Affinity Designer - Detailed Review
Design Tools
Affinity Designer - Product Overview
Introduction to Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a powerful vector graphics editor developed by Serif, available for macOS, iPadOS, and Microsoft Windows. It is part of the “Affinity trinity” alongside Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher.Primary Function
Affinity Designer is primarily used for creating and editing vector graphics, making it an excellent alternative to Adobe Illustrator. It supports a wide range of tasks, including designing logos, icons, UI elements, concept art, and print projects. The software is versatile, allowing users to switch between vector, pixel, and export modes, making it suitable for various design disciplines.Target Audience
Affinity Designer is aimed at professional graphic designers, UI/UX designers, and anyone involved in creating vector graphics. It is particularly useful for businesses and individuals who need advanced tools for designing and editing vector content without the high cost associated with other industry-standard software.Key Features
Vector Tools
Affinity Designer includes a comprehensive set of vector tools, such as custom pens, nodes, brushes, and pencils. Users can create complex shapes, edit curves, and manage pixel snapping and alignments.Real-Time Editing
The software offers real-time views for effects and transformations, allowing for non-destructive editing across unlimited layers. It also supports pan and zoom at 60fps.File Compatibility
Affinity Designer is compatible with various file formats, including Adobe Illustrator (AI), Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), Adobe Photoshop (PSD), Portable Document Format (PDF), and Encapsulated PostScript (EPS).Customization
Users can create and save custom keyboard shortcuts, toolbars, and studio panel presets. The interface is highly customizable, allowing for light or dark themes and adjustable UI tool sizes.Advanced Color Management
The software supports RGB, RGB Hex, LAB, CMYK, and Grayscale color models, along with PANTONE color swatches and ICC color management. It also offers 16-bit per channel editing.Performance and Precision
Affinity Designer allows for extreme zoom levels (beyond 1,000,000%) and provides a high level of precision, similar to CAD software. It has seen continuous improvements in performance with each new version release. Overall, Affinity Designer is a powerful and feature-rich tool that caters to the needs of professional designers, offering a cost-effective alternative to other industry-standard vector graphics editors. Affinity Designer - User Interface and Experience
User Interface Overview
The user interface of Affinity Designer is designed to be highly customizable and user-friendly, making it an attractive option for designers of various skill levels.Customization
Affinity Designer offers a range of customization options to suit individual preferences. Users can choose between a light or dark user interface, create and save custom keyboard shortcuts, and design their own toolbars and toolbar layouts. The software also allows for the reorganization of on-screen panels, which can be floated or docked as preferred. Additionally, users can create and save Studio Panel presets and adjust UI tool sizes, opting for either monochrome or colored buttons.Ease of Use
The interface follows industry conventions for the most popular shortcuts, making it easier for users familiar with other design software to adapt. It supports generic multi-button and wheeled mice, as well as graphics tablets, enhancing the overall usability. The Hint Line and Context toolbar provide helpful guidance during current actions, and users can quickly hide all tools and panels to get a clearer view of their design.Task-Focused Design Spaces
Affinity Designer features task-focused design spaces that create a clean and efficient environment. Users can switch seamlessly between vector, pixel, and export modes, each with its own set of tools and settings. This flexibility is particularly useful for designers working on diverse projects.On-Screen Controls
The on-screen controls in Affinity Designer are intuitive and easy to manipulate. For example, creating and editing clipping masks is simpler compared to other design software. The gradient and grain controls are also highly accessible, allowing users to add noise to any color swatch with a simple slider.Interface Layout
The software’s interface is well-organized with clear menus and command bars. The main bar changes depending on the selected Persona (Designer, Pixel, or Export), each displaying different menus relevant to the task at hand. The Context bar adjusts based on the selected tool, providing context-specific options.Multiple Displays and Documents
Affinity Designer supports working with multiple designs and multiple displays, making it convenient for managing several projects simultaneously. Users can create new documents from delivery-ready presets or save their own custom document setups and templates.Zoom and Precision
The software offers an impressive zoom capability, allowing users to zoom beyond 1,000,000% smoothly and quickly. This level of precision is reassuring, especially for detailed design work.Overall User Experience
