What is Affinity software?
Affinity software is a collection of creative software that includes three main applications:
1. Affinity Photo – a powerful photo editing and retouching software often seen as a more affordable alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
2. Affinity Designer – a vector graphics design tool used for all types of design and illustration. It is the less expensive alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
3. Affinity Publisher – A desktop publishing application similar to Adobe InDesign, used to create books, magazines and marketing materials.
Affinity software is known for its one-time purchase model (rather than a subscription), high performance, and seamless compatibility between its applications. It’s widely used by graphic designers, fashion designers, photographers and illustrators. It is popular with those who work with (both) vector and raster graphics.
What is Affinity Designer?
Affinity Designer is vector graphics design software. Known as a powerful, affordable alternative to the expensive Adobe Illustrator, it’s a popular design tool for professionals and hobbyists alike.
Affinity Designer is ideal for freelancers, hobbyists, small businesses or anyone who prefers a one-off purchase model.
If cost and simplicity are important to you, Affinity Designer is an excellent choice.
How is Affinity Designer different from Adobe Illustrator?
Affinity Designer and Adobe Illustrator are both powerful vector graphics design tools, but they differ in some key areas, such as pricing and user interface. Here’s a breakdown:
Pricing model:
– Affinity Designer: One-off purchase with no subscription fees. You buy the software for a fixed price and own it immediately. It is a much cheaper alternative to Adobe Illustrator. The single payment is very attractive.
– Adobe Illustrator: Subscription service (Adobe Creative Cloud). You pay monthly or annually and the cost is ongoing. Adobe Illustrator is considered expensive.
User interface and workflow:
-Affinity Designer: Known for a cleaner, less cluttered interface. Some users find it more intuitive for new designers or those transitioning from other software.
-Adobe Illustrator: A more complex and feature-rich interface that can take longer to master, especially for beginners.
Performance:
-Affinity Designer: Generally praised for its fast performance, even on lower spec machines. It doesn’t have the same system requirements as Illustrator, making it accessible to users with older computers.
-Adobe Illustrator: Can be more resource intensive, especially when working with large or complex files.
File compatibility:
-Affinity Designer: Although Affinity’s file format is proprietary (.afdesign), it can export to many industry-standard formats (SVG, EPS, PDF). It can even import editable Adobe files such as AI and PSF (=Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop files).
-Adobe Illustrator: Supports all major file types including AI, SVG, EPS and PDF. Affinity files cannot be opened in Adobe.
Adobe Illustrator files can be edited in Affinity Designer. If you have Adobe Illustrator files, you can edit them in Affinity Designer.
Affinity Designer files cannot be opened in Adobe Illustrator.
Learning curve:
-Affinity Designer: Easier for new users or those moving from other tools because of its streamlined interface.
-Adobe Illustrator: More advanced and feature-rich, so there’s a steeper learning curve.
Updates:
Affinity Designer: Regular updates, but fewer major updates than Adobe products. Although Affinity is a one-off payment, you still benefit from the updates.
Adobe Illustrator: Frequent updates, including new tools and interface changes.
The bottom line
Affinity Designer is a cost-effective, performance-oriented tool that’s great for individuals or small businesses and offers a streamlined experience.
