Photo 2.3.1 interface invisible on MacM1 OS 12

[Mbike]

The interface-- image window and tools-- intermittently goes invisible. No actions available will recover or make it visible, although it opens a image file (which can't be seen) via "open" or double clicking.   Invoking the "float window" command will show the file, but not the studio or tools. Quitting and restarting the app will fix it for a time.

I'm now reverting to 2.3. Never had this problem until upgrade to 2.3.1.

[MikeTO]

14 minutes ago, Mbike said:

The interface-- image window and tools-- intermittently goes invisible. No actions available will recover or make it visible, although it opens a image file (which can't be seen) via "open" or double clicking.   Invoking the "float window" command will show the file, but not the studio or tools. Quitting and restarting the app will fix it for a time.

I'm now reverting to 2.3. Never had this problem until upgrade to 2.3.1.

Are you sure you're not accidentally pressing Tab which toggles on and off the user interface?

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, Mbike said:

The interface-- image window and tools-- intermittently goes invisible.

The Tools (and Studios, and Context Toolbar, and Toolbar) going invisible could be from pressing Tab as Mike mentioned. That should not remove the image window, though.

1 hour ago, Mbike said:

although it opens a image file (which can't be seen) via "open" or double clicking. 

That sounds like you have had another monitor connected at some point, but no longer have it connected, and the image window is trying to display on it.

[Dan C]

Hi @Mbike,

Welcome to the Affinity Forums

Unfortunately I'm not 100% certain of the issue you're reporting - as mentioned above this may be occurring due to you accidentally hiding your apps UI, or alternatively you may be encountering a known error when connecting/disconnecting from an external display.

Therefore I'd like to request a screenshot or screen recording showing this issue, as this should help us to better understand your report and assist further.

Although I understand you are reporting this as an intermittent issue, does this seem to occur given any specific workflow (ie when connecting/disconnecting from a second screen) or do you recall the steps/keys you press in the app, for this to happen?

Many thanks in advance!

[Mbike]

The issue occurs if I close an image file (so nothing left open in Affinity), and typically will switch to another app for something (Firefox, often). When I attempt to go back to Affinity to resume, the UI won't appear. This happens either by double clicking the desired file or through the "open" command. The file does seem to open, but won't display, and the entire UI, except for the screen top bar, stays hidden. Don't believe I've ever hit tab during, but suggestion worth a try.

I have reverted to 2.3, so far no repeat. I miss that measure tool ....

[walt.farrell]

8 hours ago, Mbike said:

I have reverted to 2.3, so far no repeat. I miss that measure tool ....

I'm a bit puzzled, as the measure tool also exists in 2.3. It's been there since 2.0. 

 

[Mbike]

You're right on that-- I forgot exactly when the measure too appeared and when I reverted to 2.3, it wasn't showing in the tool palette. All fixed now.

 

I may attempt to install 2.3.1 and leave 2.3 as well, in order to check for any other factors affecting the problem.  But I'm concerned that might cause some interference between the versions. I wouldn't attempt to run both simultaneously in any case.

[Dan C]

On 1/27/2024 at 2:47 AM, Mbike said:

The issue occurs if I close an image file (so nothing left open in Affinity), and typically will switch to another app for something (Firefox, often). When I attempt to go back to Affinity to resume, the UI won't appear. This happens either by double clicking the desired file or through the "open" command. The file does seem to open, but won't display, and the entire UI, except for the screen top bar, stays hidden

Thanks for letting me know - I've tried to replicate this using the menu options, keyboard shortcuts and physical buttons on the top toolbar of the Affinity app and I'm still not seeing this behaviour currently.

Can you please provide a screen recording showing the exact workflow you're taking when this occurs?

When this issue occurs, if you navigate to Window > Zoom from the top toolbar with the Affinity app active, does this return the app to view on your monitor please?

Thanks once again

[Mbike]

I've reverted to 2.3 for the time being, and never had this visibility problem until the 2.3.1 upgrade. I'm considering installing the two versions in parallel, but can't find any information regarding possible conflicts if I do. I did reinstall 2.3.1 initially, before reverting.

Not sure how much good a screen shot would do... the problem occurs on opening an image file (jpg or afphoto, either by double clicking the file or via "open") and that's pretty much it. The file does seem to open, but won't display, and neither will the Affinity window or palettes. Just blank, i.e. seeing through to the desktop.  The Affinity toolbar at the top of the screen does appear. I paused upgrading my other Affinity apps after this, so I don't know if the same thing happens.

I didn't think of trying the Zoom command, but I did try a few other view options that I could reach with no effect. Restarting Photo would cure the problem, but it would reoccur after some random interval. I don't know if there is a consistent interval, like number of times images are opened.

