Boolean Basics (Geometry Tools) in v3

Affinity Designer Video Tutorial

In this video, I explain the Basics of Boolean operations. They are a key element of vector graphics – the “glue and scissors” for vector shapes. This video shows the basic functionality of Add, Subtract, Intersect, Xor, and Divide. I explain the objects you can and can’t use, and create some sample designs using compound groups.

I uploaded the source files [ as v1 and v3 files ] to my Gumroad page:
https://2dgameartguru.gumroad.com/l/xiral
[Grab them for FREE by entering a zero in the price field.]

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Using Global Colours and Symbols in v3

Affinity Designer Video Tutorial

This video is based on the Affinity Designer – hands-on Facebook group beginner’s challenge ‘Autumn Colours’. The challenge requires a limit of 5 colours. This is easy to achieve with global colours [as they allow alteration at any time and will use that change on all objects using that global colour]. To keep it even more flexible, I use symbols for the leaves to allow quick edits or complete changes.

As an added challenge, this is the first video I recorded in the new affinity by Canva [or Affinity v3]. It didn’t all go according to plan, even if it ended well. :)

I uploaded the source files [three v3 files – autumn, winter, and spring] from the video to my Gumroad page ( Get it here! ).
Grab them for FREE by entering a zero in the price field.

Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed these videos and maybe even learned something new. If you did, please subscribe to my channel, turn on the notifications, and leave a like and a comment.
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Creating Puzzle Pieces

Affinity Designer Video Tutorials

Creating simple puzzle pieces using Boolean operations

In this mini tutorial, I explain two simple approaches to creating puzzle pieces using
– Snapping,
– Boolean operations [Add and Subtract], and
– Compound groups for a more complex and varied approach.

Working with compounds

Compound groups allow quick variations to puzzle pieces by changing the settings [Add or Subtract] of the connector shapes in the layer panel.

Affinity Designer Mini Tutorial – Easily Align Puzzle Pieces using a Grid

In this 2nd mini tutorial on puzzle pieces, I explain an easy way to set up and align a larger number of pieces by using
– Grids,
– Compound groups, and
– Symbols

After facing some snapping issues in the first video, ‘Creating Puzzle Pieces’, I use a grid in this mini video. By reducing the shapes to the core square, it’s easy to align them to a grid. Place a larger number of pieces precisely and connect them properly.

Adding Content Inside Puzzle Pieces

In this mini tutorial, I show different ways to add content to puzzle pieces by using:
– Mask to Below with compound shapes,
– Separate clipping masks, and
– a single contoured and combined mask.

When clipping content to a shape, the clipping mask is the easiest and fastest approach. Compound groups can’t be turned into clipping masks. They need a different approach.

Adding Content Inside Puzzle Pieces – v2 bug

In the last mini tutorial, I used a single contoured and combined curve to act as a clipping mask. A kind user approached me with a problem with this workflow in v2. It’s simply not working! When clipping content to a shape, the clipping mask is usually the easiest and fastest approach, but in v2, dividing a complex curve loses the content inside the mask. The Gradient Fill Tool’s Bitmap option offers a working alternative.

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Creating and Applying Watermarks

Affinity Designer Video Tutorial

In this mini tutorial, I show you how to create and apply watermarks in different ways:

• as embedded files [you could also use linked files]
• as assets
• as bitmap fills using the gradient tool

Adjust the watermarks to suit the image/ design below by altering the opacity, changing the layer blend mode, adding layer fx like the colour overlay or gradient overlay, or adding adjustment layers.

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Minimal Landscapes using Gradients

Affinity Designer Video Tutorial

This video is based on the Affinity Designer – hands-on Facebook group beginner’s challenge. I will show you how to quickly create minimal landscapes using gradient fills, silhouettes, strokes, and Gaussian blurs.

It doesn’t take a lot of detail to create a landscape. Quite often, less is more. A gradient fill as the background can define the mood. Silhouettes on top create depth and make the design visually interesting.

In this video, I cover three different designs with different approaches and use some helpful tips and tricks

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Turning Filled Shapes into Editable Lineart

Inkscape Mini Video Tutorial

In this mini tutorial, I show three different approaches on how to turn filled vector shapes into editable lineart.

Once an illustration is converted from strokes to path [or purchased as filled shapes rather than lines with strokes] there is no one-click solution to go back to easily editable lines. I recorded three ways: manual trace with the pen and node tool, bitmap trace using the centreline option, and cutting the existing vector shapes and using half of the shapes to create the lines.

Learn how to approach the different workflows to avoid headaches and get quick, clean, and editable results.

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Colouring in Bitmap and SVG

Affinity Designer Mini Video Tutorial

In this mini tutorial, I show you how to colour bitmap images and vector images in various ways.

When purchasing stock images, they often come in various formats. Working out which one to use for what task and which one is the right choice for further editing can be tricky. The Pixel Persona’s Flood Fill and the Vector Persona’s Vector Flood Fill [V2 only] make it a quick and easy task, but come with limitations and problems.

Learn how to approach the different file formats and avoid headaches and poor quality results.

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Designing a Maze

Affinity Designer Video Tutorial

This tutorial video uses a simple approach using lines, grids, and layer blend modes to create a simple labyrinth.

In search of a maze pattern for an illustration that matched my needs, I ended up creating my own in a quick and easy fashion. Set up a grid, use the pen tool to create lines snapped to the grid, and erase lines using the blend mode erase. Take the design to the next level and make it circular or add perspective using warp groups. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed these videos and maybe even learned something new. If you did, please subscribe to my channel, turn on the notifications, and leave a like and a comment.
Your feedback is very important to me! Let me know what you think about the video or what you would like to see on the blog.