questions about using RAW and about filters

[Manja]

I just started with affinity photo, before I used lightroom, but still a beginner, I just did some basic stuff. 

My first question. When post-processing RAW photo's you start in develop persona. I don't really get why you start there and what the difference is with photo persona. What you can do in photo persona you can also do in develop persona. When I watch the video's it looks like you make the photo looking flat. The rest you do in photo persona. Why? 

When using filters in photo persona there is no layer, so how can I get back to those settings and alter them? Or know what I used in the beginning of processing my photo's. I did the second example photo of the book and mine looks different, more bright. But I can't find any difference when I look at the layers. Where can I find those settings

And I am looking for information about the steps you take when post-processing. Like we say in the Netherlands, I don't see the trees because of the forrest. There is so much you can do and alter. I have no idea where to start or what to use. I have the book, I did the examples. But it is nothing compared to what is possible.  

Thanks!

[Gabe]

Hi @Manja

I suggest you have a read through this thread: 

Short answer: With the Photo persona, you work on Adjustment Layers and you can turn them on/off selectively at a later stage. 

With the Develop Persona, you do not work on layers, and all the adjustments are "baked" into the image. 

Thanks,

Gabe. 

[v_kyr]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

I think it might be helpful for you to look through some of the introduction video tutorials here, so you get a better idea of the differences and things you mentioned above! - See here:

• Official Affinity Photo (Desktop) Video Tutorials (200+)

[Manja]

47 minutes ago, v_kyr said:

Hello and welcome to the forum!

I think it might be helpful for you to look through some of the introduction video tutorials here, so you get a better idea of the differences and things you mentioned above! - See here:

• Official Affinity Photo (Desktop) Video Tutorials (200+)

Thanks, I have seen a lot of them. But I want to know a sequence, I don't know when to use them. I am looking for some 'rules'. When you have a certain photo look at this, and if it is like A, you do this and that. If it is like B do this and that. Or do A,B,C,D. A couple of the RAW photo video's are showing different things. And I don't know when to do either one of them. Probably I can do both?? I don't know. 

[HVDB Photography]

 

I think this might be helpful too ....

https://affinityspotlight.com/article/raw-actually/

 

[Manja]

1 hour ago, HVDB Photography said:

I think this might be helpful too ....

https://affinityspotlight.com/article/raw-actually/

Thank you! 

 

2 hours ago, GabrielM said:

Short answer: With the Photo persona, you work on Adjustment Layers and you can turn them on/off selectively at a later stage. 

With the Develop Persona, you do not work on layers, and all the adjustments are "baked" into the image. 

Thanks,

Gabe. 

Thanks, I will check the post

[v_kyr]

1 hour ago, Manja said:

Thanks, I have seen a lot of them. But I want to know a sequence, I don't know when to use them. I am looking for some 'rules'. When you have a certain photo look at this, and if it is like A, you do this and that. If it is like B do this and that. Or do A,B,C,D. A couple of the RAW photo video's are showing different things. And I don't know when to do either one of them. Probably I can do both?? I don't know. 

Well that always also depends on the look and sort of photo you've taken and of course of what you have in mind for how it should look and then processing it into that direction. Meaning you usually see yourself if one of your photos is washed out, fade, needs sharpening, more contrast or highlights, would benefit from cropping, some toning etc.

The basic things for RAW files are named in the above link shown by the posting of @HVDB Photography , you first usually check your exposers if the lights (darks, mids and highlights) are well balanced and good distributed among your shot. You can see and tweak/adjust such settings via curves, levels, highlight and contrast panels etc. You also can crop to wanted sizes or in order to work out just a portion of the initial image. You can adjust sharpness if needed and sharpen slightly. - For more finetuning and trickier image manipulations you would then take your first in the Develop persona preprocessed RAW image over to the Photo persona, there you then have the most powerful capabilities for image manipulations.

There should be common guided photo workflows shown on the internet, it should be full of such things. Or follow stepwise some of the course material of the Affinity Photo Workbook, that should too give you some good idea of how to start and use certain things for your own photos then.