affinity photo big announcement Email

LCPete

LCPete

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Has anyone else had an email from Affinity about this big announcement, the email doesn’t actually say anything just a link to sign up for an announcement
Apparently at the moment you now can’t buy the stand alone version, the rumours are that they are going to go to subscription the same as Adobe
A real shame if that happens as I’m a big fan of Affinity Photo 2 it’s perfect for what I need
They were bought by a big company called Canva who did pledge at the time that Affinity's perpetual license model will be maintained
I can’t find out anything solid only speculation so will have to wait and see
 
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I got the email. Will wait and see.

As you say, a move to subscription would be unwelcome.
 
They had a huge backlash when they tried to force people to use the MS app version, and they would likely have the same if they went for a subscription model.
They would certainly have a dip in the sales growth, they are not big enough yet to dictate to users.

I think the subscription will be for AI add-ons, the free ones at the moment you have to install separately.

People who want to use AI elements would most likely be more ready to subscribe, and the rest of us don't have as much interest.

Canva has never had much appeal to me, it would be a pity for Affinity to sink into their half baked environment.
 
I'm not sure I'd want AI stuff at all on Affinity, and particularly not on subscription. I do use AI, though, in Capture One. That's good enough for me.
 
I have just checked and I too have the email.

Bearing in mind their relatively long cycle time between version 1 and 2 it could be that v3 is coming earlier than the community might have anticipated. Or perhaps rather than separate programs that if bought more than one of the three could interact, there is going to be (in v3?) one completely cohesive program.

As for if they are going 'subscription', I hope not !

PS FWIW
Topaz it seems have gone subscription and IIRC primarily Cloud based.
 
Just checked on the community forum and that too is due for change(s)

forum.affinity.serif.com

Important Update: Affinity Forum Transition

We want to share an important update about the Affinity Forums. Hi, On October 6 2025, we’ll be transitioning the forums to read-only mode. This forum will remain available as a searchable archive so you can continue to access the wealth of information shared here, but new replies will not be all...
forum.affinity.serif.com forum.affinity.serif.com
 
Box Brownie said:
Just checked on the community forum and that too is due for change(s)

forum.affinity.serif.com

Important Update: Affinity Forum Transition

We want to share an important update about the Affinity Forums. Hi, On October 6 2025, we’ll be transitioning the forums to read-only mode. This forum will remain available as a searchable archive so you can continue to access the wealth of information shared here, but new replies will not be all...
forum.affinity.serif.com forum.affinity.serif.com
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That sounds a lot like "We don't want a flood of complaints visible" so we'll create something else...
 
Hmm, I was looking to move across from Photoshop end of this year but if its going to subscription - won't bother, may as well stay with PS
 
I'm not that much of an Affinity user tbh I use it for the occasional panorama stitching. But the perpetual license is one of the main things it has going for it.

I think subscription and cloud based is how they want everything to be though now and more so in the future.
 
I bought v1 and then upgraded to v2 with Designer and Publisher, although I've not really used any of them except for processing IR raw files occasionally. If they go to subscription, I'll just stick with my LR/PS subscription.
 
Hmmmm!
I can only surmise that if their to announced 'new creative' product is some sort of subs based program they will grandfather v2.6 but it will still work.....why, because to not do so would be oh so damaging to their public & corporate image and the millions(?) of users worldwide could potentially see their demise.
Surely they are not risking that???
 
Box Brownie said:
Hmmmm!
I can only surmise that if their to announced 'new creative' product is some sort of subs based program they will grandfather v2.6 but it will still work.....why, because to not do so would be oh so damaging to their public & corporate image and the millions(?) of users worldwide could potentially see their demise.
Surely they are not risking that???
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I assumed further assimilation and branding into Canva.

That could result in a number of things - cloud integration, subscription, rebranding.

I suspect that the use of Canva more widespread than Affinity. I see people who live in Photoshop and LR - but use Canva for design and notes. Affinity tends to be less visible.

I can't see why Canva would want to keep them separate. They can leave Affinity as a standalone so there is no backlash. At the same time they could also integrate Affinity as an offering into the Canva ecosystem.
 
