FX Outlines separated from PNG image - white rectangle inbetween

[Henry BZ]

Affinity Suite Version 2.6.2.3228 on Windows 11 Home

I have just come back to a set of files that I have not viewed or edited since February and now the FX Outlines generated on the borders of PNG files have been separated from them by a white rectangle. Image 1 is and exported PNG of how it should look. Image 2 is how it looks now in the Designer file.

1.   2. 

The PNG files used have transparent backgrounds and have not been cropped within Designer. I thought that the previously invisible (and/or non-existent) white rectangle could be the result of cropping. However, having considered things further, it is not. The PNG files are nested within other layers (as in Image 2) and the FX applied otherwise (to the PNG layers themselves or the layers they are nested in), do not seem to be affected by any changes.

Now visible, the rectangle transfers the FX outline to its boarder instead of that of the PNG. Along with this, when hiding the layer the rectangle is on, the white background extends, and the outline conforms to its larger shape. 

 

Is there some way to fix this?

[NotMyFault]

First, try to use the view modes of designer, specifically pixel view mode, to get more realistic preview.

Next, there are a couple of open issues dealing with:

• export to PNG since introduction of new transfer modes (Log, PQ)
• support for PNG with 32 bit color channel depth
• handling of transparency for linked/ embedded files

finally, mixing raster images or layers in designer with vector elements may introduce fractional positions or sizes, mostly causing seams or semitransparent areas.

layer fx tend to rate semitransparency as fully opaque, leading to surprising results.

then, we would need to see the actual files to find the which of these cases applies in your case

 

question: did you export only now, or do you have older exports w/o the issue?

[Henry BZ]

Thanks for the reply.

The answer to your question is that I exported the files - like this one  - back in January. I exported the images as 'Selection Only' and only as PNGS. The file with the images/designs in it was not exported as a whole and remains as it was as a .afdesign file. Therefore, I only have access to the one document. I do have backups of it though.

I also copied the layers that make up the above design and pasted them into a separate Publisher document, in which the same issue has occurred.

Switching through the view modes results in no changes. Below however are 2 things I have noticed:

1. When zooming in & out in the designs in Designer with Pixel view active, a blurry version of how the image should look pops in and out.  

2. When zooming all the way out in Designer Persona the issue pops out existence.

    

    

    

[NotMyFault]

Thanks for the additional information.

i can’t say for sure what the issue is, we would need access to the actual file (including the linked images) to dig in.

If the file cannot be shared publicly here, you may request a private upload link from moderators.

in the meantime, please check what the Ressource panels says about status of linked file.

[Henry BZ]

Thanks.

My preference would be to share it via a private link. How should I go about requesting a private upload link?

[NotMyFault]

Normally the forum moderators will step in. In urgent cases contact them via email given in the contact page.

 

[Henry BZ]

An update.

I have just opened a Designer file that I last edited on March the 28th and the issue is present there too. 

In this case, there are not any images with outlines, but it is affecting images with transparency. So, I now think it could be more of an issue specific to transparency.

Some of the affected images are PNG and others are BMP. Though, weirdly enough, not all PNG images with transparency have been affected.

[Lee D]

@Henry BZ I can DM you a link for you to upload your files to be checked.

Out of interest, is Hardware Acceleration enabled within the apps Settings > Performance? If so, try turning it off and restarting the app to see if that makes any difference.

Could you also confirm the model of graphics card you have as well as the version of drivers installed.

[Henry BZ]

A DM with a link would be appreciated. Thanks @Lee D.

Hardware Acceleration was on. I have turned it off and restarted Designer, with no change. Then reapplied, and again, no change.

Here are some specs:
Processor    AMD Ryzen 5 5500U with Radeon Graphics            2.10 GHz
Installed RAM    16.0 GB (15.4 GB usable)
System type    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

[Henry BZ]

Update:

After reverting both Designer & Publisher to version 2.6.0 the issue no longer exists. The nested white rectangles are still there, so it seems that them being a part of the issue was a false assumption of mine.