Missing Persona in Designer and Photo

[PJA11]

Last week I downloaded the latest version of Affinity Pub/Des/Pho, I am now missing the Persona in Photo and Designer; pls see pics.  Have tried the VIEW/CUSTOMIZE TOOLBAR, but they don't shop up there either.  plse help.

[PJA11]

more screen shots; left one from Designer, right one from Photo

[CLC]

@PJA11 well, you have to create a new document or open an existing one first - then you can use those menu options and switch personas as well 

[carl123]

The Personas in Publisher are StudioLink personas which are unique to Publisher and different to the personas in Photo and Designer

Publisher's StudioLink personas allow you to seamlessly access many of the core features of Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer without ever having to leave the main Publisher Interface or having to "run-up" any of the other 2 applications.  In order for the Designer and Photo personas in Publisher to function you must have also purchased the full versions of Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo (respectively).

The Personas in Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer are self-contained personas, to the effect that they do not need any additional purchase of any other app (program).  They are not designed to give you access to any of the features found in the other apps whether you have purchased them or not.  Think of them as additional design environments for when you want to perform a specific task within the app that would be significantly enhanced by having its own custom interface and commands.

If you are currently working on a document in Affinity Photo or Affinity Designer and wish to access features found exclusively in any of the other 2 apps, you would use one of the two File > Edit in ...... commands located in the app.

This differs to StudioLink as you will now effectively leave the app you were previously working in, the "File > Edit in .........." app you requested will now "run-up" and the document you were working on will now open in that app.

The "Edit in ........." function effectively transfers your working document from one application to another, whereas StudlioLink allows you to work totally within  one application and to access features of other applications without the need to "run-up" those applications or transfer your document to those applications.

StudioLink personas are not available in Affinity Photo or Affinity Designer and Serif have not (to my knowledge) stated that they will or will not be added to future versions of the current products. 

Side note: Since Studiolink gives you access to many but not all of the features of Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer, Publisher also has an "Edit in ..........." command for when you need to access features not (currently) available via the StudioLink personas.

[jmwellborn]

@carl123 this is such an excellent explanation!  I think it should be tagged somehow for a permanent first page spot on the Questions Forum.   There will be so many brand new Affinity users who will want to know exactly this!!  @Patrick Connor What do you think?

[PJA11]

Dear All,

Thank you kindly for your responses.  All most appreciated!

I purchased all three programs - and had the Icons on the top left, until i updated and they disappeared - that is why I was confused. I'll be able to work around and make an extra click with the mouse to get more features for the project being worked on.  

your great explanation did help me - so I am sure that others would benefit from a post. Thanks again!

[walt.farrell]

9 minutes ago, PJA11 said:

I purchased all three programs - and had the Icons on the top left, until i updated and they disappeared -

The additional Persona icons have never been in Designer or Photo; only in Publisher.

Your screenshots are showing the correct complement of Personas for both Designer and Photo.

[R C-R]

On 9/15/2019 at 4:19 AM, carl123 said:

Side note: Since Studiolink gives you access to many but not all of the features of Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer, Publisher also has an "Edit in ..........." command for when you need to access features not (currently) available via the StudioLink personas.

A side note to this side note: 

If you use this command it may not be obvious that you have access to all of the spreads/pages & Masters in the other two apps because those apps open to the current Publisher page. To change the page, use the page navigation buttons in the status bar at the bottom left of the window. They are functionally identical to the ones at the bottom of the Publisher Pages panel.

[dotails]

So because studio link isn't complete, missing export, liquify, and other personas, I fixed it by adding tabs. Like PJA11 said click file edit in and it will load your work in the appropriate tab with all personas unlocked.