Gradient annotation disappearing

[borntobe]

Why the gradient annotation in affinity photo always disappearing once you deselect the layer?

Then I can't find it and I have to add and adjust the gradient again and again...

[Paul Mudditt]

8 hours ago, borntobe said:

Why the gradient annotation in affinity photo always disappearing once you deselect the layer?

Then I can't find it and I have to add and adjust the gradient again and again...

Read this article on how to use gradients non-destructively

https://affinity.help/photo2/English.lproj/pages/Clr/gradientEditor.html

[borntobe]

Thank you sir, but this doesn't answer my question - why is the gradient annotation disappearing once you deselect that layer... THen when I come back to this layer to do additional adjustments the gradient annotation is gone and I have to reapply it so the controls appear again... Does that make sense?

[borntobe]

Guys, using your software is hard to do even simple tasks like this... adjusting an gradient... I'm spending so much time trying to resolve some bugs, that's disappointing and time consuming...

[walt.farrell]

16 minutes ago, borntobe said:

but this doesn't answer my question - why is the gradient annotation disappearing once you deselect that layer... THen when I come back to this layer to do additional adjustments the gradient annotation is gone and I have to reapply it so the controls appear again...

It sounds like you're applying a gradient to a pixel layer. When you do that you no longer have a gradient; you just have colored pixels.

For an editable gradient you need to use vector layers or Fill layers.

[borntobe]

Thank you sir, and how can I add vector layers to AP, because I cant find info on the web about this?

[borntobe]

I want to add mask to an image where the gradient is half transparent, and to be able to come back and edit that gradient...

[walt.farrell]

You would use shapes (rectangle, ellipse, etc.), or the Pen Tool, or a Fill layer.

Edit: For a mask, i'm not sure the best approach, but I think you can mask using a vector object.

[borntobe]

Thank you sir, appreciate your help, it works with rectangle