The overall user experience in Affinity Designer is streamlined and easy to use. It is particularly beneficial for UX, UI, and responsive web design, as it allows users to create branding materials, websites, app interfaces, and more with ease. The software’s lightweight nature and frequent updates also contribute to a positive user experience.Conclusion
In summary, Affinity Designer’s user interface is highly customizable, easy to use, and designed to enhance productivity and efficiency for designers across various disciplines. Affinity Designer - Key Features and Functionality
Introduction
While Affinity Designer is a powerful graphic design software, it does not currently integrate AI-driven features directly into its design tools. Here are the main features and functionalities of Affinity Designer, along with some context on where AI might be relevant in the broader ecosystem of design and productivity tools.Customization and User Interface
Affinity Designer offers a highly customizable interface. Users can choose between a light or dark UI, create and save custom keyboard shortcuts, and personalize toolbars and toolbar layouts. This customization helps users work more efficiently and comfortably.Design Capabilities
Mixed Discipline Design
Affinity Designer allows users to switch between vector, pixel, and export modes, providing a versatile environment for different design tasks.Layer Management
The software features powerful layer management, including drag and drop layers, non-destructive adjustment layers, and the ability to apply adjustments and blend modes at various levels (stack, layer, group, selection).Zoom and Precision
Users can zoom beyond 1,000,000% smoothly and quickly, ensuring a high level of precision similar to CAD software.Interoperability and File Management
File Compatibility
Affinity Designer files can be opened in other Affinity products (like Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher) and vice versa. It also supports importing and exporting various file formats, including Adobe Photoshop PSD, Adobe Illustrator (.ai), PDF, and more.Export Options
Users can set export areas and file formats during or after the design process, ensuring flexibility in how designs are shared and used.AI Integration in the Broader Context
While Affinity Designer itself does not currently include AI-driven design tools, there are discussions and suggestions within the community about potential AI integrations. For example, some users have proposed integrating AI to create complex designs based on text descriptions, similar to how ChatGPT can generate SVG outputs. However, these features are not yet implemented in the software.General Productivity Tools
Affinity’s broader ecosystem, particularly in other products and services, is starting to incorporate AI. For instance, Affinity’s work in private capital dealmaking involves using AI to automate note-taking, transcription, and data analysis, as seen in products like Affinity Notetaker and Deal Assist. These AI features aim to boost productivity and decision-making in dealmaking processes, but they are not part of Affinity Designer specifically.Conclusion
In summary, Affinity Designer is a powerful design tool with extensive features for customization, design capabilities, and interoperability, but it does not currently include AI-driven design features. Any AI integration would likely be part of future developments or found in other Affinity products focused on different industries. Affinity Designer - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
Affinity Designer is often praised for its high performance and responsiveness. Users appreciate its ability to deliver instant updates and high-quality rendering, even with complex designs. For instance, users have noted that Affinity Designer renders what they draw very quickly, especially on modern hardware like M1 and M2 Macs, and even on older Windows machines.
However, some users have reported performance issues, particularly with the transition from Version 1 to Version 2. For example, one user experienced lag when using the Pixel Tool in Version 2, which was not present in Version 1, despite using the same graphics card settings.
Accuracy
Accuracy is an area where Affinity Designer faces some criticism. Some users have observed that the rendering to the display is not always forced to be accurate, which can lead to blurry viewports even at 100% zoom. This can necessitate rechecking the source or exporting the image to ensure accuracy, which can be inconvenient.
In contrast to other software like Adobe Illustrator, which is known for its accurate rendering and good performance, Affinity Designer’s trade-off between speed and accuracy can be a drawback for users who require precise on-screen representation of their work.
Limitations
Several limitations of Affinity Designer have been highlighted:
- Vector Compatibility: Affinity Designer has limitations in vector compatibility, particularly with adjustment layers. These layers, while useful for raster output, break vector compatibility when exporting to formats like PDF or SVG, causing the design to be rasterized.
- Smart Objects: Unlike Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Designer does not support Smart Objects. This can be problematic for users working with product mockups that rely on Smart Objects for perspective transforms and other non-destructive edits.
