Affinity Photo V2 Curves Question

[Steve F]

I'm an illustrator, long time Photoshop user making the switch to AFphoto V2 on Mac OS Ventura.

In my normal work flow I often apply curves to a layer and then use the color picker to match the new color and paint from there. For some reason the color selected from the newly curves adjusted color in AFphoto does not match the actual adjusted color. In other words, if I use the brush tool to paint over the color I just selected it is a different color. I've found I can create a new layer below and then merge down and that will solve the problem (> icon is gone) but is inefficient.

My question - is there a command or an easier way to get rid of that > icon in the left column WITHOUT DELETING the curves adjustment I just made so I can select a color and have it be the actual same color? 

[Old Bruce]

1 hour ago, Steve F said:

My question - is there a command or an easier way to get rid of that > icon in the left column WITHOUT DELETING the curves adjustment I just made so I can select a color and have it be the actual same color? 

Welcome to the forums Steve F,

I am not entirely certain of what you want to achieve. But having said that you will be painting with the "new colour" on the original pixel layer and that new colour will be affected by the Curves Adjustment layer. If you paint on an empty new Pixel layer above the original layer with its Adjustment Layer then this will be the "new colour" unaffected by the Curves Adjustment layer. Try this and turn off and on the Adjustment layer to see the effects.

Try with something more radical like a HSL or Recolour Adjustment layer to see what is happening on different layers.

[Steve F]

48 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

that new colour will be affected by the Curves Adjustment layer

Thanks Old Bruce. 

I'm very appreciative of all the information generously provided online that has made the switch less painful for me.

 Quoted above is the issue. To elaborate, I work quickly often adjusting curves, selecting the new color and then painting with that color or quickly pick a color close to the selected color and paint with it. In photoshop (at least my older non-subscription version) when painting with the color selected from the curves adjusted color it is the same as the adjusted color. In AFphoto the need to create a new layer either above or below and then merge immediately or later at some point is much more time consuming, especially when this operation is repeated many times. 

I'm hoping there is a simple command that will lock in the curve adjustment made on that layer and then delete the > icon toggle. 

[Old Bruce]

If you go to the Assistant settings you can change where Adjustment Layers are placed, they can be placed as a child layer or as a separate layer above. When above they will adjust everything you have below and this may be a bad thing.

[Steve F]

Thank you Old Bruce.

Changing the Assistant setting from > Add adjustment as new layer to > Add adjustment based on selection appears to have solved this issue.