Desiger - Brush tool and Erase tool go crazy, jumping layers

[devendra]

Dear community,

i have difficulties while using standard tools for drawing in Designer.

Usually I have a pixel layer selected and switch between brush and erase tool with the keyboard (b and e key). In 50% of the usage the brush tool doesn't work after switching back from erase. It just doesn't paint at all no matter how I switch brushes, sizes or colors, my drawing is "empty". When I move the layer I "painted" on on top of my artboard and switch around the tools sometimes it works again, my drawing becomes visible and I can move my layer to the place it was before where it works for another minute. It seems like a bug to me and if it is on purpose it is really annoying because there is no obvious logic behind it. I also switched my assistant to "share brushes" when I switch tools, this doesn't make any difference.

Also when I type "e" for erase and start erasing on my selected layer the selection changes to a random layer on the bottom of my document and I have to scroll back find my original layer.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

Devendra

[EmT]

Hi @devendra

Could you send us a video recording of this behaviour please.

[devendra]

Hi EmT,

unfortunately I was not able to reproduce the bug with a new document. I will try to get it on video next time it happens. It had happened after a while of working in one document out of a sudden. It happened again and again and before that I was working without any bugs. I was hoping someone had the same experience (and solution). 

But thanks I will post it here once I get to record it. 

 

Devendra

 

[devendra]

Hello,

I could record the "layer jump issue" while switching to the brush tool. What you can see in the video is I created a new pixel layer, then typed "b" to select the brush tool. The tool was not selected, instead a layer in the bottom of my artboard was selected.

Also I tried to reproduce that in a blank document instead of sending you a video of my work file. The jump did not appear there instead when I type "b" after creating a pixel layer I get an error noise and nothing happens (the standard short beep sound if an action cannot be performed in a document). 

So my issue is the creating of new layers and switching to the brush tool via keyboard. 

--

The before mentioned problem in my original post where I seem to "draw" without any visible result seems to me like a bug that has to do with the selection of the fill and stroke color. I often switch between those colors with the "shift + X" shortcut but instead of using the selected color the brush appears to have no selected color at all and does nothing. Only when I actively click my desired color the brush reacts. 

-- 

 

The combination of both issues leads to a lot of clicking and scrolling inside my document. I constantly have to find the position of my layer that I was intending to draw on.

 

Thank you for your help!

 

Devendra

[devendra]

Additional note: this behavior only seems to appear when I use shortcuts (standard settings, have not set up any own and no other overrides from the system). When I click to select my tools everything works so far. But as the shortcuts are created to use them and make working easier I would really love to be able to rely on them. 🙂

[EmT]

Hi @devendra

To rule out there being any accidental shortcut changes. Could you go to Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts. Select 'Clear All Shortcuts' then select 'Serif Defaults'. 

After this if you could then see if you get the same behaviour. 

[devendra]

Yes, it still happens after I select "Serif Defaults."

Just to make sure you can reproduce it very quickly: 
- in pixel persona create a pixel layer via mouse click in the layer window and context menu
- then type "b"
the selection jumps to some layer below.

[EmT]

On 4/14/2022 at 1:06 PM, devendra said:

The jump did not appear there instead when I type "b" after creating a pixel layer I get an error noise and nothing happens (the standard short beep sound if an action cannot be performed in a document). 

In regards to this point, could you uncheck "Use Shift modifier to cycle tools' and see if that makes any difference. 

Could you try renaming the layer it jumps to beginning with 'B' to start with another letter and then try to replicate it again. 

[devendra]

Thank you, I had it unchecked all the time. To see a difference I checked the modifier cycle tools and then it still jumps, only to Layers that begin with a "B". 
Without checking it it jumps to different layers (varying as does the position where I create a new layer), with no recognizable pattern or logic.

[EmT]

Thank you for the additional information, it has been passed over to our developers for further investigation. 

[devendra]

Thank you very much for passing it over to the developers. Is the issue something you could reproduce and will it be solved in one of the next updates?

[EmT]

We have passed the information over with steps on how to reproduce it for the developers to investigate the problem.
If you follow the 'News and Information' thread on our Forum, it will advise you when an update is available and what the update contains. 

https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/forum/4-news-and-information/

[devendra]

Thanks!