- Grids and Symbols: Affinity Designer lacks the ability to set up multiple grids and does not support smart handling of symbol instances, such as arranging symbols in a circular pattern automatically.
Areas for Improvement
To improve, Affinity Designer could focus on enhancing its rendering accuracy without compromising performance. Here are some areas to consider:
- Consistent Rendering: Ensuring that the viewport rendering is accurate and consistent, even at high zoom levels, would build trust with users who need precise on-screen feedback.
- Vector Compatibility: Improving support for adjustment layers and other features within a vector workflow would make Affinity Designer more versatile for users who need to export designs in vector formats.
- Smart Objects and Advanced Features: Adding support for Smart Objects or equivalent non-destructive editing capabilities would make the software more appealing to users who work with complex designs and product mockups.
In summary, while Affinity Designer excels in performance and responsiveness, it faces challenges in terms of rendering accuracy and certain feature limitations. Addressing these areas could enhance the overall user experience and make the software more competitive in the design tools market.
Affinity Designer - Pricing and Plans
The pricing structure for Affinity Designer and the broader Affinity suite is quite versatile, catering to different user needs and preferences. Here’s a breakdown of the various plans and features:
Individual Plans
For individual users, Affinity offers several one-time payment options:
- Affinity Designer 2 for iPadOS: $18.49.
- Affinity Photo 2 for iPadOS: $18.49.
- Affinity Publisher 2 for iPadOS: $18.49.
- For desktop versions, the prices are slightly higher:
- Affinity Designer 2: $69.99.
- Affinity Photo 2: $69.99.
- Affinity Publisher 2: $69.99.
Business Plans
For business users, the pricing is as follows:
- Affinity Designer 2: $66.49 per license.
- Affinity Photo 2: $66.49 per license.
- Affinity Publisher 2: $66.49 per license.
- Affinity V2 Universal License (Multi-user): $156.74 per license.
Universal License
The Universal License offers access to the entire Affinity suite across all devices (macOS, Windows, and iPadOS):
- Individuals – Affinity V2 Universal License: $164.99.
- Business – Affinity V2 Universal License (Multi-user): $156.74 per license.
Upgrade Offers
If you already own Version 1 of Affinity, you can upgrade to Version 2 with a 25% discount:
- Affinity V2 Universal License: Normally $164.99, available for $123.74 with the upgrade offer, which also includes a free premium add-on bundle worth $242.98.
Free Trial
Affinity provides a free trial option for all its apps, allowing you to use them for six months without any obligation to purchase. This trial includes access to Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher on Mac, Windows PC, and iPad.
Educational Pricing
There is also a special pricing plan for educational institutions, but you need to get a quote directly from Affinity for this.
In summary, Affinity offers a range of pricing options to suit different needs, from individual users to businesses, and includes both one-time payments and upgrade discounts, along with a free trial period for testing the software.
Affinity Designer - Integration and Compatibility
Integration and Compatibility of Affinity Designer
When considering the integration and compatibility of Affinity Designer, several key points stand out that make it a versatile and user-friendly tool across various platforms and devices.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Affinity Designer is available on multiple operating systems, including macOS, Windows, and iPadOS. This means you can work on your designs regardless of the device you use, and the file format remains consistent across all platforms.
Universal License
Purchasing the Affinity V2 Universal License allows you to access all three apps (Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher) on any device you own, whether it’s a Mac, Windows PC, or iPad. This license ensures you can work seamlessly across different devices without needing separate licenses for each operating system.
Integration with Other Affinity Apps
Affinity Designer integrates well with other apps in the Affinity suite. For instance, you can share brushes, styles, assets, and application palettes between Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher on the same device. This feature eliminates the need for unnecessary exporting and importing of content between apps.
Compatibility with Other File Formats
Affinity Designer supports a wide range of file formats, including JPEG, PDF, SVG, PSD, PNG, TIFF, GIF, and DWG/DXF. This compatibility ensures that you can import and export files from other design software, making it easier to collaborate with others who may use different tools.
Export Options for Motion Design
For motion designers, Affinity Designer offers diverse exporting options that allow you to export assets in formats compatible with other software like Adobe After Effects. This integration is crucial for a smooth workflow, especially when working on motion graphics projects.