I didn't factor Canva into my perspective. However, there is a grey area as Affinity have always(?) spoken of the larger corporates who use them but the amateur to pro photographers seems like a big user base too!

Oh well, not too long to wait to see what the kerfuffle is about :lol:
 
Box Brownie said:
Hmmmm!
I can only surmise that if their to announced 'new creative' product is some sort of subs based program they will grandfather v2.6 but it will still work.....why, because to not do so would be oh so damaging to their public & corporate image and the millions(?) of users worldwide could potentially see their demise.
Surely they are not risking that???
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I think it could well be a mistake of that magnitude.

I have used CorelDraw for 35 years now (I was using a PC and CorelDraw for DTP when everyone else in town was using Pagemaker etc and Apple :) )

I now use Affinity Designer and Publisher (though not for work, retired)

Everyone that has bought Affinity on my suggestion, probably more in SA then here, have liked it and a major factor has been the one time purchase.


I'm sure any subscription will apply only to the add-ons.
 
Box Brownie said:
I didn't factor Canva into my perspective. However, there is a grey area as Affinity have always(?) spoken of the larger corporates who use them but the amateur to pro photographers seems like a big user base too!
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I have come across companies that use Affinity but they're not in the ecosystem that is selling design and photography - it's internal use.

I think what is frustrating is that Affinity could be used in education and then feed out to colleges and the workplace more.

But I think it is generally ignored. So an institution such as a college is more likely to buy licences for Adobe - just as they lock into Microsoft.
 
lindsay said:
I bought v1 and then upgraded to v2 with Designer and Publisher, although I've not really used any of them except for processing IR raw files occasionally. If they go to subscription, I'll just stick with my LR/PS subscription.
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I too bought into the triumverate deal when Photo updated to v2 and have used Publisher a little and as Designer was in effect 'free' I thought the deal was a good one :)
 
I’ve mentioned on here before, I use to use Adobe photoshop with LR then tried Affinity photo and found it was better at the time for what I was doing, macro image stacking, that was a while ago and I’m sure Adobe is good now too
I didn’t like the Raw conversion in Affinity though so went with DXO photolab which is also a one off purchase but much more expensive than Affinity photo
If Affinity went subscription I would have a rethink but to be honest Affinity 2 does do all I need
 
I signed up for the 'notifications' and had this in an email a short while ago...

"You’ve chosen to see the future first. Now you’re at the front of the queue for what’s next.

This isn’t just another update. It’s the beginning of something new. A shift in how creative freedom is defined.


Want a glimpse before it begins?

Keep an eye on our social channels. We’ll be sharing glimpses of what’s about to unfold. You’ll find the links in the footer.



The future is close. You’ll see it first."

There were links to their FB, X and IG accounts.....I suppose the devil is in the details and in this case what does "A shift in how creative freedom is defined" actually mean ???
 
Thought it might be a good idea to check my Affinity 2 products, and there are updates available, which appear to be installing now!
 
To add a little to this.

Whilst the products have been removed from the website to download/purchase they are still available in the Apple App Store (iPad) and are all free. No idea if they are available within the android/Google ecosystem.

So whilst the future of them is currently unclear you can if in the Apple ecosystem (specifically iPad) at least get the current v2 versions for free.

Download the apps (iPad). Start the free trial and then ‘upgrade’ your license and the in app purchase is free.

How long they will work and be supported for however!
 
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Lost_Manc said:
To add a little to this.

Whilst the products have been removed from the website to download/purchase they are still available in the Apple App Store (iPad) and are all free. No idea if they are available within the android/Google ecosystem.

So whilst the future of them is currently unclear you can if in the Apple ecosystem at least get the current v2 versions for free.

Download the apps. Start the free trial and then ‘upgrade’ your license and the in app purchase is free.

How long they will work and be supported for however!
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That is a very good point about being supported, I have Affinity photo versions 1 and 2 on Mac and Ipad they work great on the current Mac operating system, I wonder what will happen in the future with new operating systems will it still work?
I have an old version of Photoshop CS6 it still works fine on my old PC but I can’t use it on a new machine as its not compatible apparently
 
My, possibly optimistic guess, is that the big change will be integration with Canva.

