Adobe rival Serif unleashes powerful new Affinity Photo 2 creative suite
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Serif has unveiled a major upgrade to its Affinity creative suite, bringing major changes to the best graphic design software and Photo editor tools.
Known as Affinity Version 2 – it’s a sequel after all – the bundle includes what Serif calls “redesigned versions” of vector graphics illustrator Affinity Designer, Affinity photoand Affinity Publisher.
In addition to the overhauled desktop tools, the company also brings its popular DTP software to iPad.
What’s new in Affinity V2?
Each of the three creative apps has received a wealth of new features and improvements.
Affinity Designer 2 features non-destructive vector distortions, a smart X-ray viewer, and shape and knife tools for true hands-on creativity. AutoCAD and DXF files can now also be imported into Designer.
Affinity Photo 2 Introduces Non-Destructive RAW File Processing – That Will Stand Out Adobe Lightroom users (not to mention users of Lightroom Alternatives). It also offers improved masking tools and JPEG XL support.
Affinity Publisher 2 offers the ability to merge multiple files as separate chapters, academic footnotes, and auto-flow tools. According to Serif, performance has also improved for those working on more complex projects.
Almost all of the features in the desktop apps make their way to the iPad version, with only a handful of exceptions. However, the user interface is specifically designed for touch-based digital art. It has led to the arrival of a radial control panel, a quick menu that can be accessed with a three-finger swipe, and a compact mode to make the most of the limited screen space.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to incorporate not only many of the new features our customers have asked for, but also a host of improvements in usability and workflow to make the apps more productive than ever. We believe that both old and new Affinity users will love it,” said Ashley Hewson, Serif’s Managing Director.
Affinity V2 tools are now available as standalone apps for a one-time fee – useful for users looking for a free plan Adobe Photoshop Alternative and alternatives to Adobe Illustrator. A newly launched Universal License unlocks all three apps for Windows, Mac and iPad devices for the discounted price.
However, Serif admitted that there are no upgrade routes for existing Affinity users; they will have to buy version 2 like everyone else.