Extract sections of PDF image within Affinity Designer 2

[mlcanales]

Hi everyone,

 

I was wondering if it is possible in Affinity Designer 2 to extract certain features from a PDF file (e.g., the circles in the attached file). The reason being I want to play a bit with them in terms of layer arrangements (e.g., bring to front) and colours.

 

Thanks!

mtc-pc_vs_opcosts.pdf

[walt.farrell]

Yes, but what you're wanting to do may require a lot of work.

Why don't you try it and see?

[NotMyFault]

yes, simply open it 

[mlcanales]

Hey @NotMyFault and @walt.farrell thanks for that quick replies. @NotMyFault I have the PDF opened and loaded in the software. However, I do not understand how to extract all the single circle features. Could you expand on that? Same for @walt.farrell's response!

[walt.farrell]

If you look at the Layers panel you'll see a lot of Group layers. If you expand those layers you'll see that each contains a bunch of Groups. And if you expand those inner Groups you'll see that each contains a bunch of Curve objects. You can select those individual Curve objects via the Layers panel, or by clicking on them in the workspace.

Unfortunately, you will also find that in many cases what the file contains is a single Curve object that contains lines from several overlapping circles, rather than containing the actual circles. You won't be able to do much with those.

Some circles are isolated, and those you can easily work with.

[loukash]

The PDF contains almost 30000 of those dots. While "playing" with them, I've actually made Designer to show me the Spinning Beach Ball Of Death for a minute or two.
So be patient…  

To change their appearance, you can e.g. select just one first, then: Select menu → Select Same → Fill Color.
Then you can use various panels or the context toolbar to change all dots in one go.
If you select them all, then enable the Transform Objects Separately button, then by changing the size of one dot you will resize each at the same time.

Again, note that such operations on that many vector objects at the same time may cause Designer to hang for a while or perhaps collaps completely.

[mlcanales]

Hi @loukash,

Thanks for that thorough response and even getting into the document and testing it by yourself!

Could you expand on how do you go from uploading the PDF document into Affinity Designer, to actually seeing the circles in the layers panel? This question arises cause in the Layers Panel I only see the PDF button as an "Embedded document". There are no subgroups below it which I could grab.

 

Thanks in advance!! 😁

 

[loukash]

1 minute ago, mlcanales said:

Could you expand on how do you go from uploading the PDF document into Affinity Designer, to actually seeing the circles in the layers panel?

 

File → Open → navigate to your PDF
Or on Mac (no idea about Windows), drag the PDF icon in Finder onto the Designer app icon in the Dock.

[mlcanales]

@loukash Thanks again for that quick response.

You are right, when proceeding as you suggested, I can actually see those groups and layers and play with them.

Thanks again for your assistance !!!