Affinity Photo - Basics of Layers Masks and Selections

This video is a brief introduction to how Layers, masks and selections work together. As photographers we often want to apply filters to the image such as exposure, levels, contrast etc. but only want it to affect part of the image. Using Filter layers in conjunction with masks and selection give you the control to selectively edit you photo.

[@jennilou100]

Thank you for explaining this so clearly! I have been baffled by masks, but now I understand them.

[@nxu5107]

Thanks Simon. Very useful and easy to understand the concept of Layers and masks. The selection tool itself went over my head though. But there will be other videos that teach that. Many thanks again.

[@donshelton9103]

Mask has been confusing but after viewing this video it is the best explanation of mask that I have seen. Thank You

[@SimonMee]

Thank you 👍

[@tbg3111]

Finally, a video that teaches layers in an understandable way. Merci!

[@martineacott9330]

Thank you! This is a video I'll be coming back to, I'm sure.

[@albertoginastera3703]

One of the best tutorials: well organized and presented. I just subscribed.

[@dingdong1009]

I concur with the comments below!!!!! Ive had Affinity/2 for five years and this is the first video I've found that I understand what the hell is going on. Everything else has been gobbledygook and nothing shown represented what I was seeing on my computer. Your explanation of how things work is excellent and I was able to follow along and apply what I was learning to an image of my own for the first time in five years. Thank you very much.

[@gnewman18]

Love the sheet of plastic analogy

[@plumbgray]

Thank you so much for that Simon that’s the best explanation of masking and selection I have seen yet. I finally got my head around it after a embarrassingly long time. Thanks Mate

[@buntusdev-uf1kt]

Great explanation. Thank you.

[@SimonMee]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cd78]

You are a very gifted teacher with your simplistic way of explaining. Just subbed

[@bluenotejunkie4209]

Simon...Thank you for your great teaching ability! You teach(for me anyway) at a great pace and your very concise and don't skip steps. You have no idea how many videos I've watched about explaining Masks and Layers and you explained & showed the difference beautifully. Basic stuff..but if students miss the basics they wonder what the hell they are doing without understanding these important steps...Thanks again...looking forward to watch more of your vids. Cheers!

[@SimonMee]

Many thanks!

[@johnhorne6987]

For someone like myself who is just starting on their journey with Affinity, you explain it really well. Easy to follow and straight forward.

[@SimonMee]

Thank you

[@charlesbell4238]

Simon, You have done an excellent job of helping me understand...Thank you!

[@vpkumar1950]

Excellent. Very clear teaching.

[@peterrothwell4964]

At last tutorial i can understand keep them coming please
Thank you Simon

[@SimonMee]

Thanks, will do!

[@eddardstark6079]

Thank you Simon, your teach helped me so much!

[@SimonMee]

You're very welcome!

[@ozzy10881]

Excellent tutorial. Very helpful for a beginner like myself. Thank you Simon

[@SimonMee]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Radioonatable]

Thank you Simon!

[@nikonrulz]

Excellent video!

[@SimonMee]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@cardboardmusic]

Thanks, great tutorial. Shame that yours is (I think) still for Affinity #1, as I'm now working on #2 and some of this isn't quite the same, and so doesn't work in the same way.

[@filippoz1976]

can you help me? i just installed affinity photo also on mac but when i create a mask layer i don't see the preview in the icon but i see a gray circle and i don't understand why. a thousand thanks

[@rogerbeltz2370]

Okay, still undecided about whether to go with Adobe Photoshop CC or Affinity Photo on my new iMac. Perhaps I am stupid for asking people the same question and expecting different results but stupid or not, I'm asking again. Question: In making a "Selection", such as a Selection of the Deer in your tutorial, can one "paint in the selection area using the paint brush" (As in using Photoshop's "Quick Mask" feature)? My photography and computer graphic work entails making [ absolutely precise ] Selections. Primarily I photograph classic antique cars and in editing, I need to meticulously "paint in" absolutely precise selections of an antique classic car...........and NOT rely on an algorithm to "try and determine" what areas and details to select. If you have an understanding of Photoshop's "Quick Mask" feature, you will know that upon activating the "Quick Mask mode", one can then select a "Paint brush" (not a "Selection brush - but rather, a PAINT BRUSH) and commence painting the "precise" areas one wants selected? Once one activates the Quick Mask feature one can then select a Brush on one's choosing and using 100% black opacity, commence painting on the subject. Whilst in "Quick Mask mode", produces a "ruby red overlay" (or any color of one's choosing) over the subject so one know EXACTLY what areas one is selecting. I have not seen this exact procedure demonstrated in any TH-cam videos pertaining to Affinity Photo. If an identical feature is not available in Affinity Photo then I would have to choose Photoshop CC over Affinity Photo. Would greatly appreciate your comments on this matter. Thank you.

[@jennilou100]

Just thinking, I have a couple of books on Affinity, and neither are as clear as your videos. Maybe you should write an Affinity guide book. Starting with basics and gently moving on to harder and harder things.

[@M123OCT]

Properly explained. 👍