Applying filters

Filters can be applied to layers within your document for corrective or creative purposes.

About filters

In Affinity Photo 2, filters are available in both non-destructive and destructive forms. A variety of filters are available as Live Filters which are non-destructive.

As well as to pixel layers, you can apply destructive filters to mask layers, adjustment layers, live filter layers and masked fill layers; spare channels can also take destructive filters too.

For destructive filters, it's a great idea to make a duplicate layer of the layer you planned to work on. By applying a filter to the duplicated layer, you preserve the original layer's contents, with the option to hide the 'filter' layer as needed.

Available filters

Filters are organized into the following categories. Tap a category to explore its contents.

Blurs
Filter name Regular filter
(destructive)		 Live filter
(non‑destructive)
Average check
Bilateral Blur check check
Box Blur check check
Depth Of Field Blur check check
Diffuse Glow check check
Field Blur check check
Gaussian Blur check check
Lens Blur check check
Maximum Blur check check
Median Blur check check
Minimum Blur check check
Motion Blur check check
Radial Blur check check
Zoom Blur check
Distortions
Filter name Regular filter
(destructive)		 Live filter
(non‑destructive)
Affine check
Apply Image check
Deform check
Displace check check
Equations check
Lens Correction check
Lens Distortion check check
Mesh Warp check
Mirror check
Perspective check check
Pinch / Punch check check
Pixelate check
Polar to Rectangular check
Rectangular to Polar check
Ripple check check
Shear check
Sphere check check
Twirl check check
Sharpen
Filter name Regular filter
(destructive)		 Live filter
(non‑destructive)
Clarity check check
Frequency Separation check
High Pass check check
Unsharp Mask check check
Noise
Filter name Regular filter
(destructive)		 Live filter
(non‑destructive)
Add Noise check check
Deinterlace (Even) check
Deinterlace (Odd) check
Diffuse check check
Dust & Scratches check check
Noise Reduction check check
Perlin Noise check
Colors
Filter name Regular filter
(destructive)		 Live filter
(non‑destructive)
Auto Color check
Auto Contrast check
Auto Levels check
Auto White Balance check
Defringe check check
Detect Edges check
Detect Horizontal Edges check
Detect Vertical Edges check
Divide by Alpha check
Emboss check
Erase White Paper check
Fill check
Halftone check check
Haze Removal check
Lighting check check
Matte check
Multiply by Alpha check
Procedural Texture check check
Remove Black Matte check
Remove White Matte check
Shadows / Highlights check check
Solarize check
Vignette check check
Voronoi check check

Settings

The following general settings are available from the filter's context toolbar:

Live filters have these additional settings:

To apply a filter:
  1. On the Layers panel, select a layer (we recommend that this is a duplicate layer).
  2. Select the filter from the Filters panel.
  3. If a dialog appears for the filter, follow the steps below:
    1. Adjust the settings in the dialog.
    2. Choose Apply.

SEE ALSO: