Single mask for multiple adjustments In Photo2)

[Azxk]

Do I have to have a different mask, for each adjustment I add to a masked area, 

or is there a way to use only 1 mask (for each area of the photo to be adjusted

& apply multiple adjustments to that 1 mask). 

(Later being able to reshape just 1 mask for that area ?)

While using multiple masks for different areas of a photo

At the moment I end up with multiple masks, 1 for each adjustment & often the defects aware aspired I see need to make changes to the masks. 

I have to do that on about 8 or so masks per area ! 

[Komatös]

Hello an welcome to the forums, @Azxk

If you group all adjustment layers and assign a mask to the group it should work as you expect.

If the adjustment layers are only applied to one pixel layer. You have to group the adjustment layers with the pixel layer, otherwise the grouped adjustment layers will affect all layers below.

[Azxk]

Thanks for your reply 

I've tried every possible combination I can think of but can't get it to work. There's no way I can see of detaching the adjustments from the masks ? 

So if I start from scratch 

Select the image 

Create an "Empty mask"  or "Mask layer"

(Option (Dwn) must be turned off to draw ) 

Creates a mask that only lets (white masked) parts of the image through

 

So start again

I select an area 1st, then

Select an adjustment - a mask is automatically created attached to that adjustment 

Select another adjustment for the whole photo then move that 

 - onto the mask (= puts it below mask with "no" effect) 

Or  Above the mask = effects whole photo 

I can't seem to attach an adjustment to a mask 

Creating layers as shown in your diagram - then Adjustments have no effect ?

[MEB]

Hi @Azxk,
Here's a sample file where a single mask is used for various adjustments in an image.

single_mask_multiple_adjust.afphoto

Note that the mask is nested (masking position) to the pixel layer - to do this drag the mask over the thumbnail of the pixel layer in the Layers panel. You can check it is indeed nested by collapsing the pixel layer - if done right you should see the mask's thumbnail side by side with the pixel layer thumbnail (clipped layers/adjustments/filters/whatever do not have their thumbnail displayed alongside the pixel layer thumbnail when the pixel layer is collapsed in the Layers panel).

The adjustments were both clipped to the pixel layer - to do this drag the adjustments over over the pixel layer's label name area (not over its thumbnail) in the Layers panel.

You can learn a bit more about masking versus clipping in this Affinity Photo video tutorial. There's a lot of flexibility in the way you can create layer's constructs to achieve what you want. Learning the differences between clipping and masking (nested layers) will help you to get there. Note that you can also apply adjustments to masks themselves (Curves, Levels and all adjustments that affect the alpha channel). For this to work you must the set the channel of the adjustment to Alpha, in the respective adjustment dialog.

[Paul Mudditt]

@MEB I think you created your example using V2 beta so the op may have trouble opening it.
EDIT: Converted to V2.1 compatible.

single_mask_multiple_adjust.afphoto_V2.1.afphoto

[Azxk]

Thanks for your help