How to Convert / Resample "Image Size" in Photo

[RuralKat]

Greetings Affinity Photo experienced users! I've three questions, plus a little mention that I hope may be helpful for those of you doing the same thing, about a successful experiment with a series of "descreening" steps. I've attached an image, comparing results of Adobe Photoshop vs. Affinity Photo.

 

First question: can anyone direct me where to access the image size function in Photo?

 

Second question: what is the default image size that typical high-res photos come in at using Photo? In other words, do most high-res images by default come in at 300 pixels, until you wish to resize to a relative new proportion? I used to rely on this function all the time in Adobe Photoshop, and I'm sure it's somewhere accessible in Affinity Photo.

 

To illustrate better what I'm seeking, here is an example: the path in Photoshop for the current image I'm working on is: Image > Image Size ... Document Size: Width: 8 inches, Height: 10 inches, Resolution: 600 pixels/inch (this high of resolution is necessary for a particular paper catalog digital conversion job, including text, that I'm working on). If desired, I can retype the image pixels as 300/inch, and see the relative width x height change to 16 x 20. Or I can retype the image pixels as screen res at 72/inch, and see the width x height change to a relative 66.667 x 83.333 inches. Basically, I just need access to this same function to see what I've got in Photo. Advice?

 

Third question: is there access to scripting Actions of some sort in Photo? I do not think there is an Actions ability in Photo, am I correct in my assumption?

 

Regarding my success an experimenting with steps to descreen scanned film images by hand in Photo: I have a large catalog digital conversion job. The images I'm given are all dot-screened, and the company scanner does not include a setting to automatically descreen film while scanning, so it must be performed within a photo editing program. I've been working it out quite well, so far in Photoshop. But I recently purchased the Affinity suite, and am trying to get on board with performing these functions in Photo, and permanently move over.

 

Currently, I have open two identical images in both Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo (see screen shot below). I'm comparing their abilities and steps involved to descreen scanning film images. You will see that I'm not starting with super-crisp images to begin with as provided by the auto parts company, but it's a huge job, I've more catalogs to come, and if I can work it out and move this process over to Photo, I'll be SO happy!

 

I've been using an Action that I set up in Photoshop to descreen: a series of steps involving Gaussian Blur, Median, and Unsharp Mask. This series unfortunately introduces "jaggy" artifacts on some edges, so I must follow up frequently by hand-smoothing using the Smudge Tool. It's kind of a pain, but relatively quick, being that I could rely on creation of an Action in Photoshop.

 

By comparison, in Photo, I'm learning and experimenting on my feet to perform this same set of actions for a bulk load of photos. First, I tried to push Dust & Scratches and clean up following with Gaussian Blur ... but I found that in this series of steps, despite being thrilled that I only had to perform 2 of them, and no jaggies were introduced with edges nicely smoothed, I lost a little too much highlight/contrast detail. No matter what I clicked around on and tried, I couldn't seem to fix the loss of detail and highlight within the (admittedly murky) image.

 

Next, I tried another combo of steps. It requires MORE steps, but is looking quite well. I'm so far finding a combination of 4 steps from Dust & Noises, Gaussian Blur, Unsharp Mask and Lighting that seems to pretty much fulfill what I've accomplished using Photoshop. I am thrilled to report that in using Photo, I am avoiding much of the introduction of the jaggies that would appear in Photoshop, following similar steps to descreen. I wish I were able to push a bit more using a "median" tool in Photo. However, once scaled down to the size the company's updated catalog edition will print at, the difference will be remote. What I'm seeing on screen, a slight "blotching" from not pushing the Gaussian Blur too far, won't be perceived on paper. I think it's a satisfactory trade-off, considering I'll save a lot of time not having to use Photo's version of the Smudge Tool on the edges to smooth them!

 

I know this is a long and involved post. Thank you in advance for any advice, and I hope you might find some use in the discussion about descreening experiments above. If interested, I have more details about the descreening process and coordinates used.

 

Cheers!

-ka

 

 

[MEB]

Hi RuralKat,
Welcome to Affinity Forums

1. Go to Document ▸ Resize Document

2. There's no default image size. They are opened with their original pixel dimensions/dpi. You can scale and resample them as you see fit.

3. Yes, Affinity Photo supports macros although currently not all actions can be recorded (this feature was introduced in v1.5 and is still being worked/improved). To create/record them open the Macro panel (menu View ▸ Studio ▸ Macro) and click record. After recording you can save them to the Library clicking on the second icon on the top right of the panel so you can reuse them later. To access/run the macros you have saved go to menu View ▸ Studio ▸ Library to open the Library panel. Here's a couple video tutorials that may help:

• Macros
• Macros: Equations
• Macros: Layer Behaviour
• Batch Processing with Macros

For additional video tutorials covering most of the features of the program please check this thread.

[RuralKat]

This is fabulous news, MEB! Many kind thanks for your expert guidance! I really look forward to checking out "Macros" in AP.

 

Cheers :-)

[Andy Somerfield]

Hi RuralKat,

 

A median tool (and median brush tool) are available in Photo!

 

Thanks,

 

Andy.

[RuralKat]

Thank you kindly, Andy Somerfield for your helpful info! I will investigate. I think I'm used to looking in certain places for tools in Ps, not to mention much of our knowledge from the Adobe software resides in the 'ole keyboard shortcut muscle memory ... so it's all in the transition. Cheers!