Rogurt Posted November 18, 2022 Share Posted November 18, 2022 Hi all. I did some search but found no answer on this. Can I make a pixel layer to mask another pixel layer? Important: all layers need to be placed/linked files so they update automatically. background info: I refer to 3D rendering where I produce one (or more) RGB images (beauty) and several b/w images as masks (passes). The passes would be used to a) define the compositions opacity b) select and manipulate areas of the RGB. Thanks for your help Rembert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogurt Posted November 19, 2022 Author Share Posted November 19, 2022 addendum: What I want to achieve is much like compositing in nuke/fusion/flame and the like. You provide a new image in the mask "input" (or layer in AF) and instantly get updated results... The thing is that I have tons and tons of iterations on a rendering (with at least half a dozen alphas/passes each time). I do not want to do the whole buildup process for my AP Composing each and every time. Just overwrite the linked images and the comp is ready to export... But maybe I will end up misusing fusion for editing still images :-[ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardMH Posted November 19, 2022 Share Posted November 19, 2022 Not clear what you want to do. Can you post an example? Are you in Photo? But if you right click on a layer you can rasterise to mask that might solve part of your problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogurt Posted November 19, 2022 Author Share Posted November 19, 2022 Please keep in mind: I do not (!) want to lose the link to the original files. It´s the whole point to make this masking procedural. The moment I recalculate the images from my 3D program the AF comp should update accordingly... So yes - with "raster as mask" I could make a b/w image become the mask of another image. But the whole "procedural" thing is gone Just think "like in After Effects" -> everything stays linked the whole time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogurt Posted November 20, 2022 Author Share Posted November 20, 2022 Is it possible to do channel calculations? Like"take the luminance of layer x and add the values to the alpha of layer y"? Maybe if this then could be a live filter it would serve my needs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardMH Posted November 20, 2022 Share Posted November 20, 2022 Apply Image in the filters menu might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogurt Posted November 21, 2022 Author Share Posted November 21, 2022 Unfortunately, the moment I drag a layer onto "Apply image" as a source it will be rasterized (= not linked anymore). So this aint the solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogurt Posted November 22, 2022 Author Share Posted November 22, 2022 So here comes the ultimate solution: James Ritson (Product Expert Affinity Photo) developed a set of VERY useful macros that deal with problems CGI guys might face when comping their renderings in AP. Among various other tools one macro takes a layer ( b/w linked image) and preps it in a way that it can be dragged onto another layer as mask. EVERYTHING STAYES LINKED!! Horray! Just head over here and look for JR Matting & Keying Macros v2. And make sure to show some love and leave a tip on gumroad. https://jamesritson.co.uk/resources.html @James Ritson thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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