Quick Mask for Affinity Designer

[Shiva478]

Is there a toggle quick mask in Affinity Designer. Because I like Affinity Designer the most but what I think would make it super perfect is the quick mask where I can then use the brush to be able to "unmask" the item I want and then have it selected. Because for me the quick mask is awesome.

[firstdefence]

There isn't a "Quick Mask" option in Affinity Designer per'se but there is the option to layer mask see Affinity Designer's help file blurb below.

 

Quote

Layer masking

A layer mask is used to reveal a portion of a layer while the rest of the layer remains hidden. This means that you can use a mask layer to 'delete' areas of a layer that you don't want. 

In Affinity Designer, two types of masking are possible:

• Pixel masking: performs a similar task to the erase tools with one important difference; a pixel mask can be modified, or even discarded, at any point in time.
• Vector masking: this involves using a line or shape as a mask over another object that crops to the line or shape's outline.

Masking can be applied at any level in the Layers panel—as an independent mask layer, applied to a specific layer (or sublayer), to groups, or to individual objects. This is governed by the mask layer's positioning in the layer stack.

The non-destructive power of masking

Masks are applied to designs as a separate layer, allowing them to be freely edited and moved. Mask layers affect any object below them within the same parent layer. They can also be clipped to individual objects so that only that object is affected.

Adjustment layers also have mask layer properties. Areas of an adjustment layer can be revealed or hidden in the same way as with a mask layer.

    To add a pixel mask to a vector layer:

1. In the Layers panel, select the chosen vector layer.
2. Jump to Pixel Persona.
3. Do one of the following:
   • To 'erase', paint on the page using the Erase Brush tool. A mask layer is created on painting.
   • To 'restore' the mask, paint on the page using the Paint Brush Tool. A white fill completely restores, while greyscale fills partially restore the mask by varying amounts.

The Erase Brush Tool always erases using 100% black (ignoring the current fill swatch).

 To create an empty mask layer:To edit a pixel mask:To change pixel mask properties:To enable/disable a clipped mask layer:To add a vector mask:

1. Draw a vector object, e.g., a line or shape, which is to be your mask.
2. Do one of the following:
   • In the Layers panel, drag the created object entry directly onto the thumbnail of another 'target' object.
   • -click the object and select Mask to Below, if the object to be masked is directly below the masking object.

The thumbnail of the target object changes to indicate that a mask and crop have been applied.

The mask of the object is applied in a "crop to top object" operation.

Vector masks can be used layer to layer, layer to object, object to layer, or object to object (as above).

 

 

 

 

In Affinity Photo there is the option for quick mask see help file blurb below.

 

Quote

Edit selection as layer using Quick Mask mode

Using Quick Mask mode, you can modify (or create) a selection using pixel-editing tools.

When entering this mode, your selection is temporarily presented as a pixel mask. Pixels can be added or erased using the standard Painting and Erase tools.

• Painting in black will erase areas from the selection.
• Painting in white will add areas to the selection.
• Painting a grey will vary the opacity of the selection depending on the tone of grey used.
• Erased areas are always removed from a selection.

By default, the Quick Mask is presented in the workspace as a translucent, monochrome overlay. The monochrome areas are not included in the selection. This default view can be changed depending on your preferences.

Tools which can be used in conjunction with Quick Mask include, but are not limited to, the Erase Brush Tool, Flood Erase Tool, Flood Fill Tool, Gradient Tool, Paint Brush Tool, Paint Mixer Brush and Pixel.

You can create a new selection from scratch using the Painting tools by entering Quick Mask mode without a selection in place. 

 To edit a selection using Quick Mask mode:

1. Do one of the following:
   • Press Q.
   • On the Toolbar, click Quick Mask.
   • From the Select menu, select Edit Selection As Layer.
2. Click or drag on the page using any pixel-editing tool.
3. Repeat step 1 to exit Quick Mask mode and display the selection as a marquee.
4. (Optional) To create a layer mask using the current selection, from the Layer menu, select New Mask Layer.

 To change Quick Mask view:

• On the Toolbar, click the arrow next to Quick Mask Enabledand then select a Show As option from the pop-up menu.