Affinity Designer Layers and Object Management

Question 1

How do you create a clipping mask in Affinity Designer?

Accepted Answer

Place one object inside another using Layer > Insert Inside / drag onto the layer in the Layers panel

Answer

Use Edit > Paste as Mask

Answer

Apply a mask via Filter > Clip to Shape

Answer

Hold Alt and click between two layers in the Layers panel

Question 2

What is the difference between a Layer Mask and a Clipping Mask in Affinity Designer?

Accepted Answer

A Layer Mask uses grayscale luminance to control transparency; a Clipping Mask uses a shape's boundary

Answer

A Layer Mask is for pixel layers only; a Clipping Mask works on vector layers only

Answer

There is no difference—they function identically

Answer

A Layer Mask clips to the canvas edge; a Clipping Mask clips to a custom shape

Question 3

In Affinity Designer, how do you lock a layer so it cannot be selected or edited?

Accepted Answer

Click the lock icon next to the layer in the Layers panel

Answer

Right-click the layer and choose Protect

Answer

Use Layer > Freeze

Answer

Hold Ctrl and click the layer thumbnail

Question 4

What does the 'Passthrough' blend mode on a group do in Affinity Designer?

Accepted Answer

Allows the group's layers to blend with all layers below as if the group didn't exist

Answer

Passes keyboard shortcuts through to the layer beneath

Answer

Makes the group transparent

Answer

Disables blend modes on all child layers

Question 5

How can you quickly duplicate a layer in Affinity Designer?

Accepted Answer

Press Ctrl+J

Answer

Press Ctrl+D

Answer

Drag the layer to the New Layer button

Answer

Use Edit > Clone Layer

Question 6

What is the purpose of the 'Solo' feature in Affinity Designer's Layers panel?

Accepted Answer

It hides all other layers so only the selected layer is visible

Answer

It locks all layers except the selected one

Answer

It exports only the selected layer

Answer

It mutes effects on all other layers