Affinity Photo Overview
Affinity Photo is a professional photo editing software created by Serif that combines advanced tools with speed and efficiency. Tailored for photographers, designers, and digital artists, it offers a seamless experience for RAW processing, HDR merging, panorama stitching, and detailed retouching. Its lightweight architecture ensures high performance without sacrificing powerful features, making it a popular alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
Affinity Photo Features
The software supports PSD and a wide range of file formats, offers non-destructive editing, and includes advanced layer control. It integrates tools for frequency separation, liquify effects, live filters, and inpainting for content-aware adjustments. Additionally, it provides customizable workspaces to fit creative workflows.
Affinity Photo Highlights
Key highlights include lightning-fast rendering for large files, real-time editing with no lag, 360-degree image editing, and unlimited undo history. The application is also GPU-accelerated, ensuring smooth navigation and editing even with high-resolution images.
Why Choose Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo offers the same high-end editing capabilities as competitors but with a one-time purchase model instead of subscription fees. It appeals to both professionals seeking precision and hobbyists who want powerful tools at an affordable price. Frequent updates add new features and maintain stability, making it a long-term solution for creative projects.
Affinity Photo User Reviews
PixelMaster, Softpedia: “I moved from Photoshop to Affinity Photo and haven’t looked back. The learning curve was short, and the performance is excellent.”
LauraK, Reddit: “The RAW processing engine is fantastic, and I love how smooth it is when working with huge files.”
DevonArt, TechSpot: “The UI feels modern and responsive. It’s a relief not to deal with monthly fees anymore.”
Affinity Photo Supported Platforms
Available on Windows 10/11, macOS, and iPadOS with feature parity across platforms.
Affinity Photo Supported Languages
English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, and more.
Affinity Photo License
Commercial proprietary software with a one-time purchase license. Trial versions are available for evaluation.
Affinity Photo Open Source Status
Affinity Photo is not open source; it is developed and maintained by Serif as a commercial product.
Affinity Photo Minimum Hardware Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i3 or equivalent
- RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended)
- GPU: DirectX 10-compatible
- Disk Space: 1 GB of free storage
- OS: Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later
Affinity Photo Usage Tips
Leverage Personas (dedicated workspaces like Photo, Liquify, Develop, and Export) to streamline your workflow. Use live filters for non-destructive adjustments and save custom macros to automate repetitive tasks.
Affinity Photo FAQ
Q: Can Affinity Photo open Photoshop PSD files?
A: Yes, it has excellent compatibility with PSD and other major file formats.
Q: Does it support RAW image processing?
A: Absolutely, Affinity Photo has a dedicated Develop Persona for RAW editing.
Q: Is there an iPad version?
A: Yes, Affinity Photo for iPad offers nearly identical features as desktop versions.
Affinity Photo Summary
Affinity Photo stands out as a cost-effective, professional-grade image editing software with powerful tools and smooth performance. It caters to photographers, designers, and creative professionals who want advanced features without recurring costs. With frequent updates and cross-platform support, it is a strong choice for modern digital editing needs.