Future Updates and Roadmap
The roadmap for Affinity Designer includes several upcoming features such as the mesh fill tool, mesh warp/distort tool, knife tool, and other enhancements. These updates will further improve the tool’s functionality and compatibility with other design software.
Collaboration and External Tools
While Affinity Designer has its own set of powerful tools, it can also benefit from integration with external tools. For example, users have suggested integrating Affinity Designer with VectorStyler to enhance its capabilities, particularly in areas where Affinity Designer might lack certain transform tools available in Adobe Illustrator.
Conclusion
In summary, Affinity Designer offers strong integration with other tools within the Affinity suite and excellent compatibility across different platforms and devices, making it a flexible and efficient choice for designers.
Affinity Designer - Customer Support and Resources
Contact Options
For general inquiries, you can contact Affinity directly via email at affinity@serif.com. This is a good starting point for any questions or issues you might have.
Forums
Affinity has a dedicated forum where you can ask questions, report bugs, and request new features. This community-driven platform is a great place to interact with other users and the Affinity support team.
Learning Resources
Affinity provides a wealth of learning resources to help you get the most out of their design tools. These include:
- Video Tutorials: Available on their YouTube channel, these tutorials cover various aspects of Affinity Designer, from beginner to advanced levels, for both desktop and iPad versions.
- Quickstart Guides: These guides offer an overview of the app, its user interface, and key features, making it easier for new users to get started.
- Keyboard Shortcuts and Gestures: Cheat sheets and guides on keyboard shortcuts and gestures can help you work more efficiently.
- Online Help: Detailed help resources are available online and within the app itself, providing in-depth explanations of every feature and tool.
Affinity Spotlight
Affinity Spotlight is a resource that offers additional learning materials, the latest news, and insightful articles from the Affinity team and other creatives. It’s a great place to find inspiration and further your education.
Account and Billing Support
For issues related to your account, billing, refunds, downloads, or licensing, you can contact affinityorders@serif.com. This includes help with obtaining invoices or VAT receipts.
Complaints Process
If you need to make a complaint, you can email affinity@serif.com. Affinity aims to respond to all queries within 24 hours and will keep you updated on the progress of your complaint.
Social Channels
Affinity is also available on social channels, where you can find additional support and resources. However, for media inquiries, you should contact John Atkin, the Head of PR, at john@serif.com.
These resources are designed to ensure you have comprehensive support and the information you need to effectively use Affinity Designer.
Affinity Designer - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a highly regarded vector graphics software that offers several significant advantages, making it a strong alternative to Adobe Illustrator.Cost-Effective
One of the most appealing aspects of Affinity Designer is its one-time payment model, which is a significant departure from the subscription-based systems of Adobe products. This makes it more accessible, especially for students, freelancers, and small businesses.Versatile Workspaces
Affinity Designer features a unique “Personas” system, allowing users to switch seamlessly between vector, pixel, and export workspaces. This flexibility is akin to having the capabilities of both Illustrator and Photoshop in one application.Intuitive Interface
The software is praised for its intuitive and efficient interface. It follows industry conventions for shortcuts, making it easier for users familiar with other design tools to adapt quickly. The interface can also be highly customized, including the ability to create custom keyboard shortcuts, toolbars, and panel layouts.Advanced Features
Affinity Designer includes a wide range of advanced features such as advanced layers and masks, an isometric grid for creating isometric and 2D designs, and the ability to zoom up to 1,000,000% for precise work. It also supports the import and export of various file formats, including 32-bit HDR PNGs and DWG/DXF files.Cross-Platform Compatibility
The software is available on Windows, macOS, and iPad, ensuring that users can work seamlessly across different devices. All Affinity apps on a device can share brushes, styles, assets, and more, reducing the need for unnecessary exporting and importing.User Feedback and Support
Affinity places a strong emphasis on user feedback, which has led to regular updates and improvements. The community and customer support are highly valued by users, contributing to the software’s popularity.Disadvantages of Affinity Designer
While Affinity Designer is highly regarded, it also has some limitations and areas for improvement.Performance Issues on Windows
Some users have reported performance issues with Affinity Designer on Windows, even with good system configurations. This suggests that the software may not be fully optimized for Windows, leading to occasional lag and performance problems.Limited Template Availability
Unlike Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer has fewer available templates. When opening Illustrator templates, the layers and groups may become merged, requiring additional time to rearrange them.Export Issues
There have been reports of occasional issues with exporting files in certain formats, which may not always meet the user’s expectations.Limited 3D and Filter Capabilities
Affinity Designer is not very friendly to 3D artists and game developers, and it lacks certain filters and effects that might be available in other software. This may necessitate using additional software alongside Affinity Designer.Learning Curve
For users transitioning from other design software, there can be a slight learning curve due to the different toolset and workflows in Affinity Designer. However, this is often seen as a minor inconvenience given the software’s overall ease of use.In summary, Affinity Designer offers a powerful, cost-effective, and highly customizable solution for vector graphics and design, but it may have some performance and compatibility issues, particularly on Windows, and limited capabilities in certain specialized areas.
