Affinity Photo - Detailed Review
Creative Tools
Affinity Photo - Product Overview
Introduction to Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is a comprehensive and feature-rich photo editing software developed by Serif Ltd., available for macOS, Windows, and iPad. This tool is positioned as a strong alternative to Adobe Photoshop, catering to a wide range of creative professionals and enthusiasts.
Primary Function
The primary function of Affinity Photo is to provide a powerful platform for editing and enhancing images. It supports a wide array of tasks, including basic edits, retouching, and creating complex multi-layered compositions. Users can enhance images, correct color casts, apply filters, adjust white balance, and even edit Photoshop document files (PSDs).
Target Audience
Affinity Photo is targeted at professional photographers, artists, designers, and anyone who requires advanced image editing capabilities. It is popular among small to medium-sized businesses, as well as individuals, including hobbyists and students. The software is used across various industries, with a significant presence in the computer software sector.
Key Features
Image Editing
Affinity Photo offers powerful tools for editing photos, including support for RAW processing, color space options, live preview of effects, image stitching, and optical aberration corrections. It supports unlimited layers and non-destructive editing.
Layer Management
The software allows users to work with multiple layers, each of which can be independently adjusted or modified. This feature helps in organizing the editing process and enhancing images by creating tonal adjustments and adjusting shadows.
Content Library and Design Templates
Affinity Photo includes a Content Library where users can store and access their edited images. It also provides multiple design templates to create various images, files, and products.
Text and Watermarking
Users can add layers of text in various fonts and apply watermarks, including copyright watermarks, to their images. The software also includes tools to remove unwanted objects or spots in photos.
Export Options
Affinity Photo allows users to export images in various formats such as PNG, JPG, PSD, and TIFF. The Export Persona simplifies the process of exporting images in multiple formats.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
The software is fully featured across macOS, Windows, and iPad, ensuring a seamless workflow regardless of the device used. It also integrates well with other Affinity tools like Affinity Designer and Affinity Publisher through StudioLink technology.
No Subscription
Unlike many other creative software options, Affinity Photo is available with a one-time payment, eliminating the need for ongoing subscription fees. Users also receive free updates until the next major version is released.
Affinity Photo stands out for its performance, ease of use, and extensive feature set, making it a preferred choice for many creative professionals and enthusiasts.
Affinity Photo - User Interface and Experience
Interface Layout
When you open Affinity Photo, you are presented with a clean and organized interface. The top bar includes the menu and a row of icons that provide quick access to essential editing tools such as auto white balance, contrast, and color adjustments. On the left side, you have the tools panel, which is customizable to fit your workflow. The right side of the interface features various personas (e.g., Develop, Liquify, Macro), each offering a set of specialized tools relevant to the selected persona.
Customization
Affinity Photo allows significant customization of the interface. You can adjust the colors of the interface, including the backdrop gray and artboard gray, as well as the text contrast and UI brightness. This is particularly useful if you prefer a darker or lighter theme. Additionally, you can change the UI font size to suit your preferences. These settings can be accessed through the general settings menu under the “User Interface” section.
Panels and Toolbars
The interface includes various panels that can be shown or hidden using the window menu. These panels contain functionality such as the resource manager, which helps manage embedded and external links to imported images and other content within your document. The context toolbar also provides quick access to tools relevant to the task at hand.
Ease of Use
One of the standout features of Affinity Photo is its ease of use. Despite offering advanced editing tools, the layout is relatively straightforward and easy to understand. Unlike some other photo editing software, Affinity Photo does not overwhelm users with too many tools, making it easier to focus on basic photo edits. The interface is also highly responsive and fast, thanks to its modern codebase.
User Experience
The overall user experience in Affinity Photo is enhanced by its speed and reliability. The software is built on a new and modern codebase, which ensures it is extremely fast and stable, even during intensive editing tasks. This makes the editing process smooth and efficient. Additionally, features like StudioLink, which allows seamless access to the advanced toolsets of Affinity Designer and Affinity Publisher from within Affinity Photo, further streamline the workflow.
Accessibility
To minimize distractions, you can press the tab key to hide the entire user interface, allowing you to focus solely on your document. Pressing the tab key again restores the interface. This feature is particularly useful for those who prefer a clutter-free workspace.
Conclusion
In summary, Affinity Photo’s user interface is designed to be user-friendly, customizable, and efficient, making it a compelling choice for photographers and editors looking for a powerful yet accessible photo editing tool.
