What's the difference between Layers & Overlays?

[Nick Trieu]

Hi there,

 

I'm new to Affinity and was watching some Youtube video tutorials and to me, Layers and Overlays seems to be the same thing? Can you please the difference? 

 

Thanks 

Nick

[dominik]

51 minutes ago, Nick Trieu said:

Hi there,

 

I'm new to Affinity and was watching some Youtube video tutorials and to me, Layers and Overlays seems to be the same thing? Can you please the difference? 

 

Thanks 

Nick

 

Hello Nick Trieu,

 

Overlays are available only in the 'Develop Persona' of Affinity Photo. Layers are a way how it works in the 'Photo Persona'. An overlay is more like a mask while a layer can be an adjustment, a pixel layer or even a live effect layer.

 

Quote from the help file:

Overlays are elements within Develop Persona which are placed on top of an image. Any adjustment applied to an overlay affects the image below.

However, overlays can have a varying level of visibility, which varies the impact its adjustments have on the underlying image. In this respect, Overlays in Develop Persona act in a similar way to masks in Photo Persona.
 

I hope this makes it a bit more clear for you 

 

d.