Affinity Designer - Comparison with Competitors
When Comparing Affinity Designer with Other Design Tools
User Interface and Performance
Affinity Designer stands out for its clean, streamlined interface and responsive performance. It is described as faster and easier to use, particularly when paired with a Wacom tablet, making the drawing experience smoother and more intuitive.Cost and Ownership
One of the most significant advantages of Affinity Designer is its cost-effectiveness. It is available for a one-time purchase of around $50, unlike Adobe Illustrator, which operates on a subscription model. This makes Affinity Designer an attractive option for those on a budget or preferring perpetual ownership of software.Tool Sets and Features
Affinity Designer offers a comprehensive set of tools for vector and pixel-based artwork, including standard pen and shape tools. However, it lacks some of the advanced features found in Adobe Illustrator, such as a perspective grid or column graph tool. Despite this, it is well-suited for most graphic design tasks and is particularly useful for those who work in both vector and pixel environments.Import and Export Capabilities
Affinity Designer excels in importing and editing files from other formats, including PSD, AI, and EPS files, although it cannot save back to AI format. It exports to a variety of formats such as EPS, PDF, PNG, JPG, GIF, and TIFF. However, some advanced features and effects from imported files may not be preserved.Workspace Features
While Affinity Designer’s workspace is user-friendly, it lacks the multiple pre-set workspaces and custom workspace options available in Adobe Illustrator. However, it does support features like color swatches, effects, and brushes, and has recently integrated PANTONE color swatches and artboards.Alternatives and Competitors
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator remains the industry standard with a broader range of features, including advanced tools and better integration with other Adobe products. It is particularly favored by full-service designers who need comprehensive features and tools.CorelDRAW and Inkscape
CorelDRAW and Inkscape are other alternatives in the vector graphics market. CorelDRAW offers a wide range of features but is generally more expensive than Affinity Designer. Inkscape is free and open-source but may lack the polish and user-friendliness of Affinity Designer.AI-Driven Tools
While Affinity Designer itself is not AI-driven, it’s worth noting that the design landscape is increasingly influenced by AI tools. For example, Adobe’s AI tools like Adobe Sensei and Adobe Firefly, integrated into the Creative Cloud, automate repetitive tasks and generate new content based on text prompts. These tools are not direct competitors but can enhance the capabilities of other design software.Conclusion
In summary, Affinity Designer is a strong, cost-effective alternative to Adobe Illustrator, offering a user-friendly interface, good performance, and essential tools for vector and pixel-based design. While it may not match the full feature set of Adobe Illustrator, it is a viable option for many graphic design tasks and is particularly appealing for those on a budget or preferring a one-time purchase model. Affinity Designer - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Affinity Designer
What does the launch of Affinity Version 2 mean for existing users of Affinity Designer?
Upgrading to Version 2 is completely optional. You can continue to use the original Version 1 apps for as long as you like, although Version 1 will no longer receive feature updates. However, critical issues caused by operating system updates will still be addressed for a reasonable period.
Is upgrading to Affinity Designer Version 2 a paid upgrade?
Yes, upgrading to Version 2 requires a one-off payment. However, there is no subscription fee involved, just like with Version 1. Existing users of Version 1 can upgrade to a Version 2 Universal License with a 25% discount and receive a premium add-on bundle for free.