It will still be available with a perpetual license, but with sharing files between it and Canva as a centre piece. There is a risk, that the perpetual licence approach may change and become an annual paid for upgrade, making the cost of subscription/perpetual licence the same or even more for the perpetual license - assuming you upgrade every year. Even if the perpetual licence remains, I suspect it will be made less attractive than a subscription option.

I also suspect that the Canva subscription will have a "plus Affinity" option at a very attractive price; if you are willing to go subscription.

Affinity, have always promoted their "graphics" customer base, and emphasised that Affinity photo was just part of a graphics suite with photographers not their primary customer. As a comparison, less than 10% of Adobe customers are photographers, and Serif with the Affinity Suite have been clearly targeting Adobe.

So my guess is that many Affinity customers may already use Canva, and could see the benefits of going subscription for a Canva/Affinity toolbox, to get the Canva tools and affinity at good price.

"Subscription only" seems to have worked for Adobe, and before Capture One made subscriptions the standard for users (even though they still do perpetual licenses) between 80% and 90% of new customers were opting for the subscription, and longer term customers were already moving across to the subscription option. Capture One's main customer base is very different to Affinity of course, mainly professional and large studios (e.g. they have single customers who run 200-300 C1 licences) but I feel that we may well have to accept that, for now, perpetual licenses are going to go away.
 
LCPete said:
That is a very good point about being supported, I have Affinity photo versions 1 and 2 on Mac and Ipad they work great on the current Mac operating system, I wonder what will happen in the future with new operating systems will it still work?
I have an old version of Photoshop CS6 it still works fine on my old PC but I can’t use it on a new machine as its not compatible apparently
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FWIW

I too have Photoshop CS6 and it installed and activated on my new build in 2023 with W10 Pro

Though none too sure if it will do the same under W11 ?
 
Box Brownie said:
FWIW

I too have Photoshop CS6 and it installed and activated on my new build in 2023 with W10 Pro

Though none too sure if it will do the same under W11 ?
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Thanks our PC is my wife’s and had heard of people having issues with W11 so didn’t want to chance it and I now use my MacBook anyway now for my pictures
Good to hear though
 
I have been using Affinity Photo for about an hour this morning, and have shut it down and reloaded it several times, a few minutes ago, it came up with update op-up.

This seems to throw a spanner in the works for some of the ideas as to what the big announcement is, as it seems an odd time to issue an update if some of the ideas are right.

Making sure I keep the recent updates though, just in case I need to go back a couple :)
 
Sangoma said:
I have been using Affinity Photo for about an hour this morning, and have shut it down and reloaded it several times, a few minutes ago, it came up with update op-up.

This seems to throw a spanner in the works for some of the ideas as to what the big announcement is, as it seems an odd time to issue an update if some of the ideas are right.

Making sure I keep the recent updates though, just in case I need to go back a couple :)
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What version is that? 2.6.4 came out in September.
 
The future is bleak!

They said sign up to see the future first, and it is the 30th already (even in America) and still no news :(
 
Sangoma said:
The future is bleak!

They said sign up to see the future first, and it is the 30th already (even in America) and still no news :(
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1630hrs GMT, has been the time promoted for the announcement
 
The Affinity Facebook chat are saying that the announcement is scheduled for 10:00PT / 17:00 GMT today.
 
Stumps said:
The Affinity Facebook chat are saying that the announcement is scheduled for 10:00PT / 17:00 GMT today.
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That makes sense, after posting the 1630hrs GMT time above, I couldn't remember whether that was the invite time to start watching the pre-announcement, or the actual announcement.

EDIT: the live keynote is here (but I gave up watching it!!) :

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnqOzxpWHNA
 
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Can't stand that, hopefully someone will post a resume. :rolleyes:
 
gramps said:
Can't stand that, hopefully someone will post a resume. :rolleyes:
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It works :)
And it processes RAW

Does vector as well, but it seems like a mixture of programmes, but I don't think it will replace photo for me.

But that was after 3 minutes use, will be interesting to see the in depth reviews
 
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