The new combined affinity application
The big reveal is over. It’s a new tool with all three components merged into one application with added features… and it’s FREE [with generative AI as an option via a Canva pro account].
After reading (most) posts and the repeated questions and issues, here is my (personal) take on the new tool from the short time I used [more like tested it on existing projects of mine].
Here are some frequently asked questions I have seen so far:
v1 and v2 concerns
The older versions are still working fine and are not affected by the new tool.
The new affinity reads the old v1 and v2 files without issues [and gives you a warning that they are files created with earlier versions [similar to v2 on v1 files]. Seeing the new tool has a different file format [.af], files saved here can’t be opened with the older versions.
It’s nothing new but worth keeping in mind (and maybe backing up the original files before editing and saving the new version).
Installation
The new affinity is available on a new site:
https://www.affinity.studio/download
[It’s a new application, not an update of v2. There won’t be an update message in the older applications.]
It installs like any other tool but lacks the check for existing assets, palettes, brushes, or styles that the v2 enabled with a single tick.
Windows users have a few options. If you are unsure, check your windows setting System > Details to check whether you are running an ARM chip or not. It’s more common with light, portable, battery-powered devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablet computers, as well as embedded systems.
The new iPad version hasn’t launched yet. As far as I could see, there was no release date for it (yet).
Importing your assets
Since your assets are not automatically transferred, you will have to do this manually.
There is an option in the file menu (File > Import Content > Import from V2) to import all your assets, gradients, brushes, and palettes.
To import assets selectively from earlier versions, export them first via the menu [burger icon] in the category panel you wish to export [brushes, styles, assets, or palettes]. Either drag the saved file into the new application or use the menu in affinity’s categories panels or the Import Content > Import from file menu option to import.
Assets purchased from the serif store are still available by linking your Affinity account to the new affinity application.
Loading your files
From what I can see so far, older files [including templates] load fine. I have yet to try the pixel [Affinity Photo] on more elaborate photo edits and raw files.
Keep the new file format in mind; overwriting existing files will make them incompatible with the older versions. I usually use a new file name or a new folder location.
A new [and flexible] UI
At first glance, not much has changed as far as the tools go. The icons changed to a more simplistic monochrome design. (I can’t really see the point here. A touch of distinct colour would have made it easier to quickly pick the tool you want.)
There are some oddities, like the shape builder tool and the vector flood fill tool sharing the same toolbar position. Yes, they are kind of similar, but then again, very different.
The big addition is a flexible UI. You can create your own ‘studio’ and bring the tool icons you need the most into more prominent positions and hide tool icons you use less often.
Shortcuts
An integral part of the UI/ UX experience is the use of shotcuts. It looks like some [limited] relearning is needed.
[I frequently export bitmap images. The export now is CTRL+Alt+Shift+W. It was CTRL+Alt+Shift+S before.]
File formats
On the upside, a lot of file formats have been added with more options. Something I will be trying out in greater detail (hoping some import issues might have been fixed in the process).
[The Canva Design files are not being exported. I get an error message without an explanation.
Files get opened with a switch to the pixel view mode. I had to switch to vector view mode to get a clear and crisp display of the design.]
New features
This is the part everyone has been looking forward to and hoping their wish would come true.
Image Trace
A long-time favorite on the wish lists of many users has found its way into the app [Vector > Image Trace]. It’s on the simpler side with just two sliders [Edge Threshold and Curve Fitting Tolerance] and traces the outlines only. There is no centreline trace.
Bringing in inked sketches and drawings, as well as pen-coloured or water-coloured illustrations, gave me good results [with the object count on the higher end] while photos and complex gradients returned the expected mess that’s no longer editable due to the need for a lot of shapes to recreate the image [and the hairline issues that come with it].
Any vector trace depends on the source image (no matter which tool you use). Affinity gives you plenty of options in the Pixel Studio to optimize the image before you trace it.
Knowing what works and what doesn’t is a matter of playing around with a few images and image trace settings. Generally, fewer colours, high contrast, and no gradients get you decent results.
Gradient Mesh
This new feature was released in one of the teaser videos as is one of the additions to the Gradient Tool fill options [accessible via the mode dropdown menu].
Hatch
This is the other addition to the Gradient Tool. It allows easy pattern creation (with vector output via the ‘bake appearance’). Add more lines to turn a striped pattern into a hatched pattern.
Both fill options can be added as swatches [the hatch comes with a category of pre-made hatched swatches].
…to be continued [the handymen for the ongoing renovation need my attention]
Stability
A key issue with any new release or update is stability. Just as I replied to a comment that it had not yet crashed on me, the application folded on me when closing the only open document [a template file without edits].
I will have to look into this with more detailed tests and a wider variety of files.
For now, the export seems to be a major issue. I couldn’t get my 458 page helpful hints to export to PDF [error message with no explanation] or epub [crash].
Overall, it’s looking good and seems to do what it should. Will it be a dependable tool for professional daily use? Time [and a lot more testing] will tell.
At this stage, I will not delete my v2 suite as I know those tools will perform [while I managed to crash the new tool more often in a few hours than v2 in the past 3 years].
Play around with it. It’s free. You can’t break it. Have fun with it and let us know how it goes.
