Are Smart Objects not available in Affinity Photo?

[dash991]

I've recently moved from Photoshop to Affinity. I've had no problems opening my previous psd files with smart objects embedded and am able to edit the smart object.

I'm now working on a new project which requires a smart object but can't see how to create one. I've checked this forum and seen a post from 2021 saying Affinity can't create smart objects.

Bit confused as you can use them as long as imported from Photoshop, but looks like you can't create from scratch in Affinity. Surely this isn't right?

I'm hoping the solution isn't to sign back up to Adobe?

If anyone can help I'd gratefully appreciate it.

Thanks

[Pšenda]

https://www.google.com/search?q=create+smart+objects+site:https://forum.affinity.serif.com

[dash991]

7 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

https://www.google.com/search?q=create+smart+objects+site:https://forum.affinity.serif.com

Like I said in my post, those posts are a few years old. I want to know if it's now possible to create smart objects

[loukash]

19 minutes ago, dash991 said:

a new project which requires a smart object but can't see how to create one

In Affinity, every object is literally "smart" unless you rasterize it in place.
Unlike Photoshop.

19 minutes ago, dash991 said:

I'm hoping the solution isn't to sign back up to Adobe?

No.

The solution is to learn new workflows.  
In other words, Affinity Photo is not just another cheap Shmotophop knockoff.

[Pšenda]

 

[walt.farrell]

20 minutes ago, dash991 said:

I want to know if it's now possible to create smart objects

The question is unclear, to me.

Are you trying to create PSD files? If so, the answer is no. But if you're working within the Affinity suite (.afphoto, etc.) you should be fine if you learn how to use the functions that the Affinity applications create.

[dash991]

24 minutes ago, loukash said:

In Affinity, every object is literally "smart" unless you rasterize it in place.
Unlike Photoshop.

No.

The solution is to learn new workflows.  
In other words, Affinity Photo is not just another cheap Shmotophop knockoff.

i'm struggling to work out what that workflow is  

I have products that are the same shape and size that I want to embed on a stock photo but have the ability to change the product. 

I was never a pro in PS and am still learning affinity photo, I just can't find anything that shows me step by step what to do to replicate the concept, other than subbing back to photoshop, create the file then open in affinity

[dash991]

9 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

The question is unclear, to me.

Are you trying to create PSD files? If so, the answer is no. But if you're working within the Affinity suite (.afphoto, etc.) you should be fine if you learn how to use the functions that the Affinity applications create.

Thanks for the reply. No, not trying to create PSD files, I just want to be able to add a smart object to an image that gives me the ability to edit to edit the smart object to change it to a different design.

If i open a PSD in Affinity it allows the smart object functionality to work. I'm trying to build what I need solely in affinity. 

[walt.farrell]

34 minutes ago, dash991 said:

I just want to be able to add a smart object to an image that gives me the ability to edit to edit the smart object to change it to a different design.

Then you probably want to be using Embedded or Linked files, which could be simple images (JPG, TIFF, PNG) or vectors (SVG, PDF) or even other .afphoto or .afdesign files.

Help: https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/pages/Media/placeImages.html

There are also official Tutorials about this, and many unofficial tutorials here and elsewhere on the web.

[dash991]

Thanks for your tips everyone, unfortunately nothing matched what I needed. For anyone that comes across this post in future, I found a youtube video which allows you to pretty much replicate Smart Objects by using a combo of Deisgner and Photo. Here's the link: 

 

[loukash]

2 hours ago, dash991 said:

I found a youtube video which allows you to pretty much replicate Smart Objects by using a combo of Deisgner and Photo.

Yeah, that's also one of several possible workflows, combining:

• the power of Designer symbols (or, similarly Photo's linked layers)
• the seamless interoperability between the three Affinity apps
• the universal Affinity document format