Affinity Photo - Key Features and Functionality
Affinity Photo Overview
Affinity Photo is a comprehensive photo editing software that offers a wide range of features and functionalities, making it a strong contender in the creative tools category. Here are some of the key features and how they work:Personas
Affinity Photo operates through different personas, each designed for specific tasks:Photo Persona
This is the main and default persona, where you can perform standard photo editing tasks such as retouching, cropping, selections, using brushes, and applying vector tools. You can also add adjustments and filters to your images here.Liquify Persona
This persona allows you to make distortions and warping effects on your images, which is useful for creating caricatures or other creative distortions.Develop Persona
This persona is ideal for working with raw images. Here, you can make non-destructive adjustments to your raw files before moving to the Photo Persona for further editing.Stock Panel
Affinity Photo includes a Stock Panel that allows you to search for and import free and royalty-free images from Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay directly within the application. This feature saves time by letting you find and use images without leaving the software.Live Filters
The Live Filters feature enables you to apply filters non-destructively. When you apply a live filter, it is placed on a separate layer rather than being applied directly to the image. This allows for greater flexibility and ease of editing. Available live filters include Blur, Sharpen, Noise, and Lighting, among others.Plugin Support
Affinity Photo supports plugins, including those from third-party providers like Topaz Labs. For example, the Topaz Photo AI plugin can be manually enabled and accessed through the Filters menu. This plugin allows you to send the selected image layer to Photo AI for processing and then return the processed image back to Affinity Photo.File Compatibility and Export Options
Affinity Photo offers excellent file compatibility, including high-quality import, place, and export of Adobe Photoshop PSD files, Adobe Illustrator (.ai) files, and PDFs. You can export your work in various formats such as PNG, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, EPS, SVG, and PDF. The software also preserves layers in exported TIFF images and supports multiple export setups and resolutions.Mesh Warp Tool and Other Editing Tools
The software includes advanced tools like the Mesh Warp Tool, which allows for precise and detailed distortions. Other features include resizing images and canvas, cropping to custom ratios or print sizes, straightening photos, and more.AI Integration
While Affinity Photo itself does not have built-in AI-driven tools, it can integrate with AI-powered plugins like Topaz Photo AI. These plugins leverage AI to enhance image processing, such as noise reduction, detail enhancement, and upscaling. However, the integration of these AI plugins requires manual setup and may have specific requirements, such as the presence of certain files (e.g., .8bf files).Conclusion
In summary, Affinity Photo is a versatile and powerful photo editing software that offers a range of features to cater to various editing needs. Its ability to integrate with AI-powered plugins further enhances its capabilities, although the AI integration is currently limited to third-party plugins rather than native AI tools within the software itself. Affinity Photo - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
Affinity Photo is generally praised for its speed and responsiveness. Here are some notable aspects:Filter Application
Affinity Photo often outperforms Photoshop in applying filters, with many filters rendering effects immediately, especially those like zoom or radial blur filters.Startup and File Loading
While Photoshop might have a slight edge in startup times, Affinity Photo can be faster in loading multiple files, especially on more powerful hardware.Real-Time Editing
Affinity Photo offers real-time editing capabilities, including non-destructive editing and RAW processing, which makes it highly efficient for photographers.Accuracy
In terms of accuracy, Affinity Photo has several strengths:Selection Tools
The selection tools in Affinity Photo are very responsive and accurate, allowing for precise edits, including the ability to select small details like strands of hair.RAW Editing
The software handles RAW files efficiently, with built-in camera and lens profiles, and it allows for manual edits without the need for external software.Persona-Based Interface
The use of different personas (Photo, Liquify, Develop, Export) provides tools specific to each task, helping to maintain accuracy by reducing clutter and focusing on the necessary tools.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
Despite its strengths, Affinity Photo has some limitations:Asset Management
One significant drawback is the lack of an integrated asset management system, which is crucial for many users who need to search, rate, and organize their images efficiently.Documentation and Workspace Customization
The documentation for Affinity Photo can be vague and unhelpful, and there is currently no way to save custom workspaces or layouts, which can be frustrating for users.Color Selection
Selecting colors from an image is more complicated in Affinity Photo compared to Photoshop, requiring multiple steps and adjustments in the toolbar settings.Export and Save Options
Affinity Photo lacks a “Save for Web” feature similar to Photoshop’s, and saving files is limited to the Affinity file format, although you can export in other formats through the File ▸ Export option.Random Issues
Some users have reported issues like random empty documents, images displaying super tiny, and inconsistent image placement when pasting screenshots.Additional Considerations
Compatibility and Updates
Affinity Photo is not subscription-based, which means users receive updates and bug fixes without a monthly fee. Additionally, it supports plugins like the Nik collection.User Interface
While the interface is intuitive and easy to learn, it lacks the customization options available in Photoshop. However, the persona-based system helps in simplifying the interface for specific tasks. Overall, Affinity Photo performs well in terms of speed and accuracy, especially for those who value real-time editing and non-destructive workflows. However, it falls short in areas such as asset management, documentation, and certain user interface features. Affinity Photo - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Plans
Affinity Photo offers two main pricing plans, each with a one-time payment model, eliminating the need for monthly or yearly subscriptions.
