Affinity publisher styles not working

[andreasj]

Hi im trying to use the styles (so i can add a pattern to my shape) when i put the pattern on the page and click from the styles menu hamburger 'add style from selection' it does nothing

am i doing something wrong? 

im using the most updated version in publisher and I've tried it in designer

Many thanks Andrea

[walt.farrell]

What kind of object is your pattern?

Styles, in general, encompass the Fill and Stroke of an object, or Layer Effects. So unless your pattern object has a Fill or Stroke or Layer Effect you wouldn't be able to create a Style from it.

One approach that might work: you could create an Asset from the pattern object. Then (in V2, at least), you could simply drag the Asset onto the Fill of the target shape in the Context Toolbar.

Or, at that point, if you really want to have a Style, you could create your Style from the Filled shape.

[andreasj]

thanks for your reply, I'm just trying to fill a basic shape that I've rounded edges on to be filled with a pattern from an image i have, i put the image on - i must be doing something wrong im sure as nothings working still even after watching some youtube videos on it

[walt.farrell]

18 minutes ago, andreasj said:

i put the image on

You would not be able to turn an image into a Style.

You could make it into an Asset, and then

1. Select the shape.
2. Drag the Asset onto the Fill in the Context Toolbar.

[andreasj]

ah okay, ive just made it an asset but i dont understand about where im dragging the asset to, i tried dragging the asset image to the fill box in the top toolbar and the pc froze then put a strange graphic covering the page...  i just tried to use mask and that worked but after 3 attempts as i couldnt figure that out either lol

[jmwellborn]

@andreasj  Actually, you can turn an image of a pattern into a style in Publisher, Photo, or Designer, but it will take a little bit of preparation (steps 1-3).  If you are planning to use the pattern image more than once or for more than one purpose, or for more than one project, I recommend this.

1.  Create a New Document, then Open your pattern image.
2.  FILE>EXPORT and select PNG.  (Very important.)
3.  Delete all layers in your document (steps 1-2) so you have a blank canvas.
4.  With the Move Tool, select the Rectangle Shape Tool and draw a nice-sized rectangle on your canvas.  Don't worry about filling it with a colour.
5.  Select the Gradient Tool (V2), or the Fill Tool (V1), and on the Context Toolbar in the "Type" box, select BITMAP.
6.  In MAC, Publisher will send you to FINDER (don't know what it is with WINDOWS) where you select the PNG image (step 2) you wish to use.  Click on that.
7.  Your pattern image will now appear on the canvas inside your rectangle shape.
8.  With the handles highlighted (see attached video) you can adjust the size, rotation, etc. of the parts of the pattern image you want to appear initially in your Style.
9.  With the handles still highlighted, go to your Styles Panel, select the Category where you wish your new style to be stored, right click on the little hamburger menu, and select Add Style From Selection.  
10. Your new style will be added and your rectangle shape on the canvas will be immediately filled with your image.
11.  So will any other shape you draw, or shape tool you use, or Font that you use.  Then, with the Gradient Tool selected again, you can move the image about.  

I am sure you are completely sure of most of these steps, but just in case anybody is new to Publisher, I thought I might as well include them all.

Video shows steps 4-11.

 

[andreasj]

thankyou so much, this works great! 😊

[jmwellborn]

14 minutes ago, andreasj said:

thankyou so much, this works great! 😊

Wonderful!  I am so glad I could help.