TheBeat Posted October 4, 2024 Posted October 4, 2024 Hi , I am new to the Affinity software and have some questions about masks. I am on versions 2.5 1. I noticed that there are more possibilities for masks in Photo than in Designer. In Designer there is just one kind of mask possible. I also notice that creating a mask in the vector persona, creates a white mask, while in the Pixel persona, a Black mask is created? Why? 2. I can edit a mask in the pixel persona, but not so in the Vector persona. So I can't create a closed curve that blocks out parts (the curve) from the layer of the mask. The mask being selected, I get a new vector layer with the curve instead of the curve being drawn inside of the mask. I don't get that. 3. How can I invert a mask? Cmd+i does not woprk and an Invert adjustment layer inverts the layer, not the mask. Where can I find decent information about how the masks work in Designer (and Photo). It is very different from what I am used to in PhotoShop. Thanks ! Meliora spero 1 Quote
TheBeat Posted October 7, 2024 Author Posted October 7, 2024 I am wondering why nobody is answering my questions. I am new to Affinity and this forum, so maybe I ask a stupid question or make some other error. If so, I apologize and please let me know. Quote
Ron P. Posted October 7, 2024 Posted October 7, 2024 @TheBeat, Welcome to the forums Sorry no one as replied until now. The Online Help for Designer should help you understand Masking in Designer. https://affinity.help/designer2/en-US.lproj/pages/Layers/LayerMasks.html Quote Affinity Photo 2.5..; Affinity Designer 2.5..; Affinity Publisher 2.5..; Affinity2 Beta versions. Affinity Photo,Designer 1.10.6.1605 Win10 Home Version:21H2, Build: 19044.1766: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5820K CPU @ 3.30GHz, 3301 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s);32GB Ram, Nvidia GTX 3070, 3-Internal HDD (1 Crucial MX5000 1TB, 1-Crucial MX5000 500GB, 1-WD 1 TB), 4 External HDD
TheBeat Posted October 10, 2024 Author Posted October 10, 2024 Thanks Ron, I will look into your link later today. Quote
TheBeat Posted October 13, 2024 Author Posted October 13, 2024 I had a look at the suggested help. I am afraid that the Help page is quite superficial. For instance, I still do not know how to invert a mask. Some things with masks in affinity are the same as in programs like PhotoShop, other things are, at least for me, a bit counter intuitive and some things are just not to be found how to do it or are impossible in Affinity. So, if anyone can tell me how to invert a mask, I would be very thankful. Quote
NotMyFault Posted October 13, 2024 Posted October 13, 2024 Designer is unnecessary restricted. In case you have a separate mask layer: CMD-Click on mask layer. the selects creates a selection from the layer. It is only possible by mouse and keyboard, not by menu. Invert Selection Create a new mask. Deselect all Hide or delete old mask layer In case you have a inherent mask (pixel layer, adjustment layer): same process as above, but you can only edit the inherent mask by pixel brush or fill tool. So you need to create the selection, invert it, create a separate mask layer as temporary layer. switch to pixel Persona deactivate temp mask fill the inherent mask with white create a selection from temp mask fill white the selection is active, or use brush 100% white, opacity etc This workaround undermines human dignity. Photo and Designer need the full feature set of both apps - just select the persona you want to hide parts of the UI when not required. R C-R 1 Quote Mac mini M1 A2348 | MBP M3 Windows 11 - AMD Ryzen 9 5900x - 32 GB RAM - Nvidia GTX 1080 LG34WK950U-W, calibrated to DCI-P3 with LG Calibration Studio / Spider 5 | Dell 27“ 4K iPad Air Gen 5 (2022) A2589 Special interest into procedural texture filter, edit alpha channel, RGB/16 and RGB/32 color formats, stacking, finding root causes for misbehaving files, finding creative solutions for unsolvable tasks, finding bugs in Apps. I use iPad screenshots and videos even in the Desktop section of the forum when I expect no relevant difference.
R C-R Posted October 13, 2024 Posted October 13, 2024 3 hours ago, NotMyFault said: This workaround undermines human dignity. Isn't that a bit over the top? For instance, according to this: Quote At its most basic, the concept of human dignity is the belief that all people hold a special value that’s tied solely to their humanity. How does missing features or the need to use workarounds do that? Quote All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.5.7 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7 All 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7
PaulEC Posted October 13, 2024 Posted October 13, 2024 4 hours ago, NotMyFault said: Photo and Designer need the full feature set of both apps Why? - Just use the right app for the job, or use Publisher and swap between Personas, if you need to. Quote Acer XC-895 : Core i5-10400 Hexa-core 2.90 GHz : 32GB RAM : Intel UHD Graphics 630 : Windows 11 Home Affinity Publisher 2 : Affinity Photo 2 : Affinity Designer 2 : (latest release versions) on desktop and iPad "Beware of false knowledge, it is more dangerous than ignorance." (GBS)
NotMyFault Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 10 hours ago, PaulEC said: Why? - Just use the right app for the job, or use Publisher and swap between Personas, if you need to. Some edits I want to do require functionality of both apps at the same time, so switching personas or apps is no option. e.g. Needing vector brushes, symbols, combined with info panel, histogram, scope panel, channels panel. Ot is ok that you don’t need it. I do a lot of mixed vector/pixel documents Quote Mac mini M1 A2348 | MBP M3 Windows 11 - AMD Ryzen 9 5900x - 32 GB RAM - Nvidia GTX 1080 LG34WK950U-W, calibrated to DCI-P3 with LG Calibration Studio / Spider 5 | Dell 27“ 4K iPad Air Gen 5 (2022) A2589 Special interest into procedural texture filter, edit alpha channel, RGB/16 and RGB/32 color formats, stacking, finding root causes for misbehaving files, finding creative solutions for unsolvable tasks, finding bugs in Apps. I use iPad screenshots and videos even in the Desktop section of the forum when I expect no relevant difference.
R C-R Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 2 hours ago, NotMyFault said: Some edits I want to do require functionality of both apps at the same time, so switching personas or apps is no option. e.g. Needing vector brushes, symbols, combined with info panel, histogram, scope panel, channels panel. What app gives you all that at the same time? Quote All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.5.7 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7 All 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7
TheBeat Posted October 14, 2024 Author Posted October 14, 2024 Thanks NotMyFault for your way of inverting a mask. I know simpler ways in other applications to do this 🙂 I am new to Affinity programs and I am very driven to like them, because I want to get rid of the Adobe company because of their disregard for the artists who use their stuff. So far I like a lot with Affinity, but some things are too complicated or missing altogether. Hopefully Affinity will catch up. The possibilities and ways to do things with a Vector Mask could be some better. Thanks for the help. NotMyFault 1 Quote
NotMyFault Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 5 hours ago, R C-R said: What app gives you all that at the same time? None. But Affinity could simply do it. Is there any reason not to offer channels, info, histogram panel in designer? Any reason to limit selection tools? Remember, all layer functions of filters are in designer, even adjusting all settings of existing filters in documents. Only the ability to create new ones has been cut. Affinity has put some effort to actively restrict this instead of just hiding the panels by default, and allowing to activate the panels as option. Quote Mac mini M1 A2348 | MBP M3 Windows 11 - AMD Ryzen 9 5900x - 32 GB RAM - Nvidia GTX 1080 LG34WK950U-W, calibrated to DCI-P3 with LG Calibration Studio / Spider 5 | Dell 27“ 4K iPad Air Gen 5 (2022) A2589 Special interest into procedural texture filter, edit alpha channel, RGB/16 and RGB/32 color formats, stacking, finding root causes for misbehaving files, finding creative solutions for unsolvable tasks, finding bugs in Apps. I use iPad screenshots and videos even in the Desktop section of the forum when I expect no relevant difference.