Basic Plan (Windows and Mac)
- Price: $54.99
- Features:
- 360 Image Editing
- Batch Processing
- Digital Painting
- Focus Stacking
- HDR Merge
- Panorama Stitching
- PSD Editing
- Raw Editing
- Smart Object Support
- Unlimited Layers
iPad Plan
- Price: $21.99
- Features:
- All the features included in the Basic Plan, plus additional features such as:
- Brush Support
- Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts
- Full Suite of Selection Tools
- PSB Import
- PSD Import/Export
- PSD Smart Object Import
Free Trial
Affinity Photo offers a 7-day free trial, which provides full access to all features of the software without any limitations or watermarks on exported images. This trial is available for all platforms, including Mac, Windows, and iPad. No credit card details are required to sign up for the trial.
Upgrade Options
For users of Version 1, there is an option to upgrade to Version 2 at a discounted price. The V2 Universal License, which includes access to all Affinity apps across all devices, is available for $123.74 (a 25% discount from the regular price of $164.99). This upgrade also includes a free premium add-on bundle.
In summary, Affinity Photo is available through a straightforward one-time purchase model with no recurring fees, and it offers a free trial period for those who want to test the software before buying.
Affinity Photo - Integration and Compatibility
Affinity Photo Overview
Affinity Photo, developed by Serif Ltd., is a versatile and powerful raster graphics editor that integrates well with various tools and platforms, making it a compelling alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
Platform Compatibility
Affinity Photo is available on multiple platforms, including macOS, Windows, and iPadOS. This cross-platform compatibility allows users to work seamlessly across different devices. For iPad users, it supports a range of models, including iPad Pro, iPad Air (2, 3, 4, and 5), iPad (2017 onwards), and iPad mini (5 and 6), with recommended use on M1-equipped iPad models for more memory-intensive tasks.
Integration with Image Library Applications
Affinity Photo can be easily integrated with image library applications such as Lightroom, Luminar, Capture One Pro, ON1 Photo RAW, and DXO Photolab. For example, you can edit images directly from Lightroom by selecting the image, right-clicking, and choosing “Edit In…” followed by selecting Affinity Photo. This integration allows for a smooth workflow between library management and detailed editing.
Compatibility with File Formats
Affinity Photo supports a wide range of file formats, including Adobe’s PSD format, which allows users to open and edit Photoshop files. You can also save your work in PSD format, making it easy to share files with others who use Photoshop. However, it’s important to note that while Affinity Photo can import PSD files with smart objects, it does not fully support smart objects in its own workflow.
Plugin Compatibility
Affinity Photo is compatible with many Photoshop plugins, which is a significant advantage for users transitioning from Photoshop. Plugins like the Nik Collection from DXO are fully supported, and other plugins from providers like ON1 also work seamlessly with Affinity Photo. This compatibility extends to plugins that work with multiple photos in editing or batch processing.
Macros and Workflow Automation
While Affinity Photo does not support importing Photoshop actions, it does allow users to create and save a series of steps as macros. This feature helps in automating repetitive tasks and streamlining the editing workflow.
RAW Processing and Advanced Features
Affinity Photo includes a dedicated workspace for developing RAW photos, supporting various color spaces (RGB, CMYK, LAB, Greyscale) and ICC color management. It also features live preview of effects, image stitching, alpha compositing, and optical aberration corrections. The updated SerifLabs RAW engine supports a wide range of camera models, ensuring that users can work with their RAW files efficiently.
Conclusion
In summary, Affinity Photo offers strong integration with other creative tools, supports a variety of file formats, and is compatible with a range of plugins and devices. This makes it a highly versatile and user-friendly option for photographers and graphic designers.
Affinity Photo - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support and Resources for Affinity Photo
Contacting Customer Support
For any queries or issues, you can contact Affinity’s customer support via email. You can send an email directly to affinity@serif.com for assistance with billing, refunds, downloads, licensing, or any other questions you might have.
Forums and Community
Affinity has an active forum where you can post questions, report bugs, or request features. This community-driven platform allows you to interact with other users and the Affinity team, making it a valuable resource for troubleshooting and learning.
Learning Resources
Affinity provides a wealth of learning resources to help you get the most out of their software. Here are a few key resources:
- Video Tutorials: Affinity’s YouTube channel hosts a range of tutorials, demos, and creative sessions to help you master the app, whether you are a beginner or an advanced user.
