Strange behaviour of Nik Viveza plugin

[CarrotMan]

I am using Affinity Photo (latest update) which I haven’t used for quite some time. Opening the Nik Viveza filter I have a broad strip of “checkerboard” at the top of the image. I have previously carried out a slight horizon straightening and very small tidying crop to this image, but I’m sure I’ve not cropped away anything like the amount of “checkerboard” which is visible. Any suggestions as to what is happening?

Added-  I see now that it occurs with other Nik filters too. It doesn't appear when I crop even a lot from the top of the image, but does happen when I straighten, though only the top of the image is affected.

[Dan C]

Hi @CarrotMan,

Sorry to hear you're having trouble here!

Could you please provide a screen recording showing the steps you're taking in Affinity/Nik, including when this transparent area is added, as this will hopefully allow me to better understand & log the issue being reported?

If you're unsure how to take a screen recording, please check out our FAQ linked below - 

Many thanks in advance

[CarrotMan]

2 hours ago, Dan C said:

Hi @CarrotMan,

Sorry to hear you're having trouble here!

Could you please provide a screen recording showing the steps you're taking in Affinity/Nik, including when this transparent area is added, as this will hopefully allow me to better understand & log the issue being reported?

If you're unsure how to take a screen recording, please check out our FAQ linked below - 

Many thanks in advance

Thanks. I’m not very good with computers! Would it provide you with enough information if I could provide static screen shots of the uncropped photo opened in Affinity, the straightening/cropping stage, and then the adjusted photo opened with the Nik filter in Affinity? If not, I’ll try what you suggest above, but it might be a while before I get back to you (tomorrow in any case at earliest).

[Dan C]

Not to worry, many thanks for letting me know!

Screenshots would be a viable alternative - I'm most interested to know/see the steps being taken when the checkerboard is increasing/being introduced to your document, as this is a bug that has not been reported previously and therefore I'm unsure of the cause currently.

There is no rush, we're happy to help when you have the time to reply

[CarrotMan]

Hi Dan,

Here are the screenshots (1-7) going from Develop, through a small horizon straightening and crop, to opening the file in Viveza and Color Efex from within Affinity. 

(I also developed the raw file with DxO PhotoLab (my usual raw developer) and straightened the horizon, which produced a small auto crop (8). When I then open the image in Affinity from within PhotoLab (9) and then apply the Nik filter (10), the image looks normal, without the checkerboard.)

Edited August 23, 2021 by CarrotMan
added details

[CarrotMan]

[CarrotMan]

Opening the same image today and carrying out the same steps as in screenshots 1-7 above I am not now finding a problem. How odd! The only difference today was that I initially turned off “apply tone curve” in the Development Assistant, but then turned it on again.

[Dan C]

My apologies for the delayed response here!

On 8/24/2021 at 5:13 PM, CarrotMan said:

Opening the same image today and carrying out the same steps as in screenshots 1-7 above I am not now finding a problem. How odd! The only difference today was that I initially turned off “apply tone curve” in the Development Assistant, but then turned it on again.

That's certainly strange, but I'm very glad to hear this is now working as expected for you

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any similar reports from further customers, and should this issue return please do let us know!