Affinity Photo - a real alternative to Photoshop for those of us on a budget

Cerbera

A mate of mine recently told me about Affinity Photo.

It's a fairly new photo editing programme (currently available for Mac only but a beta version of the windows one is due shortly) thats downloadable from the App Store and costs €39.99

I have been using older versions of PS and LR and didn't want to subscribe to the Adobe CC as photography is only a hobby and I find it hard to justify the monthly outlay for the CC (yeah I know I probably could go down the dodgy software route but I've tried that in the past and it's a pain in the hole when a p/w won't work, etc).

Anyway I looked up a sh!tload of reviews on Affinity Photo and the majority were very positive and over the weekend I decided to buy it.

After a few evenings of messing about with it I'm fairly into the basics of it now and my overall impression of it is that I am liking it.

I find it's like a Lightroom and Photoshop all rolled into one where it's got easy access to the controls needed for the basic handling of the RAW files (it handles the new CR2 files on the 7D Mark2 no problem, my old LR and PS didn't which was a pain in the hole) and all the normal tools you'd find in PS are just as easily accessible.

If any of you (Mac users) are currently looking at the Adobe CC but can't bring yourself to commit to it then I'd suggest for the sake of €40 you think about getting this and even if you hate it down the line you'll probably only have spent what you'd have paid for the CC so its not going to break you.

Anyway I've got nothing to do with anyone from Affinity photo, I just like it and thought I'd share the info and here's the link to the website to get the download link (you could go straight to the App Store but it's €10 dearer there) .....

https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/

CabanSail

Might download the 30 day trial version to play with it but I doubt I will buy it.

Reading the reviews it seems like it's an improvement on Lightroom, but will not do the important things in Photoshop. It could be that they have seen an opening after the poor decision by Apple to discontinue Aperture and put all their apples in in the Photos basket.

Kenny Logins

There's Darktable for Mac too.


http://www.darktable.org/

Balfey1972

Paid a visit to the stand yesterday over at the Photography Show in Birmingham. Seems like a nice piece of software. Will be giving the Windows beta version a try.

Cerbera wrote: »

A mate of mine recently told me about Affinity Photo.

It's a fairly new photo editing programme (currently available for Mac only but a beta version of the windows one is due shortly) thats downloadable from the App Store and costs €39.99

I have been using older versions of PS and LR and didn't want to subscribe to the Adobe CC as photography is only a hobby and I find it hard to justify the monthly outlay for the CC (yeah I know I probably could go down the dodgy software route but I've tried that in the past and it's a pain in the hole when a p/w won't work, etc).

Anyway I looked up a sh!tload of reviews on Affinity Photo and the majority were very positive and over the weekend I decided to buy it.

After a few evenings of messing about with it I'm fairly into the basics of it now and my overall impression of it is that I am liking it.

I find it's like a Lightroom and Photoshop all rolled into one where it's got easy access to the controls needed for the basic handling of the RAW files (it handles the new CR2 files on the 7D Mark2 no problem, my old LR and PS didn't which was a pain in the hole) and all the normal tools you'd find in PS are just as easily accessible.

If any of you (Mac users) are currently looking at the Adobe CC but can't bring yourself to commit to it then I'd suggest for the sake of €40 you think about getting this and even if you hate it down the line you'll probably only have spent what you'd have paid for the CC so its not going to break you.

Anyway I've got nothing to do with anyone from Affinity photo, I just like it and thought I'd share the info and here's the link to the website to get the download link (you could go straight to the App Store but it's €10 dearer there) .....

https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/

Cerbera

Kenny Logins wrote: »

There's Darktable for Mac too.


http://www.darktable.org/

Yeah but it's horrible compared to lightroom, seems really "jumpy" and definitely not as smooth as LR

brianiac

possible necro thread but any update on how ye found it? just beginning in photography - mainly bird photos so far....loads of dross so want a way to quickly go through my batches, delete the rubbish and then fiddle with exposures etc.
was kinda getting ready to subscribe for the adobe photography thing but its significantly more expensive for us in the eu than the states which stuck in my graw a bit.
happy to pay for something - considering the money ive spent on my camera and lens its kind of silly not to -, but as im a complete amateur and this is purely a hobby i'd prefer to be cost effective about it.
ta

laoisfan

brianiac wrote: »

possible necro thread but any update on how ye found it? just beginning in photography - mainly bird photos so far....loads of dross so want a way to quickly go through my batches, delete the rubbish and then fiddle with exposures etc.
was kinda getting ready to subscribe for the adobe photography thing but its significantly more expensive for us in the eu than the states which stuck in my graw a bit.
happy to pay for something - considering the money ive spent on my camera and lens its kind of silly not to -, but as im a complete amateur and this is purely a hobby i'd prefer to be cost effective about it.
ta

Try GiMP, it's free. Not as good as the Adobe stuff. I'm using Lightroom as well but won't be subscribing to it once my trial is up.

bullpost

Dont forget Paintshop pro also. Really good value for money and it is photoshop plugin compatible so you can use Silverefex, Topaz popular plugins . Cost about €60ish.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/corel-paintshop-pro-x9-review--29730

shanew

I've just started with AffinityPhoto for Windows - a lot to figure out, but very impressed so far

brianiac

I've been off the PC while forcing myself to study for an exam next week.... Actually had to give my mouse to theissus!
Anyhoo current study distraction has been essentially googling other opinions around the web. Have come across acdsee ultimate 10...99 dollars, 3 installs, and seems to do both lightroom and Photoshop work in a single package. Intend on downloading a trial version next week and will report on my impression. Affinity certainly seems snazzy however have come across a number of vids where people seem to use it in conjunction with LR as opposed to a standalone program. The same seems to apply to corels paints hope pro or using it alongside after shot...Will trial it as well.

brianiac

So i plumped for acdee ultimate @ 99 dollars. Course doesnt include tax so works out at 120 ish. still <1 years l/r and photoshop. Seems to do the things it should. Doesnt stitch photos together which is a pain for pano's but got myself image composite editor from microsoft which is free and does it well.
small user numbers so limited tutorials etc unlike l/r which is definitely a disadvantage. sometimes you just toi look up something quickly and even though acdsee have long tutorials the fact the info is burioed in +1 hr of video makes it hard to access. might be a factor for someone starting out (like me)