How to copy masks between adjustment layers

[dkj]

(My apologies if this same procedure has been posted previously.)

Suppose you have two adjustment/filter layers called "SourceLayer" and "DestinationLayer".

Suppose you've created a mask on SourceLayer, so that it affects only part of your image.

Suppose you want DestinationLayer to affect only that same part of your image.

 

1. Select SourceLayer.
2. On the Channels tab, right-click SourceLayer Alpha.
3. Choose Create Spare Channel from the menu.

4. [Optional] Rename "Spare Channel" to "SourceLayer Mask".
5. Select DestinationLayer.
6. On the Channels tab, right-click the icon of SourceLayer Mask.*
7. Choose Load to DestinationLayer Alpha from the menu.

 

DestinationLayer will now affect the same part of your image as SourceLayer.

*If you don't click the icon, you won't see the "Load to..." menu selection. This is a (minor) bug in Affinity Photo.

[Alan9940]

Coincidentally, I just asked about doing this very thing earlier today. I tried your method and it works great! Certainly not as easy as simply dragging the mask between layers, a la PS, but I can live with it. Thanks for the tip!! 

[stokerg]

 

13 hours ago, dkj said:

*If you don't click the icon, you won't see the "Load to..." menu selection. This is a (minor) bug in Affinity Photo.

 

Thanks for sharing this method and i'll check the issue with 'Load To' menu and get it logged with the Dev team if it isn't already  

[R C-R]

16 hours ago, dkj said:

DestinationLayer will now affect the same part of your image as SourceLayer.

*If you don't click the icon, you won't see the "Load to..." menu selection. This is a (minor) bug in Affinity Photo.

Thanks very much for mentioning this! I never would have known about it otherwise. The Channels panel (Photo Persona only) help topic does mention this 'load to' capability exists for masks & such but it says nothing about where users must click to get this in the context menu:

 

Quote

 

More options are available via the context menu (⌃(ctrl)-click) to allow you to:

• Create selections from channels.
• Add to, subtract from, and intersect channel with current selection.
• Retrieve stored selections.
• Load selections to current layer channel, mask, adjustment layer, or filter layer.

 

 

So perhaps when this bug gets fixed the help topic can be improved to make all things related to the context menu clearer?

 

BTW, the bug still exists in the Mac 1.6.7 (Beta 3) version.