Affinity Designer: Beyond the Basics!

Create the paper cutout effect in Affinity Designer using the pen tool to craft curving lines, warm up for the course, and review design skills.

Explore layer effects in Affinity Designer, focusing on gaussian blur and outer shadow, with tips on offset, angle, radius, scale with object, and using the quick effects panel.

Learn three methods to duplicate layer effects across layers in Affinity Designer: using the FX button, dragging effects, and copying styles. Note pitfalls with pasting styles that also copy colors.

Master the pen tool in pen mode with rubber band previews, placing and adjusting nodes and handles to trace curved shapes and build precise paths in Affinity Designer.

Learn to build an avocado mini project in affinity designer using layered shapes, color sampling, and an outer shadow to create a convincing cutout look.

Explore a colorful topographic map-like design in Affinity Designer by using the pen tool to create blobs, subtract shapes for frames, apply swatches, and add shadows with quick effects.

Learn to vectorize photos for flat design by refining your pen tool skills and jumping straight into vectorizing, using photos without a polished sketch.

Discover how to find free reference images on Pixabay, Unsplash, and Pexels, and select photos with interesting poses and colors to inspire designs in Affinity Designer.

Place a reference photo with the place image tool, lock the layer, sample colors, then lower the opacity and trace the banana with the pen tool, duplicating shapes as needed.

Master the pen tool to create sharp corners with bezier handles, using alt or option to break handles while dragging, enabling quick direction changes while tracing shapes.

Learn color strategies for flat design by sampling yellows and greens from a reference image, then tracing and layering shapes with the pen tool to render a rose and leaves.

Learn to create a stunning flat design in Affinity Designer by tracing a reference image, layering hair, skin, and clothing, and exploring color and overlap.

Finish the jacket with darker sleeve colors and stitched details using strokes, then draw facial features with the pen tool, color sampling, and layered organization in Affinity Designer.

Turn your own sketches into beautiful vectors using Affinity Designer, building on photos used to make designs and light freehanding from chapter one.

Start with a hand-drawn sketch, then import and trace it in Affinity Designer to create a clean vector, using references and a pizza example.

Master the knife tool in Affinity Designer to slice lines and shapes, split overlapped paths into separate shapes, and edit strokes while tracing outlines and cheese drips.

Review the pen and node tools by tracing a pizza, grouping toppings, shaping curves for clean strokes, and adding 3d pepperonis details in Affinity Designer.

Learn to taper stroke ends with the stroke pressure tool in the stroke panel, using alt or option to taper one side or add a point to taper both sides.

Color the design by tracing new shapes under thick strokes, fill crust, cheese, and toppings, add texture with the ellipse tool and circles, adjust colors, and group layers for shadows.

Identify the light source and shade a flat design using the pen tool. Apply brown shadows with controlled opacity to add depth to toppings and crust.

Learn to add highlights after shading, create rim lighting on pizza elements, adjust opacity for subtle shine, and blend highlights with shadows as you prep a vector-ready project.

Learn to transform a sketch into a vector teapot and cup in Affinity Designer by tracing with the pen tool, adjusting pressure, coloring, shadows, highlights, and finishing touches.

Learn to elevate flat designs by adding a hand-drawn, freeform style to vectors, making it easier to infuse your personal touch into your work.

Explore a looser, hand-drawn look by using open lines and imperfect details in a duck detective sketch, then trace it in Affinity Designer.

Master open strokes in Affinity Designer by tracing sketches with the pen tool, using rubber band mode and escape for line ends, while adjusting pressure and taper.

create a tailored color palette using Color Hunt, selecting four-color palettes and adjustable shades to craft vibrant designs, as shown with yellow duck, orange beak, and blue accent.

Apply a color palette in Affinity Designer by tracing with open highlights and partial color lines. Learn methods for open highlights and keep white highlights when adding a colored background.

Learn to craft shadow effects in Affinity Designer using blend modes, tracing shadows with the pen tool, grouping and adjusting opacity to achieve vibrant overlay, soft light, and color variations.

Practice blend modes with color-filled circles to visualize how different modes affect color, shading, and highlighting. Learn when to use overlay, soft light, and multiply.

Trace and color final project from the sketch using the pen tool, rubber band mode, and adjustable strokes, then refine highlights, shadows, and peach and brown palettes with multiply blending.

Learn to create stained glass designs in Affinity Designer with a simple, pretty effect, and start this fun chapter.

Explore the shape builder in Affinity Designer version two, using add, subtract, and duplicate modes to quickly combine or cut shapes and fix overlapping lines.

Learn to create stained glass designs by using the shape builder to convert lines into shapes, then apply flat colors and radial or linear gradients.

Trace the snow globe design, use the ellipse tool and shape builder with gradients to color it like stained glass, with windows and snow details.

Create a stained glass rose in Affinity Designer by tracing from the center outward, using shape builder to form closed petals and leaves, then apply gradients and swatches.

Tackle 3d designs by applying your existing design skills to create dimensional artwork, building on what you already know and getting started.

Learn the basics of 3D design in Affinity Designer by drawing with the ellipse tool and applying a radial gradient, shadows, and highlights for a realistic sphere.

Discover how to use transparent gradients in Affinity Designer to create realistic fades in 3D designs, employing the transparency tool, gradient types, blur, and blend modes.

Artboards turn a single document into multiple workspaces, using the artboard tool to insert, duplicate, or snap new boards. Replicate boards to compare progress and test color variations across versions.

Create a game piece in Affinity Designer by tracing the shape, applying fills and gradients, then add shadows and highlights and ensure proper scaling with object.

Finish the game piece project by applying transparent gradients to highlights, creating a realistic reflection, duplicating pieces, and using recolor adjustments and blur to mimic depth across multiple artboards.

Recreate a cake in a flat design by tracing pieces, applying gradients and shadows, and refining with the pen tool to build a cohesive final illustration.

Finish the cake project by adding detailed frosting highlights and textures in affinity designer, using pen tool tracing, blurs, gradients, and texture layers to achieve a realistic 3D look.

Celebrate the journey through Affinity Designer: beyond the basics and get ready to create your own beautiful designs. Look forward to the next Affinity Revolution tutorial.