Use a irregular pixel layer or selection, to “cut a hole” in a vector layer in A Designer.

[Affinity Rat]

I see its possible to use another vector shape to cut a hole in a vector layer, but what about an irregular selection or pixel layer?….

Can be done, see below.

 

[Affinity Rat]

I presume, to do this would necessitate, converting a pixel layer to a vector layer which at present is not possible.

I was wrong see below.

 

[NotMyFault]

You can use any pixel layer as mask to make parts of a vector shape invisible. 

Just nest it to the masking position (not child / clipping position).

The alpha values are used to mask the vector layer. All color values are ignored (taken from vector layer).

[NotMyFault]

If you want to use the lightness value (black: hiding, white: revealing), just set a blend range on the pixel layer from 0/0 to 1/1 on source.

[Affinity Rat]

3 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

Just nest it to the masking position (not child / clipping position).

The alpha values are used to mask the vector layer. All color values are ignored (taken from vector layer).

Thank you NotMyFault, but how to do that, a screen recording of whole process would be fantastic.

[Affinity Rat]

I see that in APho, setting a pixel layer blend mode to erase seems to allow layers below  vector layer to be visible, but doesnt seem to work in ADez.

[Affinity Rat]

ok, I was wrong, does work in ADez, but erase cuts hole in all layers not just vector layer, possible to prevent lower levels being cut?

Didnt seem to behave this way in APho tho.

 

 

[Affinity Rat]

Oops my mistake again! 😗

 

[Affinity Rat]

Another example without pixel layer mask

 

[Affinity Rat]

Really pleased the way this works, numerous vector objects cut, simplifies my design by allowing one vector layer separated into multiple pieces by using a pixel based layer to erase all the unwanted parts of vector layers leaving the background visible.

[walt.farrell]

5 hours ago, Affinity Rat said:

Really pleased the way this works, numerous vector objects cut, simplifies my design by allowing one vector layer separated into multiple pieces by using a pixel based layer to erase all the unwanted parts of vector layers leaving the background visible.

However, you may find that when you Export, those vector objects will be rasterized.

[Affinity Rat]

38 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

However, you may find that when you Export, those vector objects will be rasterized.

Not sure I understand, when exported to flat format ie jpg png it looks fine, if exported to format preserving layer svg, psd the erasure is lost.

Exported to psd, the blend mode attribute was lost, the the vector layer was still present, so only had to re-establish erase blend mode, and the exported psd version looked identical to ADez.

Maybe I’m missing something here. 

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, Affinity Rat said:

Not sure I understand, when exported to flat format ie jpg png it looks fine, if exported to format preserving layer svg, psd the erasure is lost.

I was expecting that export to SVG or PDF would maintain the erasure, but rasterize the objects from which you erased info.

[Affinity Rat]

 

No in the psd, and svg the vector layer was maintained but the blend mode set to normal.

The last uploaded png image is the svg screenshot after blend mode of pixel layer changed to erase.

I didnt try the pdf.

Untitled.svg Untitled.psd

[Affinity Rat]

As Walt hinted, your results might vary.

 

[Affinity Rat]

The solution as shown by @Callum is here