How is Affinity Designer Version 2 different from the original app?
Version 2 of Affinity Designer comes with a completely redesigned UI, hundreds of timesaving tools, and numerous new features. This includes advanced layers and masks, improved layer management, new export options, and enhanced customization of the user interface. For a full list of new features, you can refer to the detailed feature list on the Affinity website.
Can I use Affinity Designer Version 1 and Version 2 apps together?
You can have different versions of the apps installed, but you will not be able to open Version 2 files in Version 1 apps. This compatibility issue is important to consider if you plan to work across different versions.
How does the Universal License work for Affinity Designer and other Affinity apps?
The Universal License allows you to get the entire Affinity suite (including Designer, Photo, and Publisher) for all three operating systems (Mac, Windows, and iPad) with a single payment. This is the most cost-effective way to access multiple apps across various platforms.
Can I install Affinity Designer on multiple devices?
As a private individual, you can install Affinity apps on as many devices as you own, provided they run the operating system for which you have purchased a license. For example, with a Universal License, you can install the apps on any iPads, Macs, or Windows PCs you own. However, only you are allowed to use the apps for commercial purposes; other household members would need their own licenses for commercial use.
How does StudioLink work with Affinity Designer and other Affinity apps?
StudioLink is a feature that allows seamless integration between Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher. From within Affinity Publisher, you can instantly access the advanced toolsets of Affinity Designer and Photo without leaving your layout. However, StudioLink will only be activated if you have Version 2 of all the relevant apps.
Can I still purchase Affinity Designer Version 1?
No, Version 1 of the Affinity apps is no longer available for purchase. You can only buy Version 2 or upgrade from Version 1 if you already own it.
How many devices can a commercial enterprise or educational institution install Affinity Designer on?
For commercial enterprises, education, and other multi-user situations, each license can be assigned to an individual or a device. For example, a Windows license could be used by a single employee on both their desktop and laptop, or it could be assigned to a single Windows computer used by multiple employees. The assignment of licenses is a manual process and needs to be tracked to ensure compliance with the license agreement.
What kind of support and resources are available for Affinity Designer users?
Affinity offers various resources, including a beta program for feedback, Learn pages with informative content, insightful articles on Affinity Spotlight, and creative sessions on YouTube. Additionally, the Affinity Store provides brush packs and other add-ons to enhance your work.
Affinity Designer - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a highly versatile and powerful vector graphics editor that stands out in the design tools category, particularly for its comprehensive features, user-friendly interface, and affordable pricing model.Key Features and Advantages
- Vector and Pixel Workspaces: Affinity Designer allows users to seamlessly switch between vector drawing and pixel editing within the same application, making it ideal for illustrators, graphic designers, and digital painters.
- Advanced Drawing Tools: The software includes a wide range of tools such as the pen tool, node editing, shapes, gradients, and more, which cater to the needs of professional designers.
- Compatibility with Standard Formats: It supports a variety of file formats including SVG, EPS, PDF, PSD, and AI, facilitating easy collaboration and file sharing.
- High Performance: Optimized for fast and smooth performance, Affinity Designer can handle complex documents with thousands of objects without lag.
- Affordable One-Time Purchase: Unlike many design tools that require monthly subscriptions, Affinity Designer is available for a one-time payment, making it an economical choice for students, artists, and businesses.
User Interface and Customization
- Intuitive and Modern Interface: The software features a user-friendly interface that is easy to learn and use, even for beginners. It includes numerous tutorials and documentation to help users get started.
- Customization Options: Users can customize the interface with dockable panels, keyboard shortcuts, and different workspace configurations to suit their specific needs.
Who Would Benefit Most
Affinity Designer is particularly beneficial for:- Professional Illustrators and Graphic Designers: Those who regularly work with vector graphics and raster images will find the dual workspace feature highly useful.
- Web Designers: It is ideal for creating graphic elements for websites, such as buttons, navigation bars, and backgrounds.
- Digital Painters: The ability to toggle between vector and pixel workspaces makes it a favorite among digital painters.
- Students and Artists on a Budget: The one-time purchase model makes it an attractive option for those with limited budgets.