Retain initial shapes after boolian

[Crionis]

In Figma, after applying a boolian method, the user is still able to see and interact with the shapes that were used for the boolian method. These shapes are also still editable and maneuverable, as if they were a part of a group. I find this rather useful and quite cool. Maybe you guys could do something similar?

 

[MEB]

Hi Crionis,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

You can perform non-destructive boolean operations in Affinity Designer/Photo pressing and holding ⌥ (option/alt) while clicking on the respective boolean operation icon on the main toolbar or on the menu command (on Mac). In Affinity Photo you may want to add the  the boolean Operations group to the main toolbar as it's not there by default.

[Alfred]

 It's a good idea to post to the Questions & Feedback forum in the first instance if you're unsure how to do something in the program. If it turns out that what you want to do isn't currently possible, a moderator can then change your question thread into a feature request thread.

[Crionis]

Hi Crionis,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

You can perform non-destructive boolean operations in Affinity Designer/Photo pressing and holding ⌥ (option/alt) while clicking on the respective boolean operation icon on the main toolbar or on the menu command (on Mac). In Affinity Photo you may want to add the  the boolean Operations group to the main toolbar as it's not there by default.

 

You guys do think about everything, don't you? :D

 

Glad to be here, really like your work!

 

 It's a good idea to post to the Questions & Feedback forum in the first instance if you're unsure how to do something in the program. If it turns out that what you want to do isn't currently possible, a moderator can then change your question thread into a feature request thread.

 

Agreed! I wasn't aware this is how it's done here. I'll remember to do so ongoing :)

[Crionis]

Btw @MEB, is there any way to add these non destructive operations to the toolbar in Affinity Designer as well?? I can't seem to find them. If not, consider this a feature request :)

[MEB]

Hi Crionis,

In Affinity Designer they are already on the main toolbar by default (see screenshot). It's the same icons as the booleans operations. If you press ⌥ (option/alt) while clicking on them you create a compound object (a non-destructive boolean operation) which you can expand in the Layers panel to access the original shapes. If you don't press ⌥ (option/alt) while clicking on the icons you perform a destructive boolean operation instead (that is, the result is a single flattened shape).

 

[Crionis]

Hi Crionis,

In Affinity Designer they are already on the main toolbar by default (see screenshot). It's the same icons as the booleans operations. If you press ⌥ (option/alt) while clicking on them you create a compound object (a non-destructive boolean operation) which you can expand in the Layers panel to access the original shapes. If you don't press ⌥ (option/alt) while clicking on the icons you perform a destructive boolean operation instead (that is, the result is a single flattened shape).

 

boolean operations.jpg

 

Ah sorry, what I initially thought is that there is a separate set of those buttons that works like "alt+click" by default. I think it would be great to have such set available.. or to have an option to turn this on by default for the current set.

[Alfred]

Ah sorry, what I initially thought is that there is a separate set of those buttons that works like "alt+click" by default. I think it would be great to have such set available.. or to have an option to turn this on by default for the current set.

 

Yes, it would be good to have an option for this. Coming to Affinity Designer from Serif DrawPlus, I was surprised at first to find that there was no 'Break Apart' command to undo what 'Combine' does, and it was quite a while before I discovered how to perform non-destructive Boolean operations.

[fernandolins86]

This should be in the tooltips for the buttons too :) E.g. "Subtract (Hold Alt to maintain shapes)"

[Crionis]

This should be in the tooltips for the buttons too :) E.g. "Subtract (Hold Alt to maintain shapes)"

 

True, although I'd rather prefer it to be the default behavior :)