Transforming Layers (Affinity Photo)

[@akarais]

Thanks ! The video is helpful : short and efficient. ! I've bought Affinity Photo as an alternate to photoshop and I must say I'm not disapointed, I'm just at the beginning, but already surprised by some really great points in the interface design. Nice job folks !

[@GRYL180]

very smooth.

[@raffriff42]

With a layer selected, sometimes there is a tiny '⨁' visible, marking the rotation point of the layer. Depending on the color behind it, it can be hard to see. Repeatedly clicking the center dot ⋮⋮⋮ on the Transform panel will make the point toggle on and off, which can make it more visible. Once you see the '⨁' you can drag it around to change the rotation or pivot point.

[@fenmadeveloper4541]

This is not working. I have image and want to insert another image as layar. New image is too big. How can i resize the new inserted image (inserted as pixel layer)?

[@CrazyBaloney]

How can I "reset" the bounding box after a rotation for example, for adequate shearing and non-proportional scaling?

[@frederiklatka9999]

how do i reset the warp of the transformed image. I know how to reset the rotation, but how do I reset the warp and overall size?

[@midvok3918]

Is it possible to display the original size of a pixel layer in pixels? I mean, after resizing, how can I restore the layer to its original size?

[@bclaus0]

Hi James, since I couldn't find this anywhere else: Could you make a tutorial on placing an image on a backdrop with perspective. Especially the case where there's no simple guidelines in the backdrop to warp your image to.

[@BrendanCook-CEH]

Very useful... Thank you! The transition from Ps is... interesting :-) Is there a way to get the file you worked on in the video? It would be helpful for my particular learning style 🙂

[@PLIDD]

Useful tips Thanks

[@javierrivero7]

I congratulate you for the new tutorials where the image of the person who is explaining does not appear, since this image distracts and covers part of the program's interface. Congratulations!

[@danielkitura]

So let me set this straight for myself) There is no such thing as a "Transform mode" here in Affinity, right? I'm just used to Photoshop transforming method, when you press Ctrl+ T, and enter the "Transform mode", so to say. I tried it today in Affinity Photo, and suddenly this combination opened Text properties) And I was like "whaaat? How do I transform?" 😅 So it was very nice of you to release this video the very same day, perfect timing!) As I understand, you just implemented slightly different approach to transformation operations, which doesn't involve that much "committing" and "applying" on every step of the way) Maybe it's actually better, gotta try using it more to figure out)

[@JulianTrebes]

To answer your comment: Yes, affinity photo has a different approach then PS. I also press Ctrl+T sometimes by mistake, because I'm used to it 😂

[@elmafudd9703]

A year later I just lived the same nightmare. Maybe we can short key it as Photoshop habbits just do not die.

[@TAGSlays]

No way to perspective warp?

[@rogerbeltz2370]

Excellent tutorial but could you please answer an important question? Does this Transform feature in Affinity also allow for "Distort", "Perspective" and "Warp" distortions (as Photoshop) does? Thank you.

[@JamesRitson]

Hi Roger, these transformations are implemented as live filter layers instead (Layer>New Live Filter Layer>Distort), so you have perspective and mesh warp functionality that can be applied non-destructively. I actually shortcut the live perspective filter to Ctrl+T for when I need to use it. Hope that helps!

[@rogerbeltz2370]

@@JamesRitson Hi James, Thanks for the reply but I am a bit confused. You must be speaking "Affinity Photo" talk, rather than "Adobe Photoshop" talk. I do not presently have Affinity Photo installed (I first need to upgrade my Mac OS to be compliant with Affinity's system requirements). You lose me with this (Layer>New Live Filter Layer>Distort) thing. Are you perhaps referring to accessing the tab at the bottom of the panel titled, "Transform"? If so, I don't understand why ALL the transform options wouldn't be available when working on a particular Layer (as would be the case in Photoshop).

[@JamesRitson]

@@rogerbeltz2370 hi Roger, I'm referring to one of Photo's features which is live filter layers. They essentially act like adjustment layers (so you can mask them, change blending options, hide/show them etc) but apply filter effects instead: blurring, sharpening, distortions, lighting and other manipulations. The are three live filters available in particular-Liquify, Mesh Warp and Perspective-that allow the user to further transform layer content non-destructively. There are various reasons why these functions aren't just implemented into the Move Tool. Perhaps the primary reason is because Affinity's overall tool set is common and shared between Photo, Designer and Publisher. There are complications with making various tools work between raster and vector data. Transformations achieved with the Move Tool (scale, position, rotate, shear) can be easily translated with raster and vector content: so for example, if a user sheared, scaled and rotated some vector layers in Designer (or indeed Photo) and exported as a PDF, SVG etc these transformed areas would remain as vector data rather than being rasterised to pixel data (therefore losing their mathematical scalability). Things get murkier when you start to introduce mesh warping, liquify and perspective transformation. The live filters are designed around raster operations: so if you applied these on vector data, for example, they would be rasterised and then have to be subsequently treated as raster data. Designer V2 introduced a vector warp feature which is designed explicitly for vector content, and is separate to Photo's raster mesh warp implementation. The shortened version is that certain design decisions have to be made because of Affinity's interoperability between its three core applications (Designer, Photo, Publisher) and the way it works with mixed discipline workflows that involve both raster and vector. The apps very much blur that line between the two disciplines..

[@rogerbeltz2370]

@@JamesRitson Thanks for the very detailed explanation as to the [ why ] these different filters are configured the way they are but I guess my primary question (as one who is considering whether or not to switch to switch from Adobe's software (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign). Actually, I would be more concerned with [ how & where ] one accesses these features. This would be my primary consideration - handling my work flow when using these features. If perhaps I could find and actually see a video showing "how & where" one accesses these features (Eg. Distort, Perspective, Warp and Free Transform) I could get a better idea as to how easily (or how difficult) it is to switch between using the "Move Tool" and what you refer to as the "Live Filter" function. I use these "transform tools" a lot in my artwork. I also rely very heavily on the Clone tool also but this is another story for another time............... I have to say that I work with vector images on a more limited basis but I do rely on a vector base application. I remain a bit perplexed when you say the image that you are working on in this particular tutorial is being transformed in a non-destructive manner. How can that be? For instance, the "Destroyed planet" is, to my thinking, a raster image. Manipulating a raster image in such manners as shown in your video have to affect pixels - right? (Unless, the Layer on which you are working is, what is known as a "Smart Object" in Adobe Photoshop - but "Smart Objects" impose their own set of limitations.) Again James, I would say my primary concern is "work flow" - accessing and using all available Transform tools. Where might I see a demonstration pertaining to accessing and using? In other words, "The Big Picture". (I might add that although retaining vector base objects is important, it is not the overriding factor in the type of artwork I engage in. Ultimately everything gets "Saved As" as either a .jpg or in more rare instances, a .pdf. In both instances, all objects, images, etc become rasterized (except in the case of Illustrator vectors where one can Save As a .PDF and elect to "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities". Allow me to express my sincere gratitude for all the time and expertise you have extended me. If I am overstepping my bounds, just tell me. I will not be offended - I will understand you have many other matters to attend to, as opposed to basically providing me "personal tutoring".

[@djr3386]

Please provide a tutorial for deform filter

[@3ric908]

20 min left and still don't find/know how reframe a layer in Aff Design as Photo (makes whole image not layer) 0___*

[@Martinbeef]

The doesn't seem simple to me.