Feature Request for Affinity Photo / Select Colour and Tonal Range

[Torstein]

This feature would be much more useful if we could select the range for the Selection. If it was possible to select the exact range of colours and the exact range of Luminosity these functions would be a lot more useful. As it is now, I hardly have any use for them. To control the range something like this from DxO PL for selection of Luminosity would work: 

[NotMyFault]

Affinity offers a wider range of selection and masking tools already. It does make sense to imitate the UI of competing apps to 100%, and add another redundant UI for making selection which are already possible by numerous existing tools:

We already have:

1. flood selection tool with selectable tolerance and color model 
2. select sampled color with selectable tolerance and color model 
3. live hue mask
4. live luminosity mask
5. blend ranges (specifically useful if you temporary switch w.g. to LAB mode)
6. HSL adjustment with HUE range selection by modes, offering hard and soft transition
7. selective color adjustment, offering to tackle specific selectable ranges
8. Luminosity mask (selecting luminosity from layers)
9. procedural texture filter to create your own formulas
10. channels mixer adjustment to create your own formulas, and switch between color formats (RGB, HSL, CMYK, GREY, LAB)
11. Live compound make to combine luminosity and hue ranges

 

[Torstein]

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to do the same with layers and masks. But sometimes you just want a quick fix without masking and layers, and I feel this would be practical way to make a selection. And all without copying anything, the sample was just for illustration ...! 😎

[AffinityMakesMeWonder]

56 minutes ago, Torstein said:

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to do the same with layers and masks. But sometimes you just want a quick fix without masking and layers, and I feel this would be practical way to make a selection. And all without copying anything, the sample was just for illustration ...! 😎

So, honestly, what’s your real problem here?

If you wants ”quick fixes” you may use trillions of other apps out there to phones tablets and desktops, but, if you want the best app relative to price and power, Affinity Suite can’t be beaten.

[Torstein]

I feel the replies are aggressive 

2 minutes ago, AffinityMakesMeWonder said:

So, honestly, what’s your real problem here?

If you wants ”quick fixes” you may use trillions of other apps out there to phones tablets and desktops, but, if you want the best app relative to price and power, Affinity Suite can’t be beaten.

I don't see the need for me to switch from an application I love and use every day, just because I find that feel something could be added that I would find useful. So what's your real problem?

[AffinityMakesMeWonder]

1 hour ago, Torstein said:

I feel the replies are aggressive 

I don't see the need for me to switch from an application I love and use every day, just because I find that feel something could be added that I would find useful. So what's your real problem?

Me too have a lot of problem, with Affinity Suite, but, though I hate Adobe and have a variety of devices, Macs, Win-PC, iPads, I use Affinity Suite as the best alternative for me.

Affinity doesn’t do everything more expensive software does, but there’s always workarounds or similar functionality to discover.

My problem with Affinity Suite is that the iPad apps are crippled compared to Mac/Win versions - doesn’t matter if we bought iPads with M4 CPU for $3500, Serif seems to think that iPads are too weak to run full Affinity Suite… Sad.

[Meliora spero]

3 hours ago, Torstein said:

This feature would be much more useful if we could select the range for the Selection. If it was possible to select the exact range of colours and the exact range of Luminosity these functions would be a lot more useful. As it is now, I hardly have any use for them. To control the range something like this from DxO PL for selection of Luminosity would work: 

Something so intuitive and elegantly reminiscent of Ansel Adams will never be acknowledged or implemented in Affinity, where a handful of employees and a dozen loyal customers insist on remaining stuck in a decade long past.

EVERYONE is either slamming the brakes or can't find the accelerator. No one tidies up. No one seeks fresh input from the outside. But then again, most of the customers are hobbyists with nothing at stake. Heaven forbid they should be pushed out of their comfort zone — oh no, can't have that.

[Torstein]

I dont have any problems with Affinity Photo, the only Affinity software i actually use. I find most of the functions I need, but I use another RAW developer and organizer for my photos I just wanted to suggest an improvement for a function that could be a lot better. What I have a problem with is the strong language in attack or defence in this forum. People may find my suggestion great or stupid, but I feel this forum would be better if we all can behave somewhat friendlier.

Have a nice day! 

[James Ritson]

Hi @Torstein, thank you for the suggestion. Select>Select Sampled Colour does include an Intensity model, which would let you click on the image to determine the base luminosity value you want to select, then you could adjust tolerance for similar values. I do appreciate it's not the same as the numerical approach you've highlighted, however.

Development has focused more towards non-destructive solutions, so you've got a live Luminosity Mask layer which you can find in Layer>New Live Mask Layer>Luminosity Range. You can drop this into any layer to mask it based on luminosity, the range of which you control via a spline graph. You also have a low pass control (Blur Radius) to soften the transition between masked and non-masked areas.

It behaves differently depending on what type of layer you place it into. You can for example drag it over the thumbnail of an adjustment layer (such as Curves), and it will mask based on the layer information underneath. If you drag it over the thumbnail of a content layer, such as a Pixel or Image layer, it will mask using that layer's information explicitly.

Thank you again for taking the time to post. Despite what you may read on the forum, please do know that developers and other staff take note of feedback and how it can be used to shape the apps. Hope the above helps!