Transparent tool for Photo?

[HappyDoom]

Is there any chance to implement the transparent tool from Designer and Publisher also in Photo?
It's so handy and quick. I find it weird, that I have to edit it in Designer or Publisher and then get back into Photo with my result.
Sure, there are masks, gradients and all that... and it's surely all about marketing and some selling point for each app,
but who wouldn't love the simple transparent tool for Photo in addition?

Cheers 😎

[fde101]

Can't speak to the tool, but depending on the situation, you may be able to achieve a similar effect by adding a mask to the object and applying a gradient to the mask.  It's not too many more steps.

Even in Designer, the transparency tool is only present in the Designer persona and not in the Pixel persona, which I would take as a hint that Serif thinks of it as a vector tool rather than a raster tool, and Photo is focused primarily on raster image work.

[HappyDoom]

50 minutes ago, fde101 said:

Can't speak to the tool, but depending on the situation, you may be able to achieve a similar effect by adding a mask to the object and applying a gradient to the mask.  It's not too many more steps.

Even in Designer, the transparency tool is only present in the Designer persona and not in the Pixel persona, which I would take as a hint that Serif thinks of it as a vector tool rather than a raster tool, and Photo is focused primarily on raster image work.

Howdy, thanks for your take on it. My point is, it could be easier, that's why I put the post into the feedback section.

Like you said, you usually put gradients on masks. The problem is, in case you want to adjust a mask in hindsight, once you let the gradient go, the handles are gone. You then have to click again and start with a complete new gradient. No handles to adjust afterwards in case you want to, you'd always start a new one. Also, the gradient type always sets back to linear, even when you just used radial, 🤔 but that's another problem.
You can also use a gradient on a form, lower the opacity of white and put it into a mask for the layer. Then you have the power to adjust, but also extra steps.
Or you could simply use a transparent tool, just like in Designer and Publisher and have it all in one step with the power to adjust in hindsight.

It's just a little suggestion to make it easier, 'cos every extra step is unnecessary and in Affinity we encounter way too often extra steps and workarounds already.
Also would be a little plus over Adobe.

[prophet]

You can use a vector with a gradient applied as a mask (or clipping layer) and it will stay "live" for further adjustments.

[prophet]

Or is that what you meant by "use a gradient on a form". Sorry if I didn't understand what you've tried already.

[HappyDoom]

On 9/3/2024 at 9:19 PM, prophet said:

Or is that what you meant by "use a gradient on a form". Sorry if I didn't understand what you've tried already.

Hi. Yes that's what I meant, sorry. I should have said shape, like a rectangle, but of course you can use any vector.

Yeah, I'm aware of the usual ways and it won't kill me to do it like that. The thing is just, in the other two apps there's that tool which does it all in one step and when you use it often but don't have it in Photo, where it could be very handy for montages for example, that's just weird to me. Sure, the transparency tool is meant for vector layers, but even pixel layers in groups can make use of it. Serif could work that out, that it would automaticly put a pixel layer in a group or transform it into an image layer, or whatever... 
It's really just a minor suggestion from my side to make things a little easier.

You know, things like: Why isn't "expand stroke" in the right click context menu? You've always go into the menue. Or, why can't you simply delete FX's by righclick and click delete FX? (also multiple by selecting several layers) You've to drag it into the bin. lol Each! Could be dozens! Thousands! Little things. And there's so much more ...

Oh and... why the hell are there 2 REAL vector brushes coming with Designer, (Pens: the first 2) but the rest is all bitmaps on a path?
If it's possible in general, then why not doing it? Sorry, having a meltdown. 🤪