Right click layer option?

[MickRose]

When I right click a layer in Windows 10 Publisher/Designer I don't get this screen (screenshot from the help file) with the option to change the object selection colour. Instead I get a long list of actions to perform on the layern (starting Cut, Copy, Paste...). Am I missing something?

[MEB]

Hi @MickRose,
Only layers (created in Designer or Publisher only) offer those options. Right-click on them and Select Properties.
You are probably right-clicking other layer type (pixel layer maybe?).

[MickRose]

Thanks @MEB. I have managed to create a Layer whose drop down menu contained a Properties option. To be honest I'm not sure what I did and I doubt if I can do it again. Fortunately I don't need that facility anyway - I was just experimenting. I do think the feature is poorly implemented.

[MEB]

These layers are created using the Add Layer button on the bottom right of the Layers panel in Designer or Publisher. Photo do not have this type of layers natively.

 

[Alfred]

9 minutes ago, MEB said:

These layers are created using the Add Layer button on the bottom right of the Layers panel in Designer or Publisher.

Those are Layers with a capital L, as you pointed out in the original version of your previous post. I presume that you silently edited that post in the light of my (now hidden) reply; my observations in that reply about the errors in the Help still stand.

[MEB]

6 minutes ago, Alfred said:

Those are Layers with a capital L, as you pointed out in the original version of your previous post. I presume that you silently edited that post in the light of my (now hidden) reply; my observations in that reply about the errors in the Help still stand.

The layer's nomenclature was already extensively discussed in this thread where you participated and was already raised/logged with the dev team. There's no need to hijack every thread where they are mentioned. Clearly no one's happy no matter the term I use - only Layer or layer with capital L (in an attempt to avoid confusions) - so there's no point in continuing this discussion. The other posts were all off-topic and unrelated with OP's issue.

[MickRose]

Sorry to have initiated such bad feeling. The only comment I would have is that the "Add Layer" (bottom right of layers panel) and the right click on the existing layer structure which shows "New Layer" seem to do the same thing so should maybe have the same wording. At least I now understand this feature.

[Obscured]

.

[MEB]

4 hours ago, MickRose said:

Sorry to have initiated such bad feeling. The only comment I would have is that the "Add Layer" (bottom right of layers panel) and the right click on the existing layer structure which shows "New Layer" seem to do the same thing so should maybe have the same wording. At least I now understand this feature.

No need to apologise for anything. Feel free to ask whatever you feel needs clarification.
Right-clicking on an existing layer and selecting 'New Layer' or using the 'Add Layer' button at the bottom of the Layers panel both perform the same function. They add a 'Layer' that you typically use to organize (or contain) other layers (generically speaking), such as adjustment layers, pixel layers, mask layers, or even other 'Layers' as children of the first one. Only Publisher and Designer can create Layers natively.
There's no such concept in Photo. Instead it uses groups to structure documents (leaving artboards outside of this discussion) and pixel layers, adjustment layers, filter layers, for the content/editing.
Are you confused by the terms 'New' and 'Add' being used interchangeably in the UI, or is it the name of the layer type itself that is causing confusion?"
 

4 hours ago, Return said:

The observation by @Alfred isn't about what has been pointed out in the other thread(the naming convention)but this;

Yes, it is. He explicitly stated: 'The current huge potential for confusion could have been avoided by using different terminology, such as using the label "Container" instead of "Layer" and/or referring to an item within that container as an "object" instead of calling it a "layer."  These concerns were raised here, as well as in other threads where these terms were used in marginally related contexts. While I (we) do appreciate Alfred's contributions, bringing up the same subject in any thread that barely touches on the issue is not productive for anyone - that's why the post was hidden
Additionally, I already mentioned that the issue has been raised/reported to the developers.

 

4 hours ago, Return said:

If the capital L layer is going to remain (like the developers seem to want) with that name then all references to normal layers shouldn't begin with a Capital L .
Even if the English grammer dictates this.
see figures from the help or simply censor it yet again. 

I'm not censoring anyone, just trying to keep the thread on topic/useful for those having the same issues as the OP.
Discussing how the help/terminology is written is again off-topic and more appropriate for the original thread where the issue was originally addressed.

[MickRose]

1 hour ago, MEB said:

Are you confused by the terms 'New' and 'Add' being used interchangeably in the UI, or is it the name of the layer type itself that is causing confusion?"

Both. I would say that since 'New' and 'Add' both do the same thing, then best to use the same wording - either New or Add - or maybe "Add new".

I also think that it is confusing to use the same wording "Layer" for both an object and the object's organisational container. These are different things and should be named differently. Maybe "Parent Layer". Yes, I'd go for "Add new Parent Layer" for both right clicking an existing layer and for left clicking the bottom right Layers panel icon. I would also make the icon of the Parent Layer in the Layers panel look a bit different to emphasise it's role as a container/parent rather than an object.

I appreciate that Layers in Photo are different and that having the same naming system might be problematic.

[MEB]

16 hours ago, MickRose said:

Both. I would say that since 'New' and 'Add' both do the same thing, then best to use the same wording - either New or Add - or maybe "Add new".

I personally don't see this as an issue, but I agree with you that more consistency is better. I will add your feedback to the existing report. Thanks.

 

16 hours ago, MickRose said:

I also think that it is confusing to use the same wording "Layer" for both an object and the object's organisational container. These are different things and should be named differently.

They don't have the same name - only the container type is properly called "Layer". All object types have their own names: curve (or curves) for those those draw with the pen tool or pencil tool whatever, the geometric name for geometric shapes (ellipse, star, donut etc), Art text and Frame text for text objects, the name of the adjustment for adjustments, the file name for images/placed documents etc. What happens is that people often use the term 'layers' generically and interchangeably with objects, such as curve layers, text layers, adjustment layers, image layers, compound layers, even shape layers (which also generalizes/encompasses all shapes) and so on, thus the confusion. The only other case where the name "layer" is "properly" applied in Affinity (not a generalisation as the cases above) is "pixel layer" for raster data precisely to distinguish it from "Layer" as a container in Designer/Publisher since Designer also supports/creates this layer natively (pixel layers). 
So:
- "Layer" for structure/organisation
- "pixel layer" for raster data
- all others are named according to their object type (text, adjustments, compounds, names of shapes, etc.), which may be followed generically by the term 'layer' in place of 'object' simply due to common usage.

All this however (except the Add/New issue) was already reported/logged with dev since that original thread mentioned above. How or if it will be changed/implemented depends on development/management's decision.

[MickRose]

Thanks @MEB for clarifying that. I do seem to have reinvented the Layers wheel in my post. I have other Layer panel issues which I might raise later in a separate post.

[MEB]

No worries @MickRose. All feedback is appreciated. Thank you.