masking issue

[Mr Suits]

Hi everyone,

I'm relatively new to Affinity photo and am having an issue getting masking to work. Once I insert an image into Affinity, then insert the next image I wish to incorporate using the Masking option, I cannot get the mask to erase the part of the top image layer using the paint brush (black) after applying a mask to that image. If I paint black to reveal the underlying layer, then change to white to paint back to the original top image, this does not work.

I have watched countless tutotials and applied the same process as the demonstrators but it just won't translate from their process to mine.

Process:

1. Import an image I wish to manipulate (these import as background layers and show lock icon).

2. Import the second image I wish to intergrate with that first image and apply a 'new mask'.

3. With the top image mask selected, and using 'Black' as the color for my brush, if I paint a section of the top layer mask then change the color to 'White' to paint back the top image again, it does not allow this function. The mask layer can be moved around and positioned anywhere on top of the layer below but cannot be adjusted to conceal the below image again.

Do I need to unlock the BG layer and duplicate it first, select the duplicate layer then mask the dup[licate? I see in tutorials the image shows as a 'pixel image' and not a locked BG layer, would that create an issue with my masking?

This is so frustrating because I have come over from Adobe and really like your program, but simple processes such as this put a damper on my enthusiasm. 

Could someone email me back a step be step guide showing me not just the generic blah, blah, blah of how masking works, but an in-depth guide showing the steps and any settings that need to be applied. 

Your guidance is appreciated.

 

Regards

George Kawauchi

[GarryP]

Welcome to the forums @Mr Suits

The terms “insert” and “import” don’t really tell us what you are doing as they aren’t ‘normal’ Affinity terms and could be misinterpreted.

Where possible it’s best to tell us exactly what you are doing using the terms in the UI.

I’ve attached a video showing what I think you are trying to do: Open a file; Place an image; add a New Mask Layer; paint on the Mask Layer.

Can you tell us at which point the same process stops working for you, or whether you are doing something different?

[thomaso]

12 hours ago, Mr Suits said:

using 'Black' as the color for my brush, if I paint a section of the top layer mask then change the color to 'White' to paint back the top image again, it does not allow this function.

Possibly you need to manually adjust the two default masking colour settings for black & white. There is a reported issue where the app does not set white or black correctly or confuses with a deviating panel info.

… where the OP finally reported:

On 11/18/2023 at 9:33 PM, lphilpot said:

I think I see what it is - The opacity is getting set to zero. I've not changed it, but in the video above you can see it's zero. I'll have to keep on working and see if it happens again.

To me in V1 it happens quite reliable and reproducible, though not always but right now for instance:

… or another trial, now in the Photo Persona only. Note again what happens with the colour attributes in the panels when a.) the mask layer gets created and b.) the brush gets selected with the mask layer selected.

Edited August 18 by thomaso
2nd example added, with Photo only

[user_0815]

Sounds like the op‘s brush is set to darken? The blend mode should be normal. 
activate the paint brush and check the menu bar.