Affinity Photo Mirror filter Tutorial
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** Youtube video tutorial on how to use the symmetry creating effects in the mirror filter in Affinity Photo - use with images and layers and more **
How to use the amazing symmetry creating mirror filter in Affinity Photo tutorial
1. Where is the mirror filter in Affinity Photo
The mirror filter in Affinity Photo is found in the distort sub menu (part of the filter menu). Probably my favorite Affinity Photo filter with excellent interactive effects and the results can be used once or multiple times with the mirror filter to create all kinds of amazing artworks. You can use the mirror filter with images and type along with other presets
There is no, at present, live filter equivalent for the mirror filter.
Go to your image and go to the distort menu and select the mirror filter. You can interactively set the origin point of the mirror effect by clicking on the document though be careful as you will lose the last origin point if you change your mind as well as the mirror effect.
You can also change the number of mirrors, the default is, annoyingly, always 2 and you can set the value to 20 max (at present). You can also change the input angle for the image into the mirror filter as well as modify the output angle of the end result. All these settings are super useful and can be used to create an endless stream of possible designs. Once you are happy with your symmetrical design, click apply. You can now re-apply the mirror but as it uses the same origin and settings then it is of little effect unless you add something such as a brush stroke to the image.
You can also fade the mirror filter by going to the layer menu and fade and change the blending mode as well as opacity and this will fade the result with the original. The fade is not as usual as you would think in the mirror filter for some reason. However, a workaround is to duplicate the original layer and then apply the mirror to the duplicated and then change the blending modes for the layer to create a far more effective result.
You can resize any duplicated layer and apply the mirror to the layer and then the result is useful as it adds transparency to the design and you can then apply bevels and 3D and shadows to the mirrored layer to create some truly stunning designs.
You can also use the mirror filter in combo with the channels panel by selecting the red channel and applying the effect to that and perhaps a different mirror to the green and so on or perhaps apply multiple effects to each channel and then combine them all again at the top of the channel panel.
You can also apply the mirror filter to a selection, whether created using the freehand selection or the tools in the selections menu etc and you can always change the positoon of the selection as well as the origin point etc and apply the effect again.
You can also use the mirror effect as a great source for a pattern layer selection via the layer menu and this layer can then also be manipulated by the mirror filter as well as any resulting rasterizations of the layer.
You can also apply the filter to shapes as well as text in Affinity Photo