from long time. I watched several YouTube videos but non of them shows how exactly this issue can be fixed. It’s utterly frustrating with this software. 

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums. Please give us more details, and possibly a screenshot or video illustrating the problem. The function is really quite simple:

1. Click File > Place
2. Choose file from file selection window and click appropriate button (Open)
3. When you get the "Place" cursor, click or click and drag.

[jel888]

I've done this. This is a frustrating issue.  I have figured out how to add the image using place, but unlike certain videos; you don't see the image on the black background of Affinity Photo  and when you move it to the canvas you have created , it doesn't automatically resize.   Why is it so hard to resize (reduce in particular) and image and maintain the sharpness (and I've tried resampling with all the information provided by Affinity).

Edited November 23, 2022 by jel888

[MEB]

Hi @jel888,
Welcome to Affinity Forums
Designer and Publisher do let you use the Pasteboard area (around the canvas) to store/place objects temporarily as a typical workflow deals with various object types and design elements you may want to compose and experiment with within the canvas when designing. Photo is mostly used for photo compositing/editing which typically doesn't have such requirements.

Regarding "doesn't automatically resize" are you expecting the image to be resized to fit the canvas or the inverse resize the canvas to encompass the image dimensions?
In the first case you have to resize the image dragging from the corners (Affinity uses bilinear resampling to render images on screen). In the second case go to menu Document > Unclip Canvas so the canvas is resized to encompass/match the area of the (placed) image.

Reducing the image dimensions does make it lose sharpness because you are removing data from the image thus potentially reducing local contrast between edges/colours of the details that compose it. Resampling should help depending on the image itself and the algorithm sed however it's also prone to lose some sharpness compared to original (unless compensated in some way). What type of image are you trying to resample? Does it contain lots of micro detail?
Try using Bicubic to resample then apply a USM (Unsharp Mask filter) to increase the sharpness if required or any of the Lanczos 3 options (non-separable should give you a sharper image but depending on the source/original image it may be too much).

[Jyotirmay]

Hi,

 

I might be late. I tried using drag and drop option. I took 4 *.CR3 file and dropped to affinity page. Surprisingly, all files got added as layers. Then I took one file at a time, moved to Develop Persona and did small changes which are needed on RAW files and moved it back to Photo Persona. For now, it ok enough. Maybe I will discover more on this if I practice more. However, I am not sure how much it will help on professional level. But it adds all RAW as image file so i feel it would be good to edit the raw file separately and then save them as TIFF. once we have all the tiff file in place, then that can be added as layer in affinity. 

Regards,

JDC