Workaround for Erase Brush Tool

[Flour+Fields]

I have a pretty simple problem, but I can't find a simple solution and I'm confident there must be an easy way to do what I'd like to do. Hoping someone here can point out the obvious to me.

Background pixel layer of watercolor art, semi-opaque white rectangle (rasterized) overlaid on the whole thing. I'd like to be able to selectively cut out of this overlayer to expose the watercolor color underneath. I want the detail of a brush pattern in my deletions, but want my deletions as vectors (so they're editable) which rules out the Erase Brush Tool.

I've tried just making my patterns in a normal, vector brush design and blending the layers, but the "erase" blend mode doesn't do what I thought it would. 

Do I need to use a mask? Hoping to avoid using selection tool because that doesn't capture the details of a brush.

Any help is appreciated.

[Callum]

Hi Flour+Fields,

Welcome to the forums

Which Affinity app is it you are using?

Thanks

C

[Flour+Fields]

Ah yes, I should have specified. This is in Designer for desktop. I also have Photo for desktop, if there’s a way to access tools across apps. 

Thanks for welcoming me!

 

[Hilltop]

10 hours ago, Flour+Fields said:

... if there’s a way to access tools across apps. 

When you're  in Designer, you can select "File/Edit in Photo..." and make your edits. When done, you select "File/Edit in Designer..." and your file will have the edits you made in Photo included. Of course, the other way around works as well.

[Flour+Fields]

3 hours ago, Hilltop said:

When you're  in Designer, you can select "File/Edit in Photo..." and make your edits. When done, you select "File/Edit in Designer..." and your file will have the edits you made in Photo included. Of course, the other way around works as well.

Thanks, Hilltop! That is good to know. Do you think there are tools in Photo that I could use to solve my original problem? (Maybe flood select?)

[Hilltop]

That's hard to say F+F, not seeing what you're working on. and what you're trying to achieve. 

[Flour+Fields]

I was able to do what I needed using masks. I'm a total newbie so I was thinking about it backwards. Rather than "cut through" the opaque overlaid rectangle to reveal the watercolor beneath (which is how I first approached it), I simply masked the watercolor and placed it on top of the rectangle.

I appreciate people's willingness to help me out.

I'll leave this question up in case it helps anyone else looking for help.