How do I apply any color, contrast, other adjustment? I hit enter and it does nothing

[quicksite]

All I want to do is apply changes wherever I make them intuitively. Usually an enter kepboard command executes an action, but I don't see how this is achieved with Affinity. I really expected this whole app to be way more intuitive so I can take my years experience with photoshop and other apple tools and just do stuff, not have to learn a peculiar interface logic system. 

I also would like to know how and where I can drag a layer to duplicate it? I see no UI target to drag onto.

These things are Actions 101, and I don't understand the logic system here. It's like the original Texas Instruments calculators in the late 1970s with its funky ENTER syntax vs the Casios of ther time which were standard natural sequencing.

Where is "JUST DO IT" already?  Thanks very much.

 

Edited June 24, 2019 by quicksite
inserted wrong attachment

[Ron P.]

Hi and Welcome @quicksite,

The changes are applied unless you select to Reset, or Delete. All you need to do is close the dialog window, which I guess on Mac's is that red button in the upper left corner. To Duplicate a Layer you can right-click on the layer and a menu will open, select Duplicate. Or go to the Layers menu and select Duplicate from there, and you can use the keyboard shortcut of CMD+J.

[quicksite]

Thanks very much!