Alt / Option - drag to duplicate in layers panel

[Ash]

Apps: All
Platforms: Windows, macOS and iPad

With any layer(s) selected in the Layers panel, you can now hold alt (Windows) or Option (Mac / iPad) and drag to create a copy of the selected layers. The duplicated layers will be inserted into the layer stack in the position you have dragged to.

Note: on iPad you will need a keyboard attached, or use the command controller to access the option modifier for this operation.

[Patrick Connor]

Known Issues

• PD-339 - MacOS: Option+drag to duplicate in layers panel will not allow you to move layer directly above the top layer, or bottom of a group.

Further known issues will be added to this list as they are reported to us by customers in this thread.

[Hangman]

On 2/7/2023 at 3:45 PM, Ash said:

With any layer(s) selected in the Layers panel, you can now hold alt (Windows) or Option (Mac / iPad) and drag to create a copy of the selected layers. The duplicated layers will be inserted into the layer stack in the position you have dragged to.

Does it warrant mentioning that this also applies to Groups, Layer Adjustments and Mask Layers or is With any layer(s) selected sufficient?

[Frozen Death Knight]

Works as it should on my end. Though, a UX issue I found is that the mouse cursor shows the same icon as if you would just do a regular drag and drop. Maybe add a plus sign next to the rectangular shape that appears just to make it clearer?

[Gnobelix]

Works as it should, both at all levels and as well as with the Groups.

Cheers

[Ronbo]

It works for individual layers and group layers, but the top layer can only make a copy below it. I cannot option drag a copy above the top layer, including inside a group. Also, the bottom layer in a group can only be copied upward and remain inside the group. Dragging downward creates a copy outside of the group.

Not a big deal, it's just a matter of consistency. It would be nice if any layer could be dragged either up or down to make a copy, whether individual or inside a group.

[A_B_C]

A plus icon next to the cursor when cloning a layer by drag-and-drop would be very useful to have, as @Frozen Death Knight had already mentioned. But other than that, a great and long awaited addition! Thank you! 😃

[mogi-ct]

When I use this and drag down on the only or the last/bottom shape in an artboard, the object is placed outside the items grouped in the board. I then have to go to the layers panel to move it back in the artboard. Dragging up works fine.

 

Edit: Whoops.. I just realized this was already mentioned. I'll have to do a better job of reading the other posts!

Edited February 24, 2023 by mogi-ct

[JhonatanS]

@Ash is it possible to have a feature like: Quick way to Export PNG images from the Layers panel While using Designer or Raster Persona?

Like clicking Right-click over the layer or group and then export seamlessly.

This would save tons of time while exporting simple assets to clients.
I found the need to go to the Export Persona, Slicing objects, then export slices to many steps for simple exports.

I believe this would be a nice simple addition to the Affinity apps

[dominik]

1 hour ago, JhonatanS said:

Quick way to Export PNG images from the Layers panel While using Designer or Raster Persona?
 

I think everyone will come up with their preferred file format to be included in the menu, too. But OTOH I think the idea is not too bad if you take it a little further. Make it a command like 'Quick export to predefined in preferences format'. This way your suggestion would remain a one menu entry thing and could improve personal workflows quite a bit 🙂

d. 

[ronnyb]

7 hours ago, JhonatanS said:

@Ash is it possible to have a feature like: Quick way to Export PNG images from the Layers panel While using Designer or Raster Persona?

I found the need to go to the Export Persona, Slicing objects, then export slices to many steps for simple exports.
 

FWIW: You can select your layer and press Cmd+Opt+Shift+S (File > Export... on macOS) and choose Selection Only from the Area pop-up, and hit Enter, but it's not as quick as Right-click > QuickExport Preset as you're suggesting.

 

This is the way:

6 hours ago, dominik said:

Make it a command like 'Quick export to predefined in preferences format'. This way your suggestion would remain a one menu entry thing and could improve personal workflows quite a bit 🙂

 

[Ash]

On 2/27/2023 at 2:30 PM, JhonatanS said:

@Ash is it possible to have a feature like: Quick way to Export PNG images from the Layers panel While using Designer or Raster Persona?

