Alert messages inform you that Affinity has performed an action that you need to be aware of. This is as a result of the last operation you performed. The Assistant can decide the default type of action to take.
Settings
The following settings can be adjusted from the dialog:
- Enable assistant: When enabled, actions are carried out according to the dialog's current settings.
- Painting with no layer selected: Creates a new pixel layer for your brush strokes using 'Create pixel layer and paint' if there is no pixel or vector layer selected; 'Take no action' means that no pixel painting is allowed. Use this when using StudioLink and Photo Persona's brushes.
- Erasing from vector layers: Erases on a created layer mask applied to your vector layer; immediately rasterise the vector layer and erase directly on it; or take no action.
- Other brushes on vector layers: For retouching pixel brushes, any applied brush stroke rasterises the vector layer by default. You can change this behaviour by selecting 'Take no action' which doesn't convert the layer or apply the stroke. Use this when using StudioLink and Photo Persona's brushes.
- Brush tool sharing: Choose whether a selected brush tip is shared between tools of a similar nature, shared across all tools, or the brush tip is independent. Use this when using StudioLink and Photo Persona's brushes.
- Applying filters to vector layers: Applying a filter to a vector layer rasterises it by default. You can change this behaviour by selecting 'Take no action' which doesn't convert the layer or apply the filter. Use this when using StudioLink and Photo Persona's brushes.
- Adding adjustment layers to selection: If you've created a selection, any adjustment applied to the selection is added as a new adjustment layer above the currently selected layer (Take No Action) or made a child adjustment layer of the selected layer instead (Create adjustment layer based on selection). With no layer selected, a new adjustment layer is added to the top of the layer stack in both instances.
- Adding mask layers to selection: Analogous to 'Adding adjustment layers to selection' above, but for mask layers.
- Raw Engine: choose between Serif Labs (used by default) or Apple (Core Image RAW).
To change Assistant settings:
- From Affinity's Home screen, select Settings.
- Select options from the relevant option's pop-up menu.
To switch off alerts or the Assistant completely:
- From the Document menu, select Assistant Options.
- Uncheck Enable assistant.