TheBeat Posted October 14, 2024 Author Posted October 14, 2024 4 minutes ago, NotMyFault said: Is there any reason not to offer channels, info, histogram panel in designer? Any reason to limit selection tools? I agree. It is a real pity that these things are not available in Designer. Quote
R C-R Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 17 minutes ago, NotMyFault said: Is there any reason not to offer channels, info, histogram panel in designer? Yes. If they did that then fewer people would buy AP, which most likely would mean an increased price for AD. Besides, the same argument could be made for adding the missing features to all 3 apps, so all would have the features of APub like references, tables, Find & Replace; APub would have a dedicated Export Persona; AD would have Macro & Library panels, & so on. IOW, the sometimes requested all-in-one Affinity app. Is that what you would like to see offered? Quote All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.5.7 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7 All 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7
R C-R Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 8 hours ago, NotMyFault said: Some edits I want to do require functionality of both apps at the same time, so switching personas or apps is no option. e.g. Needing vector brushes, symbols, combined with info panel, histogram, scope panel, channels panel. I am curious about workflows that would require access to all of them at the same time. Can you explain a bit more about that? Quote All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.5.7 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7 All 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7
nickbatz Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 20 hours ago, R C-R said: Isn't that a bit over the top? Not at all, in fact I intend to complain to my grandchildren about this issue when I'm lying on my death bed. R C-R and Old Bruce 2 Quote
NotMyFault Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 10 hours ago, R C-R said: Yes. If they did that then fewer people would buy AP, which most likely would mean an increased price for AD. Sorry, nonsense. Affinity is free for all for 6 month, free for educational use, and the universal license probably is mostly sold. Even if people start paying again, the price got effectively lower for V2 universal license than V1. even in the strongest interpretation: Affinity could limit the option to those users having the universal license. Circulus 1 Quote Mac mini M1 A2348 | MBP M3 Windows 11 - AMD Ryzen 9 5900x - 32 GB RAM - Nvidia GTX 1080 LG34WK950U-W, calibrated to DCI-P3 with LG Calibration Studio / Spider 5 | Dell 27“ 4K iPad Air Gen 5 (2022) A2589 Special interest into procedural texture filter, edit alpha channel, RGB/16 and RGB/32 color formats, stacking, finding root causes for misbehaving files, finding creative solutions for unsolvable tasks, finding bugs in Apps. I use iPad screenshots and videos even in the Desktop section of the forum when I expect no relevant difference.
NotMyFault Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 10 hours ago, R C-R said: I am curious about workflows that would require access to all of them at the same time. Can you explain a bit more about that? I doubt, it seems you only want to continue arguing against my request. in designer, I want to color match the blending result of some layers to another layer, while I editing a layer with functions only available in designer. Info panel simplifies this. in designer (on iPad) want to use channels panel to invert a mask, and directly see the result and continue editing, e.g. by using dual view mode and paint on pixel layers with vector shapes as visual guides. Symbols and linked layers offer similar function, but the UI totally differs. E.g. in Designer you can only sync or not sync, in Photo you can selectively link specific functions like visibility. You may break things easily when not using the „native“ mode. In Designer I want to add or edit a Procedural texture filter Quote Mac mini M1 A2348 | MBP M3 Windows 11 - AMD Ryzen 9 5900x - 32 GB RAM - Nvidia GTX 1080 LG34WK950U-W, calibrated to DCI-P3 with LG Calibration Studio / Spider 5 | Dell 27“ 4K iPad Air Gen 5 (2022) A2589 Special interest into procedural texture filter, edit alpha channel, RGB/16 and RGB/32 color formats, stacking, finding root causes for misbehaving files, finding creative solutions for unsolvable tasks, finding bugs in Apps. I use iPad screenshots and videos even in the Desktop section of the forum when I expect no relevant difference.
