Glitch in layer group when fill layer or pixel layer added

[Clay Hawker]

Hi team and forum, 

M1 MacBook Air - 16GB - Ventura 13.5.1 - Affinity Photo V2.2.0

Attached screenshots. 

Open image as 16B Tiff - AdobeRGB.

Want to do some selective brightening and darkening, like dodging and burning. My method in PS was to group some adjustments together eg for dodging to make the scene "too bright" and then mask the group. Plus, add a fill layer as a "mask indicator" to toggle on and off to see more clearly where I've painted into the scene/mask. 

So... I add my adjustments - Curves, Levels, White balance and Vibrance. In the case of the attached screenshots, I made some obscene adjustments to make it easy to see. Ok, now group said adjustments and name the group: "dodge adjustments"

Then add a mask, invert, and paint in the adjustments. All good so far. You can see some crazy painting in the screenshot. Adjustments are clear to see. 

Then added a fill layer within the group stack, and magenta is the most visible so magenta I used. Ok great, I can now see where I painted in the adjustments, shown in pink. Happy days..

But then I toggle off the fill layer visibility. 

Now every single adjustment has just disappeared. The layers are still there. Visibility is all on. And opening the adjustments, the same changes to all four adjustment layers are still in effect. Even after readjusting all layers, any changes have been rendered mute. 

I've tried to find a work around, eg groups within groups - one group for the adjustments only and another for the mask indicator fill layer, but that doesn't seem to work either. The problem persists. 

 

Edited October 17, 2023 by Clay Hawker

[walt.farrell]

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums.

If a Group contains only Adjustments, they will apply to layers below the Group.

However, if the Group also contains other kinds of layers (e.g., Pixel or Fill layers), the Adjustments are restricted to applying only within the Group. This behavior is different in the Affinity applications than in Photoshop, and is intended behavior.

[Clay Hawker]

Thanks Walt. That has alleviated my concerns and I have found a work-around now, thanks to your explanation. Appreciated!