Export preview is black when first page is blank

[MikeTO]

This is a very minor regression from 2.5 since normal users wouldn't do this, but if the first page of your document is blank, the export preview will be solid black in the current beta. It will be blank (just a checkerboard) if there is anything on the page.

While I'm on the subject, but this isn't new in 2.6 and is just feedback, I wish the background was white and not a checkerboard when exporting to PDF. The checkerboard makes some sense when creating a PDF for print because I could be using coloured paper, but it makes no sense for digital. I'd rather just have a white background for PDF previews and the checkerboard for other formats.

[EmT]

On 1/11/2025 at 5:40 PM, MikeTO said:

This is a very minor regression from 2.5 since normal users wouldn't do this, but if the first page of your document is blank, the export preview will be solid black in the current beta. It will be blank (just a checkerboard) if there is anything on the page.

Hi @MikeTO which format are you exporting to when the preview shows as solid black? 

[Hangman]

On 1/11/2025 at 5:40 PM, MikeTO said:

This is a very minor regression from 2.5 since normal users wouldn't do this, but if the first page of your document is blank, the export preview will be solid black in the current beta. It will be blank (just a checkerboard) if there is anything on the page.

I'm not seeing this... for me, the first page still appears with the checkerboard regardless of whether the first page is blank or not. The only exception in the current Beta is when exporting to PDF/X-1a where there is a known bug logged under AF-5499 where the file both fails to preview or export...

On 1/11/2025 at 5:40 PM, MikeTO said:

While I'm on the subject, but this isn't new in 2.6 and is just feedback, I wish the background was white and not a checkerboard when exporting to PDF.

The checkerboard is technically correct and inherent in the PDF format, though equally application-specific in its interpretation...

From the PDF Specs...

All of the elements painted directly onto a page—both top-level groups and top-level objects that are not part of any group—are treated as if they were contained in a transparency group P, which in turn is composited with a context-dependent backdrop. This group is called the page group.

• Ordinarily, the page is imposed directly on an output medium, such as paper or a display screen. The page group is treated as an isolated group, whose results are then composited with a backdrop colour appropriate for the medium. The backdrop is nominally white, although varying according to the actual properties of the medium. However, some applications may choose to provide a different backdrop, such as a checkerboard or grid to aid in visualizing the effects of transparency in the artwork.

[MikeTO]

Oops, this is a duplicate. I forgot I'd already reported it in September and it's logged as AF-4408. The issue is specific to Sequoia which is why @Hangman didn't see it.

I've added a screen recording below showing the effects of changing formats in case you're interested.

 

 

[Affinity Info Bot]

An issue raised in this thread ("[macOS Sequoia] Publisher export preview appears black with blank document exporting to RGB colour space.") has now been reported to the developers by the testing team (Ref: AF-4408). Thank you very much for reporting this issue to us.