Cristina

I don’t have a layout to post, but since I want to continue using Affinity, I decided to follow a short tutorial about enhancing photos, in this case, the White Balance. I haven’t used the app for a few days and had to think about how to resize the image and a few other things because they are done differently in PSP and PSE. I’m looking forward to the next Affinity Workshop, but meanwhile, I am choosing photos for a layout to practice the Lab tutorials in PSP. I learned a long time ago from Carole to use the Levels to enhance photos, and I do this often. This effect was also part of this tutorial. Photo from Pixabay.

This was not addressed to me, but talking for myself. I will not ditch PSP, even having PSE2025 or, who knows, Affinity Photo. There are many things I can only achieve in PSP, including Picture tubes and Scripts. Having done the Suz/Carole’s Script Course made it a bit easier to create scripts for the EASY things. Otherwise, we have Carole and the Creation Cssel for the intricate tasks.

I had never had this app before, so I learned everything since the first lesson and the tips posted here. Thanks to everybody who shared their discoveries and knowledge. I‘d purchase the program when/if they have a perfect offer. As I mentioned before, I bought Photoshop Elements 2025 on a very good Amazon offer, and I am very happy with it, but I always love to learn something new. A big thanks to Carole. 👏 It was probably not easy to learn a new program and, at the same time, create a new workshop. The outcome was perfect! It’s much better to learn this way than just watching videos. Having this group by our side made all the difference.

Ah, I just saw there will be a Magazine Workshop in February for PSP and Affinity Photo, too. I'll choose the Affinity Photo, as I have done it a few times in PSP. I still have some layouts to complete, but this is nothing new, as the number of my unfinished layouts is still high.

Thank you, Rene, for taking the time to explain in detail, with photos even, how to apply shadow in Affinity. Very helpful.

Susan, I love the layout—the colors, the subtle honeycomb pattern, the stamped-type title, and, of course, the image, too. 😄

Sue, I also seldom use plaid, but I liked this one very much. The photo and bird are stunning!

Wow, Julie, this is fantastic! You have really mastered this style, which I also love! Repeating myself, I love to browse through the different threads and see all the wonderful work everyone posts here. It's a moment of relaxation while drinking my morning coffee and before running the errands.

Yes, the problem is solved. 🙂 And Saara also explained. I applied the Blend Mode to two consecutive layers, and of course, it had to show the shadow from the layer below. It was the first time I used two consecutive layers with blend mode, so it never occurred to me, and I didn't have time to check the reason. Testing takes time! 😉

Here is my Project #5. After reading the comments about working in a non-destructive way, I tried a different approach than the one shown in the video to create the squares and the rounded rectangle. Instead of creating them separately, I worked on the layout and used the "Merge Below" option to cut the papers. I liked this option very much. Later, I grouped all the layers. I created a Date Stamp in PSP using Carole's DateStamp#8 script. Fonts: Bastro and Black Butter

Participating in this Affinity workshop and learning more about the program was very interesting. I liked the program, but I still have a long learning path. Carole, the extended trial version you made available was very helpful. It gives us more time to learn and explore what Affinity has to offer. I'm looking forward to more Affinity workshops before the Trial version runs out. 🙂

Saara, yes, blend modes react to the layers below, and that's why I was surprised it had affected the upper layer. But I do not have time right now to check this and test where the culprit is. I'd be happy if you could find it. 😊 Affinity has different blend modes than PSP, and contrast negate is one of them, so I was playing with it to see the effect. Thank you for the tip about recolor adjustment. You have more experience with the program, and I very much value every tip you give. Taking notes! 🙂

Carole, this is the paper under the photos in Project#3, but I added some noise to give a "glittered" effect. Another subject: I had some issues with the shadow appearing in the above layer (?), but I assumed at first it had to do with the different blend modes of the same paper. But learning two new programs at the same time doesn’t give me much time to look into that. I will test this after the workshop. I'll post the page and the original paper (without blend mode) for better understanding.

Now, I am going to read the previous posts. There is always a lot to learn from the comments.

Now, Project#4. This time, I included a Gradient Outline to the photos. The shadows and other effects were added from the Quick Fix tab. As there are no Picture Tubes or Carole's Scripts in Affinity, I included the ones I’ve created in PaintShop Pro. Fonts: BauhausCMedium and Beauty and Love Script.

I created another layout for Project#3 to practice the "Layer>New Pattern Layer from Selection" that Carole showed in the video. I did it differently in the layout I've posted before. I also tried text with an outline. Fonts: Brandish and Typewriter

Here is my Project#3 The layout is the same as in 2019, and the kit is again from "Kim Broedelet -Seaside Holiday," but I used different papers from then. I added Blend Modes (Multiply and Contrast Negate) to achieve different colors. Font: Canastra

It's very good to be with the family, but it is also good to be at our home and sleep in our own bed. At least, this is how I feel when I travel.

You are right, Rene. Sometimes, life comes in between, affecting our creativity, or we just need a break for any other reason. It’s a good tip to be satisfied with a basic page during this phase. The Bootcamp was helpful before, and also the Build-A-Kit Workshop.

Sue, your tags are so unique. I love the idea of adding a cutout. I hope I remember to try this next time I create one. Good to see your work again here. 😊

@Linda Rexford, I love this photo. The cats made themselves at home at this birdbath. 😊 The layout made justice to the photo; it’s beautiful.

It's interesting to see how each program works differently. Once you know and practice it, it becomes automatic, but until then, we have to dig in to learn the new stuff. I agree it's easier in Photoshop, which also has this blue outline in a mask layer. You can choose to select the image or the mask.

Here is my Project#2. As before, I am using the same kit (Kim Broedelet_Seaside Holiday) and layout from the 2019 Scrap Bootcamp. But this time, I used different papers, elements, etc. I had big problems, as I could not copy and paste the Selection. It was copying the whole layer. To make a long story short, after a lengthy examination of my layers and Carole’s video, I noticed that my layers differed, and then I got acquainted with Images and Pixel layers. Images layers are like Vector Layers in PSP, you cannot do anything with it. Once I had rasterized the layer, all went smoothly. I share the same opinion as many here. I like Affinity very much, although some things are easier in PSP. On the other hand, there are many other features that are better in Affinity. It’s a win-win situation to have both apps. Fonts: Bastro and Berylium

I read a newsletter yesterday, and the designer said she was having "a little creative burnout". I liked the expression she used. lol I guess everybody has this "creative burnout" once in a while. 🙂

I haven't gotten there yet, either. But I'm following this thread to see if anybody knows more about it.