Jump to content
You must now use your email address to sign in [click for more info] ×

Recommended Posts

     I am working through the Affinity Photo Workbook and up to page 125 everything has worked reasonably well (perhaps any snags were my fault!) BUT I have found a snag on page 126 --- when I tried the Lock on the Tone boost layer it didn't work!

    I have tried this several times, but still I can move the layer, even with the "padlock" activated. I have also tried it the previous exercise, with the same result.

    Is there a glitz with my copy of Affinity Photo, or am I doing something wrong? Help?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

Hi Merok1,

Welcome to the forums.

When the lock is enabled it stops the layer from being accidentally selected when you're working on the canvas area. The layer and the adjustment can still be edited from the Layers panel. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Merok1!

 

Are you saying that even with the Tone Boost layer locked, you can move it with the Move Tool? When you try that, do you see the X's shown in the inset shown on page 127, indicating a locked layer?

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Lee D said:

When the lock is enabled it stops the layer from being accidentally selected when you're working on the canvas area. The layer and the adjustment can still be edited from the Layers panel.

 

Why is it like this?

Why does not the layer lock protect against any modification?

Affinity Store (MSI/EXE): Affinity Suite (ADe, APh, APu) 2.4.0.2301
Dell OptiPlex 7060, i5-8500 3.00 GHz, 16 GB, Intel UHD Graphics 630, Dell P2417H 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Dell Latitude E5570, i5-6440HQ 2.60 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics 530, 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Intel NUC5PGYH, Pentium N3700 2.40 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics, EIZO EV2456 1920 x 1200, Windows 10 Pro, Version 21H1, Build 19043.2130.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Pšenda said:

Why is it like this?

Why does not the layer lock protect against any modification?

Just guessing but possibly because it would be annoying to have to unlock a layer to do any of the several things that can be done to a locked layer.

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do not know, but write protect which allows write, me very practical does not seem.

If the main reason is only protection against selection, it should be called different and should have a different symbol, definitely not "lock". 

Affinity Store (MSI/EXE): Affinity Suite (ADe, APh, APu) 2.4.0.2301
Dell OptiPlex 7060, i5-8500 3.00 GHz, 16 GB, Intel UHD Graphics 630, Dell P2417H 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Dell Latitude E5570, i5-6440HQ 2.60 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics 530, 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Intel NUC5PGYH, Pentium N3700 2.40 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics, EIZO EV2456 1920 x 1200, Windows 10 Pro, Version 21H1, Build 19043.2130.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As far as I know, the Affinity layer locking feature has never been described in the documentation as a "write protect" feature, which at least to me would imply that a protected layer could not be renamed, moved to some other point in the layer hierarchy, hidden/unhidden, rasterized or converted to curves where applicable, or otherwise modified in any way until its write protection was removed. Since I regularly modify locked layers in any of several different ways, I would be very annoyed if that was what it did, since it would mean a lot of extra clicking I would prefer to avoid.

 

I do not see anything wrong with using this name or symbol for the feature or any reason to change it, probably because I never expected it to be the equivalent of a write protect feature.

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, R C-R said:

because I never expected it to be the equivalent of a write protect feature.

 

But I would expect it to be so, and that's why I ask for the importance of "locking".

 

I would expect the same meaning as the lock for the Aspect ratio locking, which will not allow it to change.

In my opinion, protecting the layer from unwanted modifications while maintaining its visibility would be useful.

It can be renamed, moving in hierarchy, hidden/unhidden, but no change of content.

Affinity Store (MSI/EXE): Affinity Suite (ADe, APh, APu) 2.4.0.2301
Dell OptiPlex 7060, i5-8500 3.00 GHz, 16 GB, Intel UHD Graphics 630, Dell P2417H 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Dell Latitude E5570, i5-6440HQ 2.60 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics 530, 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Intel NUC5PGYH, Pentium N3700 2.40 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics, EIZO EV2456 1920 x 1200, Windows 10 Pro, Version 21H1, Build 19043.2130.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

In my opinion, protecting the layer from unwanted modifications while maintaining its visibility would be useful.

