Multi gradient masks

[Michel d'Alissas]

Hello, with Affinity Photo, I often blend two photo exposures manually. 
It would be very useful to have the possibility to add several gradient masks on the same layer.

[NotMyFault]

Hi,

could you explain how multiple gradients should be combined? Actually you can add multiple masks with individual gradients. The mask are combined like multiplication/ AND operation, hiding more. I assume what you want is combining multiple masks with plus / OR operation, revealing more. This is actually possible indirectly, by inverting the masks, and inverting the combined results. Others found different approaches using blend mode erase. 
 

As there are numerous ways to create masks (non-destructively or destructively), it would be good to exactly understand what you want to achieve.

my personal interpretation:

• Ability to add multiple gradients to new layer type mask group, similar to compound layer type
• ability to choose operation per gradient (and, or, xor, …)
• ability of mask group layer to be nested to parent layers, but letting the individual child mask layers visible and editable (not collapsed) 
• gradients must be re-editable (like gradients to vector shapes, unlike gradients on masks)

[Michel d'Alissas]

I would like to be able to use multiple gradients, and each the size I want, on the same mask.
I'm sorry, I don't have much knowledge in this area yet and I don't understand much English.

[telemax]

Hi, try this non-destructive mask method. 
You can create a folder/group that can contain any number of layers, and that group will work as a mask Composite_Mask.afphoto

 

[Michel d'Alissas]

Thank you very much for this nice Christmas present.
I will try to use and practice with this macro to blend for example these two paysage exposures .

[NotMyFault]

Hi,

In this specific case there might be alternative workflows to achieve the same (or even better) results without even using masks:

• blend ranges to limit adjustment to dark or light pixels
• blend modes
• HDR stacking

[Michel d'Alissas]

The flowers in the light photo are not quite in the same place as those in the dark photo (blurry areas).
If you don't mind, could you show me the result on this case with the blend ranges ?
I know  i can use Affinity photo to create HDR, but the result is often unnatural.

[NotMyFault]

In this example you really need only the darker exposure, no need to deal with two images.

• Add Curve to boost shadows
• Limit curves to darker tones
• add mask to exclude sky (which is beautiful as it is)

I tried HDR stack too, which would not give a better result. Stacking allows to automatically or manually remove ghosts if required (flowers), or you can simply apply Tone Map Persona to one single image.

blend.afphoto

[Michel d'Alissas]

Thank you very much for the time you spent creating this macro.