Exporting with UI layer

[affinityenthusiast]

Hello all,

I'm using Designer, and I have multiple images in separate layers stacking on top of each other. Is there a way to export them all with each of them attached to a single separate top most layer used for labeling? 

Currently, I'm using ctrl + alt + shift + s, and toggling visibility for each layer.

Thank you.

[NathanC]

Hi @affinityenthusiast welcome to the forums,

If you want to export multiple images/layers out that are stacked on top of on-another on the canvas as separate images then this could be achieved via the export persona, in the 'layers' panel within the export persona you can create a slice out of each image/layer, and then within the 'Slices' panel you can specify the file name labelling for the slice name, format etc. as well as the export file format and size scaling, I have linked the help guide below for more info.

https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/pages/ExportPersona/exportPersona.html

[affinityenthusiast]

Sorry, I wasn't clear, please check the image. I hope it makes sense. My goal is for the ease of export and making changes to the text. My real project have a lot more than 6 images.

[thomaso]

If the goal is to place text on a bunch of images there are easier ways to do this, for instance with a macro in APhoto or a different app than Affinity.

If you prefer to do it in ADesigner, note, you can't export single layers as a set of various files but artboards only, – unless you "create" slices form every layer as mentioned by @NathanC. To export without slices you would not place all images on 1 artboard but each image on an artboard of its own. The text could be placed as copies on every artboard, if wanted as instances of a Symbol.

If it is required to have only 1 text layer there is a kind of workaround to make the text layer appear on several output pages. Therefore all artboards would have the same position in AD's layout window and the text layer would be placed in the Layers panel on top and outside/above of all artboards. Then you simply export all artboards. Like so:

The disadvantage – only for the layout view – of this method is obvious: if the objects on every artboard are a set of photos in full page size then you would see only the top most image in the layout window, unless you set all artboards above to invisible in the Layers panel. However, the export is not affected by this visibility limitation and would have all layers set to be visible.

[carl123]

First Rasterise the Text layer
Switch to Pixel Persona
Select the Flood Select Tool and set Contiguous to off
Select part of the text on screen (all text should now be selected)
Switch off the text layer in the Layers panel (not needed, now we have a selection of the text)
Select all image Layers in the Layer panel and Rasterise them (if not already pixel layers, won't work with image layers)
Select the Paint Brush Tool, a (largish) basic brush and colour for your text then paint over the selection (marching ants) 

Since all images are selected your "text" will be painted to all layers.

Use Export Persona to export all image layers, which now include your desired text

 

4 hours ago, affinityenthusiast said:

My goal is for the ease of export and making changes to the text.

Not enough information.

Other than repeat above with new text

[Old Bruce]

14 hours ago, affinityenthusiast said:

My goal is for the ease of export and making changes to the text. My real project have a lot more than 6 images.

If you only have access to Designer then your screenshot with the title "Or do I have to do this" is about the best way. I would use a Symbol (consisting of a text layer) instead of the text layers if the text is to be the same for each image.

Myself having access to the whole suite means I would just use a Publisher document with a Master Page holding a Picture Frame and the Text layer above it. Make 6 or 66 pages and File > Place all the images into the frames on the different pages. Export as Pages to the various formats.

[affinityenthusiast]

 

Thank you everyone,

I do have the universal license. I'm just so used to using Adobe Illustrator, so Designer became my go to for most thing.

I spent all night and day thinking about this, and @Old Bruce just confirmed my own theory. Before I went to bed, I went ahead and group everything with a copy of the text that I turned into symbol, and the slices exported just fine. But if I wanted to redo all of the images with another software altogether, I will have to regroup everything. Then just now in the shower, I thought about using Publisher to do exactly what @Old Bruce said, so I guess I'll be using Publisher for now.

Perhaps they, @NathanCcan add an option to toggle a slice and have that slice be export/attach on top of every other non-toggled slices. If possible, I believe that will be the fastest way to accomplish my particular goal.

Incase anyone is wondering, I'm using stable diffusion to create lots of images, I'm trying to find the best way to publish them with an overlay text. So far, it's >100.

Thanks again,

Edited April 24, 2023 by affinityenthusiast