Let adjustment layer affect only one (fill) layer

[Viktor Beekman]

Hi,

It seems impossible to have an adjustment layer affect ONLY one fill layer on the iPad version. It’s driving me nuts! Dragging on top of the layer, grouping, anything; nothing works. Yes, I am new to Affinity Photo, but so far I’m not able to speed up my workflow and choose it over good old Photoshop, sorry. But I really want to! Help me out?

Thanks!

[DM1]

Hi Viktor, Adjustment layers effect all layers below them. They can also be used to effect only a single layer by clipping the adjustment layer to the object layer (being the layer you want to apply the effect to). Drag the adjustment layer over the object layer and when you see a blue line, release the layer. The effect of the adjustment layer will now be restricted to the object layer in which it is now nested.

It takes a little while to get used to any new application, and many features in AP work differently to PS. Have a look at some of the video tutorials and get a feel for how it operates. It’s worth the effort. 

Try this one for filters and adjustments. https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/photo/ipad/category/filters-and-adjustments/

[Martin Skoro]

 

Hello,

I'm having the same frustration I believe Victor has had. I followed the guidance offered by DM1 and still get the bottom layer 'adjusting' as I try to affect the top layer. I'm trying to replace a section of a person's sleeve, and need to carefully adjust the top layer (sleeve section) to blend with the bottom layer image. as I use any adjustment method on the top layer, the bottom layer, to my dismay, shifts also. I need the bottom layer to stay set and unaltered! Any other suggestions than the one above? 

Thank you for your time and attention!

[DM1]

Have you clipped the top adjustment layer to the top pixel layer? If not, as previously stated, the top adjustment layer will effect all underlying layers. 

Could you post a screen shot of your layer studio layout or a screen video showing what you are trying to achieve. Maybe that will help identify the issue. 

[Martin Skoro]

Hi DM1,

Thank you for your response and taking the time to help. I may not understand 'clipping,' but I tried, the best I understood it, the instructions you'd provided above for Viktor.

Attached is a screenshot of the image I'm working on: foundation layer, Sleeve-Right, Sleeve-Left and the 'levels' adjust layer above the 'Sleeve-Left.'

When I slide the 'Black Level' slider to the right, the whole image darkens, where I only want the Sleeve-Left layer to be affected.

I look forward to your response.

Best, 

[Alfred]

2 minutes ago, Martin Skoro said:

Attached is a screenshot of the image I'm working on: foundation layer, Sleeve-Right, Sleeve-Left and the 'levels' adjust layer above the 'Sleeve-Left.'

Your screenshot shows that you’re using the Mac version of Affinity Photo. This thread is an iPad thread, so the UI is a bit different.

In the desktop version of APh, you need to move the adjustment layer immediately below and to the right of the target layer. If you move it too far down you’ll get a thick horizontal blue line across the entire width of Layers panel, but if you’ve moved it to the correct place for clipping/nesting the line will start to the right of the target layer’s thumbnail.

[Martin Skoro]

Fantastic Alfred! It worked! Whew.

Sorry about mistaking the thread. I'm new to this. I'll be more watchful here-to-come.

Best,

[Alfred]

2 minutes ago, Martin Skoro said:

I'm new to this.

My bad, Martin: I forgot to say ‘Welcome to the Serif Affinity Forums’!

[Martin Skoro]

Thank you Alfred. I'm happy to have found the forum.

Have a good weekend!

[Alex W]

On 2/8/2019 at 9:47 AM, DM1 said:

Hi Viktor, Adjustment layers effect all layers below them. They can also be used to effect only a single layer by clipping the adjustment layer to the object layer (being the layer you want to apply the effect to). Drag the adjustment layer over the object layer and when you see a blue line, release the layer. The effect of the adjustment layer will now be restricted to the object layer in which it is now nested.

It takes a little while to get used to any new application, and many features in AP work differently to PS. Have a look at some of the video tutorials and get a feel for how it operates. It’s worth the effort. 

Try this one for filters and adjustments. https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/photo/ipad/category/filters-and-adjustments/

Unfortunately this doesn't appear to work on fill layers. The adjustment layer can be dragged (or added directly to the fill layer), but it just refuses to affect it at all. The only way I can get it to work, without rasterising my fill layer and losing its editibility, is to put it in a group and clip the adjustment layer to the group instead.

Am I doing something wrong here?

[Move Along People]

-

[DM1]

3 hours ago, Alex W said:

Am I doing something wrong here?

No. If you don’t want to rasterise the fill layer your options are group the fill layer and filter, or place the layers you don’t want effected above the filter in the layer studio, or, as haakoo suggested, use a shape (eg rectangle), set the fill colour and clip the filter.