Beginner's Guide To Layers - Affinity Photo Tutorial

Layers are the foundation to mastering retouching and editing in Affinity Photo. Learning them is essential to become a good editor and retoucher. They will empower you to tweak, organize and visualize your edits whether it be retouching portraits or a surreal landscape. In this beginner's guide video I will guide you through the layers panel, explore the variety of layer types and talk about blend modes in Affinity Photo. By the end of the video you will feel confident in your skills to make confident edits with layers. Thank you for watching.
If there is anything you would like me to make a video on, please let me know in the comments!
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:16 - What Are Layers?
0:58 - Layers Panel
4:55 - Creating and Managing Layers
7:33 - Layer Types
7:47 - Adjustment Layers
9:25 - Shape Layers
10:03 - Text Layers
10:36 - Mask Layers
11:08 - Blend Modes
12:55 - Example

[@maddada]

Great tutorials, thank you!

[@user-re5vf3wl1s]

Hi Michael, a tutorial using blend modes would be very helpful!

[@jeffk412]

Just WOW. So on point, so clear. I learned more in this video than weeks of screwing around on my own. THANK YOU.

[@MichaelSturgill]

No problem! I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@billfried626]

No waste. Thanks again!

[@ianjohnson2047]

Really good tutorial. Explains the topic in clear terms, so that even a novice like me can understand. Many thanks🙂

[@MichaelSturgill]

Thank you! I'm glad it was useful

[@genegustafson715]

What about layering and syncing several photos for blending flashed areas?

[@kevinlewis9098]

My god this was excellent, I was using layers all wrong or clearly did not understand them well enough. Thanks Michael, off to practice now.

[@MichaelSturgill]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@kevinlewis9098]

@@MichaelSturgill Very much so hope you don't a few follow on confirmation questions?

[@MichaelSturgill]

@@kevinlewis9098 Ask away! I'll help as much as I can.

[@nikonrulz]

Excellent video, thank you.

[@MichaelSturgill]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it!

[@Argyll9846]

New user of Affinity here. Why are new (pixel) layers filled with the current colour when you create them?

[@M123OCT]

Good video, cheers. 👍
One little tip: if you could just...slow.......down...........a bit. 😂 Remember, for the viewer, often a novice like me, there's a lot to take in at once, what you're saying, what's on the screen, what you're doing, where the cursor is etc.
Just chill. 👍 😉

[@MichaelSturgill]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it, and thank you for the feedback!

[@granitfog]

Okay I've opened a photo using Open comand and it is on a layer, but how do I add another photo to a new layer so I can merge them after masking later. It seems that every time use the open command, the old layer and phto disappear and a the new photo is on the one layer.

[@MichaelSturgill]

The easiest way would probably be just to drag and drop the photo onto the canvas. When you do the open option it's probably creating a new canvas with that photo. You might notice that just below your toolbar you have two tabs with the photos you've opened. If that's the case you can drag the layer from one into another. Hope this helps!

[@granitfog]

@@MichaelSturgill Thanks

[@user-re2rz8th5j]

To fast. as a beginner I was lost.

[@MichaelSturgill]

Is there something I can help you understand?

[@danip.b556]

Please speak more slow because I dont get 😅😅😅

[@MichaelSturgill]

Thank you for your feedback. Is there something I can help you understand?