Feature discrepancy list iPad Desktop V2

[NotMyFault]

I would appreciate if Affinity provides a comparison table about platform specific features, allowing to see what features are missing on iPad (and more rarely on Desktop) compared to the other platform.

Currently, the iPad versions of Photo 2 lacks a relevant portion:

V1 and V2 feature gap:

• FFT denoise,
• global source for clone tool,
• info panel,
• save jpeg with clipping path,
• coverage maps, (but these are buggy on desktop)
• Studio Link (edit in …) limited to Publisher and main Designer/Photo Persona (e.g. no liquify)
• view quality “nearest neighbor” not available
• precise clipping not available (and no working for export to raster formats AFD-6681]
• deactivate HW acceleration or use WARP software renderer (to workaround bugs)
• creating procedural texture filters with self defined formulas 
• Text labels for assets
• cannot pin tools like channels, histogram, scope, navigator to be always visible while doing edits
• Astrophotography stacking
• Commands requiring keyboard modifiers (like clone tool to set origin) clumsy to use
• Hover over (brush position / effect preview), except on MY2023 iPad Pro
• Inpaint as command (affecting the selected area) my fault: is part of the fill filter since V1
• Blend Range / Anti-Aliasing profiles
• Creating Palette / swatches from Document
• Plugins
• Handling of tint (color panel, relevant for PDF and spot colors)
• text on curve/path: cannot paste images or shapes
• more general, pasting anything except text impossible for any text layer type (frame text, artistic text, text on path etc)
• cannot install lens profiles Link
• text labels for symbols in Designer
• Crop tool missing presets link
• Export LUT limited to 64 instead of 126

V2 increase in feature gap

• Bitmap fill, extend options (wrap, mirror etc)
• move/enter for transform tool

 

• what else? Please add your comments 

In contrast, it offers some valuable features not available on Desktop:

1. curves adjustments with linear lines 
2. ability to rotate canvas view to any angle, including numeric input
3. Designer: full range of merge commands, e.g. merge visible
4. Designer has „selection to mask“

https://affinity.help/photo2ipad/en-US.lproj/pages/Introduction/keyFeatures.html

https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/pages/Introduction/keyFeatures.html?list=allFeatures

Closed or narrowed gap in V2:

• Publisher for iPad
• Switching between Publisher/Designer/Photo personas (still somehow restricted, e.g. no liquify persona)

 

Updated 2023-11-15 2024-09-04

2024-11-17 added pasting into text layers restricted 

2025-02-22 corrected inpainting command

[loukash]

2 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

ability to rotate canvas view to any angle

This was always possible on Mac. So it's actually a Windows difference only?

[NotMyFault]

43 minutes ago, loukash said:

This was always possible on Mac. So it's actually a Windows difference only?

Cant say for sure, but there was only rotation by 15 degree steps via menu possible in Photo. Navigator panel did not offer to rotate on PC by numeric input.

Only the mouse scroll wheel allows any angle rotation, but no fine level control of the angle.

https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/pages/Panels/navigatorPanel.html

https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/pages/DesignAids/rotateCanvas.html

Edited November 27, 2022 by NotMyFault

[loukash]

2 minutes ago, NotMyFault said:

but there was only rotation by 15 degree steps via menu possible in Photo

Ah, OK, I see. On MacBook I rotate with two fingers on the trackpad, or command-two-fingers-drag. Neither of which is available on Windows, as far as I know. So for us used to the Apple ecosystem and gestures, there is no difference to the iPad in that regard.

[NotMyFault]

The main issue is missing numeric feedback / input option (in Navigator Panel)

[loukash]

6 minutes ago, NotMyFault said:

numeric feedback / input option in Navigator Panel

Yes, that would be handy. (I never use this panel though, so I've never missed it, and I didn't even notice yet that there is this option on iPad!)