It can be renamed, moving in hierarchy, hidden/unhidden, but no change of content.

I do not want or need any additional protection from unwanted modifications other than not being able to select a locked layer on the canvas. Since I can only select locked layers from the Layers panel, that is enough for me.

 

But aside from that, I like & not infrequently use the ability to change the content even when the layer is locked. For example, in Affinity Designer I often use a document sized rectangle as the equivalent of Affinity Photo's fill layer. I routinely lock it so it doesn't get moved off center accidentally. But I also like to experiment by changing its fill color, which I can do easily without having to unlock it first, which would be an extra step I would find annoying.

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe introduce a lock and full lock

  • Lock allows editing but not movement or deletion
  • Full lock disallows editing and movement and deletion

Personally, I like the fact that a layer can be location-locked but still be editable for tweaking if selected from the layers panel.

In the work space, for all intents and purposes, editing and location are locked, which is what the lock feature is supposed to do - disallow editing within the workspace, because, if anything is going to get moved or accidentally knocked its in the workspace.

On the layers panel its generally a deliberate action of selection so the intent to edit is there, even if you accidentally select a layer from the layers panel nothing can be edited unless you take more action in which case it becomes a deliberate action.

One thing I didn't like from the layers panel was that you can delete a layer that's locked, I don't think deleting a locked layer should be allowable.

iMac 27" 2019 Somona 14.3.1, iMac 27" Affinity Designer, Photo & Publisher V1 & V2, Adobe, Inkscape, Vectorstyler, Blender, C4D, Sketchup + more... XP-Pen Artist-22E, - iPad Pro 12.9  
B| (Please refrain from licking the screen while using this forum)

Affinity Help - Affinity Desktop Tutorials - Feedback - FAQ - most asked questions

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, firstdefence said:

lock and full lock

 

Yes, like is in Photoshop.

2018-01-18_135120.png.6bbfffb46556cb483a3a8831c494ea7c.png

Affinity Store (MSI/EXE): Affinity Suite (ADe, APh, APu) 2.4.0.2301
Dell OptiPlex 7060, i5-8500 3.00 GHz, 16 GB, Intel UHD Graphics 630, Dell P2417H 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Dell Latitude E5570, i5-6440HQ 2.60 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics 530, 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Intel NUC5PGYH, Pentium N3700 2.40 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics, EIZO EV2456 1920 x 1200, Windows 10 Pro, Version 21H1, Build 19043.2130.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, R C-R said:

Affinity layer locking feature has never been described in the documentation as a "write protect" feature

 

2018-01-18_140330.png.cae73016566811be5acf6b17272a9ef3.png

https://affinity.help/photo/English.lproj/pages/Panels/layersPanel.html

 

2018-01-18_140749.png.35c7999580ed10bb876e55db0485dac7.png

https://affinity.help/photo/English.lproj/pages/LayerOperations/locking.html

 

"Prevent editing" I understand as "write protect".

Affinity Store (MSI/EXE): Affinity Suite (ADe, APh, APu) 2.4.0.2301
Dell OptiPlex 7060, i5-8500 3.00 GHz, 16 GB, Intel UHD Graphics 630, Dell P2417H 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Dell Latitude E5570, i5-6440HQ 2.60 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics 530, 1920 x 1080, Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631.3155.
Intel NUC5PGYH, Pentium N3700 2.40 GHz, 8 GB, Intel HD Graphics, EIZO EV2456 1920 x 1200, Windows 10 Pro, Version 21H1, Build 19043.2130.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Pšenda said:

"Prevent editing" I understand as "write protect".

But it should be obvious by now that it does not mean that in the Affinity apps. The first sentence in the Locking topic clearly states what it does:

Quote

Locking is useful when you need to prevent a layer from being moved or transformed unintentionally.