23 hours ago, dominik said:

I think everyone will come up with their preferred file format to be included in the menu, too. But OTOH I think the idea is not too bad if you take it a little further. Make it a command like 'Quick export to predefined in preferences format'.

yes, obviously off topic for this thread but absolutely all possible - we'll see what we can do in a future update!

[gw_westdale]

On 2/19/2023 at 11:16 PM, Ronbo said:

It works for individual layers and group layers, but the top layer can only make a copy below it. I cannot option drag a copy above the top layer, including inside a group. Also, the bottom layer in a group can only be copied upward and remain inside the group. Dragging downward creates a copy outside of the group.

Not a big deal, it's just a matter of consistency. It would be nice if any layer could be dragged either up or down to make a copy, whether individual or inside a group.

Beta 1709 Windows -- dragging up top layer appears ok, dragging up to new top entry of group too.
When I had a sub group as lowest item of layer, it seemed I could drag to bottom of that subgroup but not below it as last entry of layer - otherwise it fell out of the layer.
With a simple layer, I could drag to the end of the layer ok

Shortly after doing many drags like this, and reverting using History and CTLZ  Designer had enough and crashed out.   Is the alt-copy a memory hog or something?
 

LayersToTestThings2.afdesign

[Petar Petrenko]

On 2/27/2023 at 5:10 PM, dominik said:

I think everyone will come up with their preferred file format to be included in the menu, too. But OTOH I think the idea is not too bad if you take it a little further. Make it a command like 'Quick export to predefined in preferences format'. This way your suggestion would remain a one menu entry thing and could improve personal workflows quite a bit 🙂

d. 

Maybe a list of all available formats with checkboxes to select the formats you need?

[MoonaticDestiny]

Ive been working in affinity designer v1 on ipad for a while now and what Ive been wanting in the layers studio for the longest time is a button that lets me duplicate. I dont work with a keyboard nor do I use the command modifier. I need to be able to delete, group, and duplicate in the layers studio. In v1, there is a group button and a delete button. They're awesome but with duplicate I have to go to the edit menu for that and it forces me to remove myself from my workflow of working in the layers studio. Making me lose time from my work because Ive exited my workflow to do something that should have been in the layers studio.

In v2, the delete button is there but now the group button has changed. Its no longer a one time tap to simply group something. Now, if I want to group something I have to tap the group button, a drop down menu appears, and I have to do an extra step of selecting "group." Its so annoying. I hate when things take two or more taps to do something. Its bad design and v2 is full of drop down menus.  It should just be a one time tap to group something. One tap is great design. The issue here is you have the warp options merged with the group button when the warp options should be its own separate button. So you need to make a group button that groups, a warp button that brings out a drop down menu of all the warp options, and then you need to add a duplicate button as its own button for users who dont use a keyboard or the command modifier.

I think the ability to duplicate in the layers studio with a keyboard shortcut is great for keyboard users. But theres needs to be a duplicate button in the layers studio for users working inside the layers studio who dont use a keyboard or the command controller. Not exiting the layers studio. Just full attention in the layers studio and building your layers and work there. 

Attached is a photo below on what needs to happen. 

 

[Ash]

There are various improvements we have in mind in the layers panel which will help with this, although it's unlikely it's something we will tackle in 2.1 I'm afraid. 

Do you use the quick menu (three finger swipe down or long press on document)? Much of these options are available through there too - though do understand in some cases having them more accessible in the layers panel itself would be beneficial.

[MoonaticDestiny]

15 hours ago, Ash said:

There are various improvements we have in mind in the layers panel which will help with this, although it's unlikely it's something we will tackle in 2.1 I'm afraid. 

No worries.

15 hours ago, Ash said:

Do you use the quick menu (three finger swipe down or long press on document)? Much of these options are available through there too - though do understand in some cases having them more accessible in the layers panel itself would be beneficial.

Im actually using AD v1 right now but quick menu in AD v2 would be the solution for duplicating in the layers. Im glad you see how I need these options in the layer studio. When Im building my work in the layers studio I need to be able to stay in my layers studio and have everything I need there. I dont want to exit the layer studio to do a quick menu gesture on my canvas or go to the edit menu like in v1. I need my focus and attention to stay and be in this layer studio. Again, quick menu is the solution for now.  🙂