Designer: Linked Files are pixelated

[D.VE]

I just started to use linked documents (other designer documents) for recurring content.

It happens very often, that after opening a Designer file, the linked document(s) are displayed very pixelated. After some time, if I move it around or change the linked Artboard it seems to be updated und displayed correctly.

But the worst part: It also effects the export. Already published such a pixelated document on Insta. Happens a lot if  just open a document, directly go the export view.

I have to recheck EVERY export. 

On the screenshot it is the exact same linked file within one AD document. One is displayed correctly. The other one is blurry.

I think it has something to do with the artboards and the zoom


EDIT: I made a screenrecording. It seems to be reproduceable. Even if I save and reopen the document. 
(sorry forgot to switch the UI to English)

AD 2.2
MacMini M2, 16GB RAM
OS Ventura 13.5

Edited November 8, 2023 by D.VE
Added screen recording

[walt.farrell]

If your files are somewhere in the network, rather than on your Mac, perhaps you're seeing a delay with Publisher trying to locate and display all of them. Your .afpub file would only have a limited preview of the linked files within it.

[D.VE]

12 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

If your files are somewhere in the network

Nope... They are on the harddrive (external)... 

 

 

13 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

with Publisher

Not Publisher... Designer

 

14 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

a limited preview of the linked files

And the limit ist "two"?

 

But even if this is the case: This shouldn't be exported... Under any circumstances! 
I expect Designer to export the real thing, and not some previews embedded in the .afdesign-file. 

If linked documents are not available or anything else goes wrong there should be an error message.

[stokerg]

Hi @D.VE,

We have an issue similar to this logged with the Developers, which relates to Artboards, Zoom levels and pixel content.    If you use CMD+1 or CMD+2 how do they appear then? 

Can you attach the files or upload them to our Dropbox here and I'll see if this is the same issue we already have logged?  

[Old Bruce]

Going by the titles of the Artboards I am going to assume you are exporting for websites. You are using mm as the Units of Measurement instead of Pixels. The metric system does not play well with Pixel Perfect work. Snap your artboards to a Pixel grid, set your dimensions to Pixels, not mm or cm.

[D.VE]

12 hours ago, stokerg said:

Hi @D.VE,

We have an issue similar to this logged with the Developers, which relates to Artboards, Zoom levels and pixel content.    If you use CMD+1 or CMD+2 how do they appear then? 

Can you attach the files or upload them to our Dropbox here and I'll see if this is the same issue we already have logged?  

Done... 

 

5 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

to assume you are exporting for websites

No, mostly for print. But I use the same file to export for web as well.

[stokerg]

Hi @D.VE,

Can you also upload the 2 linked afdesign files as well to the Dropbox link?  

[devendra]

I haven't tested any of the discussed and uploaded files but in case my experience might be of help:

My linked (large) file in AD desktop was very pixelated after rasterizing the layer and I thought it was just a display issue. When I opened it on AP ipad I had the same pixelation issue there. So I checked the original file in AD again, links were all correct but the file stayed pixelated. 

What worked for me was:

• I embedded the linked file (in my case that was on AD Desktop/Mac)
• Pixelation was still visible but I zoomed in very closely and waited for AD to calculate the full resolution, which it did!
• Only AFTER the resolution of my embedded file was displayed correctly I rasterized the embedded file to one layer 
• Saved the document
• Opened on AP ipad .. tadaa, high resolution 

It seems like Affinity uses the image preview as a basis for the real data? And when the preview is not fully calculated the export doesn't work either? Please correct me if I draw the wrong conclusion here but if it's right, I hope it will be fixed soon.

At least I am glad I found a way to make it work for me for now, hope it works for others as well!

Cheers,

Devendra

[devendra]

Addendum:

In another document the solution was different:

I had a RGB/8 Document that had linked RGB/16 files.
Changing the master document to RGB/16 (document-> format/convert icc profile) did the trick!

[D.VE]

@stokerg

Any update on this issue?

It's really annoying it you have to recheck every export... 

 

This is a JPEG export with 3000x3000 Pixel: 

 

[D.VE]

*bump*
Could you please fix this bug, this is SO annoying!