- Quickstart Guide: This guide is perfect for those new to Affinity Photo, offering an overview of the app, its user interface, and key features.
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Useful cheat-sheets are available to help you make the most of your time with Affinity Photo.
- Online Help: Detailed explanations of every feature and tool are available online or from within the app itself.
Additional Resources
- Affinity Spotlight: This section provides additional learning resources, the latest Affinity news, and insightful articles from the Affinity team and leading creatives who use the apps.
- Affinity Store: Here, you can find a range of brush packs and other add-ons to enhance your work with Affinity Photo.
Product Support and FAQs
Affinity has a comprehensive FAQ section that addresses common questions about upgrading to Version 2, compatibility, and licensing. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the FAQs, you can also use the forums or social channels for further support.
These resources are designed to ensure you have all the support and information you need to effectively use Affinity Photo and other Affinity applications.
Affinity Photo - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is a highly regarded alternative to Adobe Photoshop, offering several significant advantages:Affordability
Affinity Photo stands out for its one-time purchase option, eliminating the need for recurring subscription fees, which can be particularly beneficial for those who use multiple creative tools.Feature-Rich Interface
The software boasts a rich interface with multiple personas (modules) such as Photo, Develop, Liquify, Tone Mapping, and Export. These personas help in organizing tasks and reducing clutter, making it easier to focus on specific editing tasks.Non-Destructive Editing
Affinity Photo supports a non-destructive editing workflow, allowing users to make adjustments without altering the original image data. This feature is crucial for exploring different creative possibilities without worrying about irreversible changes.RAW Processing and HDR Tools
The software handles RAW files seamlessly and offers robust RAW processing capabilities, as well as tools for HDR merge and focus stacking. These features are particularly useful for nature and landscape photographers.Layer-Based Editing and Precise Masking
Affinity Photo provides layer-based editing and precise masking tools, which are essential for detailed and complex image editing tasks.Liquify and Tone Mapping
The Liquify persona allows for accurate warping of images to remove distortions, while the Tone Mapping persona helps in balancing tones in HDR images, making them look more natural and pleasing.User-Friendly Interface
Despite its advanced features, Affinity Photo has a clear and intuitive interface, making it accessible to photographers of all levels. The UI and UX have even earned design awards.Disadvantages of Affinity Photo
While Affinity Photo is a powerful tool, it also has some notable disadvantages:Steep Learning Curve
Affinity Photo has a steeper learning curve compared to some other photo editing software. This can be frustrating for new users, although it also indicates the software’s depth and versatility.Limited Automation
The software is not as automated as some other photo editing tools, which can be a disadvantage for photographers who need to quickly process large numbers of images. However, this manual control can also be an advantage for those who prefer more control over the editing process.Limited Plugin Selection
Affinity Photo has a smaller selection of plugins compared to other software like Photoshop. This can be a limitation for photographers who rely on specific plugins for their tasks. However, the software is constantly being updated with new features and plugins.No Image Organizing Tools
Affinity Photo lacks image organizing tools, which can be a significant issue for photographers with large image libraries. This means users need to manage their images separately using other tools.Layers Management
Some users find the layers management in Affinity Photo to be less intuitive compared to Photoshop, particularly when selecting layers among overlapped ones. Overall, Affinity Photo is a powerful and feature-rich alternative to Photoshop, offering many advantages at an affordable price point, but it also comes with some limitations that users should be aware of. Affinity Photo - Comparison with Competitors
Unique Features of Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is often praised for its comprehensive editing capabilities, which are quite similar to those of Adobe Photoshop. Here are some of its standout features:- Focus Stacking and HDR: Affinity Photo excels in focus stacking, HDR imaging, and panorama stitching, making it a great choice for photographers who need these advanced features.
- Layer Handling: Layers in Affinity Photo behave similarly to Smart Objects in Photoshop, allowing for resizing without losing image quality.
- Cost-Effective: Unlike Adobe Photoshop, which requires a subscription, Affinity Photo can be purchased outright, offering a significant cost savings.
- Plugin Compatibility: Affinity Photo supports many plugins available for Photoshop, making it a versatile tool for those already familiar with Photoshop plugins.
Comparison with Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop, a major competitor, integrates seamlessly with other Adobe tools like Lightroom and offers advanced AI-driven features through Adobe Sensei and Adobe Firefly:- AI Tools: Adobe Sensei automates tasks like background removal and smart tagging, while Adobe Firefly generates new content such as images and text effects based on text prompts. These tools are fully integrated into the Adobe Creative Cloud, enhancing both productivity and creativity.
