Adjustment layer as child layer cannot be edited/deleted

[Studio Dingli]

Once you make an adjustment layer as a child layer you can NEITHER RE-EDIT NOR DELETE this child layer, and double-click doesn't even open the child adjustment layer.  You can only destroy/delete the whole parent-child group.  This forces you to keep backups of layers in pre-adjustment condition, if after destroy/delete you need to edit another copy of the parent layer.  You must drag the child out of the parent, edit it (you get non-destructive global changes) then replace this adjustment layer back as a child.

Please see the work around I do, described below.

Edited April 19, 2022 by Studio Dingli
Redefine procedure

[Studio Dingli]

Thanks Hens for replying to my post.  Please see my other comment where I discovered a work around.  The snapshot shows a Split Toning adjustment as a child layer (white icon) of a parent Curve layer.   I can neither edit the Split Toning child or delete it, if I close it and wish to return to it a second time.   I tried many times.

[Studio Dingli]

I am in Affinity DESIGNER and not using Photo for this process.

PROBLEM:

(1)   Placing an adjustment layer just above a "Parent " layer to be modified, affects the parent AND ALL layers below.  You can edit/delete this adjustment layer any time.   But what if you only want to affect just one layer ?

(2  )If you select the parent layer and place an adjustment layer as a child layer, this will affect only that parent, BUT gives you a Once Only edit adjustment window.  Once the window is closed you can NO MORE edit or delete the CHILD adjustment layer.  

SOLUTION:

(3)   Let's say you have a child layer inside a parent layer group and want to edit/delete this adjustment child.   (4).  Close the group to one line.   (5) Drag the adjustment icon (it's a layer) to just above the parent layer as in (1).  Do edits on your parent as in (1) and Ignore global changes, its a non-destructive operation.   In this position,  you can also delete the child layer completely.  Once satisfied with your newly adjusted parent, drag the adjustment layer from above the parent, back to child position (2,3) to affect only the parent.

I found help in the Affinity manual but took a while to interpret what I did here.

See Tip No (2), (3)                                                          See Tip No (4).                                                     See Tip No (1 and 5)

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Edited April 19, 2022 by Studio Dingli

[walt.farrell]

@Studio Dingli: To edit the settings of an Adjustment layer or Live Filter layer, just double-click on the layer thumbnail in the Layers panel.

[R C-R]

6 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

@Studio Dingli: To edit the settings of an Adjustment layer or Live Filter layer, just double-click on the layer thumbnail in the Layers panel.

See also the last several posts in this topic where @Studio Dingli repeated the same post as above.

[Studio Dingli]

Thank you.  I know I can double click a child layer nested under a parent layer and can edit once.  Thereafter subsequent double-clicks can't re-edit/delete again the child layer in the child position.  I have to drag the child layer to above the parent layer.  This temporarily changes all layers under it.  So then, after edit, I have to drag it back to child layer position inside the parent to only affect the parent.  Just saying its a nuisance when dealing with multiple child layers.  Why cant Affinity allow direct edit/delete of child layers in situ ?

[R C-R]

4 minutes ago, Studio Dingli said:

Thereafter subsequent double-clicks can't re-edit/delete again the child layer in the child position.

What specifically are you double-clicking on, the parent layer or the nested adjustment layer?

Have you tried doing it with the file I uploaded in the other topic? can you post a video of what you are doing, or just a shot of the Layers panel only with the child layer selected?

[walt.farrell]

4 minutes ago, Studio Dingli said:

Thereafter subsequent double-clicks can't re-edit/delete again the child layer in the child position.

I have had no problem editing multiple times, and I don't recall seeing any complaints about that.

Can you provide a screenshot at the time that double-clicking doesn't work, including the Layers panel, please?

A video might also help if you can record one.

[R C-R]

1 minute ago, walt.farrell said:

I have had no problem editing multiple times...

Same for me, & it seems to work for just about everybody else who has tried it with files that have nested adjustment layers that various users have uploaded to the forum.

The only way I know of to keep it from working is to double-click on the parent layer instead of the adjustment layer itself.

[Old Bruce]

4 minutes ago, R C-R said:

The only way I know of to keep it from working is to double-click on the parent layer instead of the adjustment layer itself.

I have had 'wrong' results double clicking elsewhere on the layer, meaning not in/on the thumbnail. 

[R C-R]

Just now, Old Bruce said:

I have had 'wrong' results double clicking elsewhere on the layer, meaning not in/on the thumbnail. 

If you mean double-clicking in the text area of the layer in the Layers Panel that should give you a text cursor so you can add a custom name to the layer or edit one if it already has one.