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Dave's Zone System

Disciplines > Photography > Affinity Photo > Resources > Dave's Zone System

Download

Click here to download the latest 'Dave's Zone System' macro set.

To insert this into your library, simply click on the 3-line 'hamburger' on the top right of the library panel, click on 'Import Macros...' and point it at the downloaded file. Then click on the layer for which you want a model and click once on the appropriate macro in the 'Dave's Zone System' library group category.

Macros

Macros created include:

• Select Zone: Select one zone.

• Select Zones: As 'Select Zone' but lets you select a range of zones (eg. 3 to 5).

• Zones 0-10 (Average): Creates a group with separate layers for the 11 zone system.

• Mono Stretch: Creates a monochrome layer with full-range luminosity.

• Convert to Mask and Spare Channel: Converts layer to mask and also copies this to a Spare Channel.

• Convert to Selection, Mask and Spare Channel: Does the same as the previous macro, but leaves you with the area selected with marquee, in case you want to work directly with a selection.

About

These macros offer easy ways for working with zones. 

The Zones 0-10 is a basic set of layers each with zones 0 to 10. You can use these individually or group them for editing together.

The main macros are Select Zone and Select Zones, with the only difference that Select Zone lets you select one zone and Select Zones lets you select a range of zones. The result is a separate layer with only the zone(s) selected visible. You can edit this layer directly, or use it to creates selections, masks, etc.

In these, additional unique features are added so you can add feathering of variable width, shape the feather as linear or S-shaped, and even change how the intermediate conversion to monochrome (for luminosity selection) is calculated. Try using each of these to find which works best for you.

Note that these leave you with a layer where everything but the selected zones and feathering is transparent. There are three further macros below designed to operate on this result.

Mono Stretch is useful as a step along the way if you want selections or masks to be based on a full range (0 to 1) rather than a relative range.

Convert to Mask and Spare Channel turns the layer into a mask, shifts it to the bottom of the layer stack for future use (so you can still see your image) and also sets a Spare Channel with the values for easy loading into adjustment masks.

Convert to Mask and Spare Channel turns the layer into a mask, shifts it to the bottom of the layer stack for future use (so you can still see your image) and also sets a Spare Channel in the Channels tab, with the same values, for easy loading into adjustment masks.

Convert to Selection, Mask and Spare Channel does the same but leaves you with a selection marked with marquee ('marching ants'). This is useful if you just want to add an adjustment, which will automatically pick up the selection in its built-in mask.

Note: The macros are not 'idiot-proofed' as this would significantly increase the size of an already-big algorithm. In other words, when asked for a number 0 to 1, you can use any number you like, though the results are not defined.

See also

If you are having problems downloading the macros, click here to download as zip file.

Dave's Stage Zone Templates

Affinity Photo Tutorials on The Zone System