 

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

Hi Merok1,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

As Lee explained, you can always move a layer in the Layers panel to change its position in the layer's stack no matter if it's locked or not. Locking a layer only prevents you from moving/transforming it on canvas (to prevent accidental changes).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Merok1 said:

Please see the attached to make it clearer.

What is that supposed to make clearer? As @Lee D said in the first reply & @MEB has just reiterated, locking does not prevent you from moving a locked layer on the Layers panel, just on the canvas.

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Well, anyway, 

if Affinity plans to move forwards the users who need not only photo part, but use it for wider options, this really needs some attention.

For example I would like to use this app for painting. For such usage current locking is lacking very useful features. At the moment I am not able to lock alpha and prevent from painting behind the current shape. That is something widely used in proces of painting during shading etc. 

And even the full locking is needed. When you got a photo layer and you wish to lock it, any accidental action is usually visible, eg once you use some filter or adjustment. But when I paint? I have no idea I got selected the wrong layer after some last transformation or something (which I use a lot during sketching). And with auto select behaviour it is much more likely to make such mistake and destroy some layer you did not intended to paint on. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/8/2019 at 12:42 PM, hokic said:

For example I would like to use this app for painting. For such usage current locking is lacking very useful features. At the moment I am not able to lock alpha and prevent from painting behind the current shape. That is something widely used in proces of painting during shading etc. 

I am not sure this would do what you want, but have you tried toggling off Editable for the Composite Alpha channel in the Channels panel?

All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7
Affinity Photo 
1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

Hi hokic,
Welcome to Affinity Forums :)
I'm assuming you are painting with the Paint Brush Tool. If so check/tick Protect Alpha checkbox from the context toolbar. If you can't see this checkbox in right most end of the toolbar click the ">>" symbol there to display a pop-up with the rest of the context toolbar options.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi, R C-R, thank you very much, that solution worked ;)  And MEB, your once as well, it was hidden ;) Thank you too! Be sure, I have been searching and googling before I posted my post, but you are the one who helped to solve. 

Is there any way how to reorder the settings in the context? I have not found, as far as I am aware I can set only main toolbar, not context one. Currently I feel alpha is more often used feature for me then mirror etc. But it is just a suggestion, more important there is the alpha feature exists. Thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...
5 minutes ago, Josh Neufeld said:

Discovered today that locking a layer in Affinity Designer still allows its contents to be selected and deleted, which is exactly what I wanted to prevent by locking the layer. Is there another way to prevent selection or modification to a layer's components?

This has been discussed a few times before , e.g. here.   The addition of a lock feature that does what you're asking for has also been requested.

AP, AD & APub user, running Win10

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oddly enough, as I was moving layers around, occasionally a layer gets "stuck" (can't select or move) until I toggle the lock/unlock setting or rearrange the order of layers. Perhaps it's a software glitch but it's an annoying one that suddenly makes me hopeful that the functionality exists if I were smart enough to figure out how to make it work.

So bizarre that Affinity Designer looks so good but has some really weird feature omissions. Another obvious/essential feature is "Select same..." - missing even though seemingly easy to implement. And yes, I know that the Select same issue has been raised and discussed to death over the past few years. 

I'm often asked if I recommend Affinity Designer. I wish that my response could be as enthusiastic as I'd like it to be... frustrating.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff
56 minutes ago, Josh Neufeld said:

Discovered today that locking a layer in Affinity Designer still allows its contents to be selected and deleted, which is exactly what I wanted to prevent by locking the layer. Is there another way to prevent selection or modification to a layer's components?

Hi Josh Neufeld,
Where are you selecting the locked layer? Directly  on canvas or in the Layers panel? You shouldn't be able to select them on canvas, only in the Layers panel (which we consider a deliberate action). Currently there's a known bug that allows to select locked layers if you draw a marquee to select them on canvas. This is being looked at. If that's not your case can you post a sample file showing the issue please? Thanks.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines | We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.