Cannot recreate the situations in Designer

[Leo1]

I spent already many hours to do simple things in Affinity Designer on windows. It appears to be very buggy (or very user unfriendly), but for a beginner it is hard to tell. I have already designer for since I think version 1.7, but I never got it to work. Probably I am not the only one, since I see regulary complaints on Youtube, for lots of people giving up on Affinity. Since they cannot get it to work.

Some issues:

* Serif youtube videos are most (or all) made on the Mac. In any case I cannot recreate the situations. I use Affinity Designer on windows, I look the videos on youtube. I is not clear where the sample files and youtube videos are on a Windows PC. In the videos, it is unclear which key are pressed, or when a mouse butten is pressed. 

* The start situations on Serif Youtube videos is for the V2 functions, not for the very simple things created for V1, like copying lines or rectangles, combining them, raterizing them, etc. Sometime I manage, but I fail more often. The V1 sreens are different, and it looks that the functions are working differently in V2.

* For example: If I combine a rectangle and a line, 

After the add operation the line is disappeared. The blue box with the blue circle with the cross, the line is disappeared. I tried several variations. mostly with the same results.

I also recognize the copy and paste bug. My impression is that windows is not very well debugged, and if so by Mac users, who do not recognize a normal Windows work flow.

Aftercopying and pasting images, it is almost impossible to get them to work. (are there software blockages?). Rasterizing, seems often not to work. There is also no indication of a pixel layer which can be edited, versus a pixel layer that cannot be edited. Placing like on the Mac does not work for me. 

So it would be nice to have some serif attention for Windows users.

 

 

[GarryP]

On 9/1/2024 at 5:32 PM, Leo1 said:

The start situations on Serif Youtube videos is for the V2 functions, not for the very simple things created for V1, like copying lines or rectangles, combining them, raterizing them, etc.

There are probably various V1 videos out there on the web but you will have to search for them.

On 9/1/2024 at 5:32 PM, Leo1 said:

The V1 sreens are different, and it looks that the functions are working differently in V2.

V2 isn’t, on the whole, much different to V1, from a usage perspective, so the transition between one and the other isn’t too difficult once you have figured out a few things.

On 9/1/2024 at 5:32 PM, Leo1 said:

After the add operation the line is disappeared. The blue box with the blue circle with the cross, the line is disappeared.

You can only Add shapes that are closed because the Add functionality works with areas and an open curve, such as a line, doesn’t have an area. As such, when you try to Add an open line to a closed curve, the line will disappear. You might like to try using the Merge functionality instead. Edit: See exception to this as mentioned by R C-R below.

On 9/1/2024 at 5:32 PM, Leo1 said:

I also recognize the copy and paste bug.

What do you mean by that?

On 9/1/2024 at 5:32 PM, Leo1 said:

Aftercopying and pasting images, it is almost impossible to get them to work.

What do you mean by that?

On 9/1/2024 at 5:32 PM, Leo1 said:

Rasterizing, seems often not to work.

What do you mean by that?

On 9/1/2024 at 5:32 PM, Leo1 said:

There is also no indication of a pixel layer which can be edited, versus a pixel layer that cannot be edited.

What do you mean by that?

On 9/1/2024 at 5:32 PM, Leo1 said:

Placing like on the Mac does not work for me.

What do you mean by that?

Edited September 3 by GarryP
Added note.

[thomaso]

21 hours ago, Leo1 said:

I have already designer for since I think version 1.7, but I never got it to work. (…)

* For example: If I combine a rectangle and a line, 

After the add operation the line is disappeared.

Your attached PNG did not upload correctly. You can edit your post to re-upload it. So just some general notes: The Geometry options depend on the current fill & stroke settings before applying the function. Below a V1 screenshot with a selection of common, possible results, with the properties of the bottom object being particularly relevant.

[R C-R]

11 hours ago, GarryP said:

You can only Add shapes that are closed because the Add functionality works with areas and an open curve, such as a line, doesn’t have an area. As such, when you try to Add an open line to a closed curve, the line will disappear. You might like to try using the Merge functionality instead.

That isn't quite right. Open shapes that enclose an area (basically, any curve that is not just a straight line) can be added if they both have a fill color. This includes 2 node curves like in this 2 open curves.afdesign example.

[Leo1]

On 9/2/2024 at 9:10 PM, R C-R said:

That isn't quite right. Open shapes that enclose an area (basically, any curve that is not just a straight line) can be added if they both have a fill color. This includes 2 node curves like in this 2 open curves.afdesign example.

Thanks R_C-R, that was very unexpect for me. I normally work in amongst others powerpoint, and then it is easy to combine anything. I now understand how it works. I looked at several youtube videos and affinity tutorials, and I could not find out how it worked. I was very surprised I could not find video's how to make simple flow charts. (connecting lines with figures like rectangles). I plan to ask a youtuber who makes very nice explanations. When I have time, in a couple of months, I will make the use cases.

Some items like copying 2 points are seemingly bugs (I was very surprised to a basic item like that was never removed). The answers given by you and others helped me a lot. I need to do more practicing. Some other things may be my inexperience, but I am now practicing. Thanks a lot.

[Leo1]

On 9/2/2024 at 3:49 PM, thomaso said:

Your attached PNG did not upload correctly. You can edit your post to re-upload it. So just some general notes: The Geometry options depend on the current fill & stroke settings before applying the function. Below a V1 screenshot with a selection of common, possible results, with the properties of the bottom object being particularly relevant.

Thanks Thomaso, a very helpful examples. You and others are very helpful, this helped me a lot!

[Leo1]

On 9/2/2024 at 9:36 AM, GarryP said:

 

GarryP, thanks for your answers and the answers of others. The helped already a lot. I am away a couple of weeks, then I will write some use cases and sent them to a youtuber who makes Affinity Designer tuturials. All your efforts, helped me understand the issues better. I you powerpoint with Affinity Desginer, and then it is not so easy to get certain things done. I will first sort out better where I struggle, and if there are good examples, maybe help some others. Thanks a lot for helping!

[GarryP]

You're welcome.