 

 

[Dan C]

Thanks for letting me know, though unfortunately I'm still not certain of the exact issue you're having without a screen recording of the steps you taken for this to occur - as you've mentioned nothing is shown in a previous post, but above you've noted "The Affinity toolbar at the top of the screen does appear", so I'm unsure which of these is currently true, and how the application is ending up in this state.

On 1/30/2024 at 5:24 PM, Mbike said:

I'm considering installing the two versions in parallel, but can't find any information regarding possible conflicts if I do. I did reinstall 2.3.1 initially, before reverting.

(...)

I paused upgrading my other Affinity apps after this, so I don't know if the same thing happens.

I can confirm that we don't recommend having 2 different versions of the app installed simultaneously. If you want to revert to a previous version of the app, please remove the current version from your Applications folder first - though this will retain your app settings when reinstalling the previous version.

Equally, we recommend having all installed Affinity apps on the same version number - otherwise this can cause unexpected issues.

You're certainly welcome to revert to an older version of the app, but should you chose to do so then please ensure all 3 Affinity apps have been 'rolled back' to the same version simultaneously.
Equally, the issue you're reporting here may not be resolved in a future update if our team are unable to replicate the reported behaviour, hence my request for a screen recording etc.

I hope this helps clear things up

[Mbike]

Here's a shot of the state of things when this glitch occurs. Obviously, not much to see, but it does show Photo comes to the front, without displaying the view or tools. The upper bar menus are functional.

 

I have at this point reverted to 2.3, which doesn't have the same issue, so I don't really have much more to report. I had hoped this bug would have been reported by others so there might be some link, but apparently nothing so far.

[Dan C]

Thanks for providing that for me! When this occurs, does Window > Zoom return the Affinity app to your display?

Are you connecting/disconnecting an external monitor from your mac regularly by chance?

[Em Ar]

On 1/25/2024 at 7:17 PM, walt.farrell said:

.... That should not remove the image window

Strongly agree with this, unless in fullscreen mode. Cursor to the top in fullscreen should still show the toolbar. And probably that toolbar should include a studio view toggle.

[Mbike]

I did try some of the view options available, but in truth can't remember if I used the Zoom. Tried the minimize/maximize effect, reducing to a dock icon, but nothing available had an effect.

I reverted to 2.3 and of course I can't test further unless I reinstall. I would hope to preserve my 2.3 installation-- would it work to rename the 2.3 folder, install 2.3.1 to test, and return to 2.3 by reverting the name?

I am running an external monitor (lid closed), but at least when I initially encountered the issue the monitor was continuously connected.

[Dan C]

On 2/3/2024 at 6:04 PM, Mbike said:

I reverted to 2.3 and of course I can't test further unless I reinstall. I would hope to preserve my 2.3 installation-- would it work to rename the 2.3 folder, install 2.3.1 to test, and return to 2.3 by reverting the name?

I would not recommend renaming any folders/applications - as the Affinity apps use the same setting files for all V2 versions, I'd recommend the following:

1. Test and confirm the workflow that causes this does not occur in 2.3
2. Launch Affinity 2.3 and update to 2.3.1 as prompted
3. Restart the app to install the update
4. Retest and confirm the same workflow, that causes this to appear in 2.3.1
5. Try using Window > Zoom to see if this resolves the issue
   
   Once you've been able to replicate the issue, you can then do the following
    
6. Open Finder > Applications
7. Select Affinity Photo 2 right-click and Send to Trash
8. Download Photo 2.3.0 DMG from the below link (if required)
   https://store.serif.com/update/macos/photo/2/
9. Install this using the usual install method 

You should now have Affinity Photo 2.3.0 installed in Applications, carrying all of the same app settings / custom brushes etc that are present in your app currently.

If you are able to consistently trigger this in 2.3.1 and not 2.3.0 -

• What are your workflow steps to cause this?
• Does Window > Zoom resolve the issue?
• Does it also occur in the latest 2.4 beta?
  (this beta test is the most important IMO, as our team have already made related fixes to stop similar issues occurring that have been reported previously, so it would be interesting to know if these related fixes also resolve your issue reported here).

Many thanks in advance

[Mbike]

Is the 2.4 release due soon? I might just save myself the trouble and install when ready. I don't know if the Zoom command is a fix, only that the trouble appeared at 2.3.1, and 2.4 seems to address a related issue, so probably just worth waiting on.

[Dan C]

15 hours ago, Mbike said:

Is the 2.4 release due soon?

We don't yet have a public release schedule for v2.4 - but we're hoping to release this ASAP. It's certainly understandable if you wish to continue using 2.3.0 until 2.4 is released, if the issue does not occur for you in 2.3.0

[Mbike]

Curiously this problem just occurred in 2.3.  Never before. I double clicked a file to open and the interface wouldn't appear (top bar only). Tried the Zoom command, no luck. Tried full screen and no controls showed, so I had to quit out of the app. It restarted fine by double clicking the same file. I'll keep note of any consistent workflow that seems connected.