- Cataloging and Asset Management: Photoshop, when used with Lightroom, provides robust cataloging and asset management features that Affinity Photo lacks. Users of Affinity Photo may need to rely on external cataloging programs.
Other Alternatives
Other alternatives to Affinity Photo include:GIMP
- Free and Open-Source: GIMP is a free and open-source image editor that offers many of the same features as Affinity Photo and Photoshop, although it may not be as polished or user-friendly.
Adobe Photoshop Elements
- Consumer-Focused: Photoshop Elements is a more consumer-oriented version of Photoshop, offering automated editing options and a simpler interface, but lacking some of the advanced features of both Affinity Photo and full Photoshop.
Capture One
- RAW Development: While not a direct competitor in terms of pixel editing, Capture One is a strong alternative for RAW development and can be used in conjunction with Affinity Photo for editing needs.
AI Integration
Unlike Adobe Photoshop, which heavily integrates AI tools through Sensei and Firefly, Affinity Photo does not currently offer AI-based tools. This can be a significant difference for users who rely on AI for tasks like background removal, content-aware fills, or generating new content. In summary, Affinity Photo stands out for its advanced editing features, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with Photoshop plugins. However, it lacks the AI-driven tools and integrated cataloging features that Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom offer. Depending on your specific needs, whether you prioritize advanced editing, AI tools, or cost savings, Affinity Photo or one of its alternatives might be the best fit. Affinity Photo - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Affinity Photo
Is Affinity Photo Good for Beginners?
Affinity Photo is an excellent choice for beginners. It has a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features that are easy to learn. There are numerous tutorials available, both within the software and on platforms like YouTube, to help you get started. The software is also relatively lightweight, making it accessible even on slower computers.Should I Get Lightroom or Affinity Photo?
The choice between Lightroom and Affinity Photo depends on your needs. Lightroom is better for organizing and processing large numbers of photos, making it ideal for managing your photo library. Affinity Photo, on the other hand, is better for detailed image editing and compositing. If you need to focus on fine details and advanced editing, Affinity Photo is the better choice.Is Affinity Photo Better Than Adobe Photoshop?
Both Affinity Photo and Adobe Photoshop are excellent image editing software, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. Affinity Photo is generally less expensive and has a more intuitive interface. However, Photoshop is more widely used in the professional industry. Affinity Photo handles certain tasks like focus stacking, live filters, and some types of retouching better than Photoshop, but Photoshop remains the industry standard.Do I Need Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, and Affinity Publisher?
No, you don’t need all three Affinity apps. Affinity Photo is a great all-round image editing app, while Affinity Designer is a powerful vector graphics editor, and Affinity Publisher is a desktop publishing app. You can choose the app that best suits your needs.Can Affinity Photo Open and Save PSD Files?
Yes, Affinity Photo can open and save PSD files, which are native to Adobe Photoshop. This makes it easy to work with files created in Photoshop and ensures compatibility between the two software applications.What Are the System Requirements for Affinity Photo?
Affinity Photo can run on relatively modest hardware. The minimum requirements include an Intel Core i3 or equivalent CPU, 4GB of RAM, and about 1GB (Windows) to 2.8GB (macOS) of disk space. However, for better performance, especially with larger images and multiple layers, it is recommended to have at least 8GB of RAM and a discrete GPU.Can Affinity Photo Use Photoshop Brushes?
Yes, Affinity Photo can import and use Photoshop Brushes (.abr files), but some brushes may not work exactly the same way due to differences in the brush tool attributes. You may need to reconfigure them after importing.Is Affinity Photo 2 a One-Time Purchase?
Yes, Affinity Photo 2 is available as a one-time purchase, not as a subscription. You can buy it for $69.99 for desktop apps or $19.99 for the iPad app. There is also a Universal License option that includes all Affinity apps for $169.99.Does Affinity Photo Support Layers, Groups, and Blend Modes?
Yes, Affinity Photo supports layers, layer groups, blending modes, and many other advanced features such as Liquify, Content-Aware fill, actions, batch processing, and presets. These features make it comparable to Adobe Photoshop in terms of functionality.Is Affinity Photo a Digital Asset Management (DAM) Software?
No, Affinity Photo is not a Digital Asset Management (DAM) software. It does not have file management capabilities like organizing files, creating folders, collections, or reading and writing metadata. For DAM capabilities, you would need software like Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, or Photo Mechanic.How Many Computers Can I Install Affinity Photo On?
You can install Affinity Photo on as many computers as you personally own, but it must be on the same platform (either Windows or macOS) unless you purchase the Universal License, which allows installation on both platforms.