PaulEC Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 I would have thought that, effectively, Studio Link does give you everything in one app. (apart from the "extra" personas in Photo.) I can't see that changing a Persona in Publisher is much different to having different functions etc in different tabs/panels. You can't really have everything available on the screen at the same time. If you did there'd be no workspace left! R C-R 1 Quote Acer XC-895 : Core i5-10400 Hexa-core 2.90 GHz : 32GB RAM : Intel UHD Graphics 630 : Windows 11 Home Affinity Publisher 2 : Affinity Photo 2 : Affinity Designer 2 : (latest release versions) on desktop and iPad "Beware of false knowledge, it is more dangerous than ignorance." (GBS)
carl123 Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 On 10/4/2024 at 3:57 PM, TheBeat said: 3. How can I invert a mask? Cmd+i does not woprk and an Invert adjustment layer inverts the layer, not the mask. Add a Levels adjustment layer to the mask Switch from the Master channel to the Alpha channel Max out the Black Level slider; Minimise the White Level slider Will work on normal masks and an adjustment layer's in-built mask Quote To save time I am currently using an automated AI to reply to some posts on this forum. If any of "my" posts are wrong or appear to be total b*ll*cks they are the ones generated by the AI. If correct they were probably mine. I apologise for any mistakes made by my AI - I'm sure it will improve with time.
NotMyFault Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 15 minutes ago, carl123 said: Add a Levels adjustment layer to the mask Switch from the Master channel to the Alpha channel Max out the Black Level slider; Minimise the White Level slider Will work on normal masks and an adjustment layer's in-built mask While great for nondestructive edits, you can’t convert this into actual (inherited) mask for further edits e.g. with brush. Quote Mac mini M1 A2348 | MBP M3 Windows 11 - AMD Ryzen 9 5900x - 32 GB RAM - Nvidia GTX 1080 LG34WK950U-W, calibrated to DCI-P3 with LG Calibration Studio / Spider 5 | Dell 27“ 4K iPad Air Gen 5 (2022) A2589 Special interest into procedural texture filter, edit alpha channel, RGB/16 and RGB/32 color formats, stacking, finding root causes for misbehaving files, finding creative solutions for unsolvable tasks, finding bugs in Apps. I use iPad screenshots and videos even in the Desktop section of the forum when I expect no relevant difference.
carl123 Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 8 minutes ago, NotMyFault said: While great for nondestructive edits, you can’t convert this into actual (inherited) mask for further edits e.g. with brush. I may not be understanding what you are saying But for further edits with a brush, you would just continue painting on the mask layer Quote To save time I am currently using an automated AI to reply to some posts on this forum. If any of "my" posts are wrong or appear to be total b*ll*cks they are the ones generated by the AI. If correct they were probably mine. I apologise for any mistakes made by my AI - I'm sure it will improve with time.
TheBeat Posted October 15, 2024 Author Posted October 15, 2024 Thanks carl123, this works. Now I also know where to get to the Alpha channel. Great, really appreciated. Quote
Meliora spero Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 There are utterly senseless and inconsiderate differences between masks in Designer and Photo. With Pixel Persona and masks already implemented in Designer, it's blatantly obvious that customers would expect — and actively use — the ability to invert masks. You should be able to press the same, simple shortcut key as in Photo. Any additional complexity requiring other programs must come from people who haven't the faintest clue how professionals actually work. The only crumb of comfort I can offer you, @TheBeat, is that you can start with a black mask in Designer by holding Option while clicking the mask icon. Quote Serif, did you foolishly fill the usability specialist role you advertised internally? If so, be transparent with your customers. Continuing without proper UX expertise insults your entire user base.
R C-R Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 7 hours ago, NotMyFault said: even in the strongest interpretation: Affinity could limit the option to those users having the universal license. What would that option look like? More personas, more panels available in the existing ones, something else? Would AD & AP get all the features of APub, APub get the Export Persona & AD & APub get the other personas like Develop & Tone Mapping of AP? It seems to me that what you are talking about amounts to a new, "universal" Affinity app, not just an option for any of the existing ones. Quote All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.5.7 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7 All 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7
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