What is Affinity Photo?
Affinity Photo is a professional image editing software developed by Serif for macOS, Windows, and iOS. It offers powerful Photoshop-like tools and features for advanced photo manipulation and compositing at a one-time cost of $50 for the desktop app.
Key features include a non-destructive workflow using layers, unlimited undos, a wide array of retouching tools, RAW editing, HDR merge, panorama stitching, painting and drawing tools, and end-to-end color management. Affinity Photo also utilizes the power of the GPU for smoother performance.
Photographers, designers, and digital artists looking for an affordable alternative to subscription-based Creative Cloud apps have embraced Affinity Photo for its professional-grade capabilities without the monthly costs. While not a full replacement for Photoshop in all aspects, Affinity Photo offers sophisticated photo editing and image creation for a fraction of the price.
Technical characteristics
- Layers and masks: Unlimited layers and layer masks for non-destructive editing
- Drawing/painting: Brushes, pencils, clone tool, airbrush, ink tool with customizable dynamics
- Filters and Effects: Over 190 built-in filters and effects like blur, enhance, distort, artistic, and more
- File size handling: Can work with images of any resolution and size, only limited by system RAM
Features
Advantages
- Available across platforms – It runs on Linux, Windows, and Mac, so you can use the same software and files across different systems.
- Powerful tools – GIMP has an extensive toolbox and filters comparable to expensive commercial suites like Photoshop. Great for detailed photo retouching.
- Extensible and scriptable – Plugins expand its capabilities. Scripting allows automating repetitive tasks.
Disadvantages
- Non-standard shortcuts – Default keyboard shortcuts differ from Photoshop, which users need to adjust to.
- Limited RAW support – Good for editing RAW photos, but lacks advanced RAW processing features.
- Large file handling – Processing very large resolution images can be slow or limited by RAM.
What’s new
- HEIF image format support
- Bolster filter to adjust image depth
- Improved color management with display profiles
- Ability to rotate brushes
System Requirements Affinity Photo for PC
- Operating System: Works on Windows 7 or newer, macOS 10.10 Yosemite or later, Linux distributions with GTK+ 3.22 or above.
- Processor: Intel Pentium 4, Apple Silicon, or compatible 64-bit dual core 2GHz processor or better recommended.
- RAM: Minimum 2GB RAM required, 4-8GB recommended for complex workflows.
- Storage: Takes up around 200MB, but need additional space for working with image files. At least 20GB free space recommended.
How to Install Professional Photo Editing Software
- Install
Run the downloaded installer (.exe, .dmg, etc) file and follow the installation wizard prompts. Accept default options.
- Finalize
On Windows, the installer may prompt you to install GTK+ dependencies. Allow this installation to complete.
- Launch
Locate GIMP in your applications menu and launch the software after installation finishes
Basic functions
- Paint Tools – Brushes, pencil, airbrush, clone stamp etc. for drawing, painting, and retouching images.
- Transform Tools – Scale, rotate, flip, crop, perspective tools to transform images and layers.
- Color Tools – Color picker, palettes, curves, levels, brightness-contrast for color adjustments.
Activation keys
- B66AE-G48I6-D1RS9
- 8GAFJ-4377I-P3RC6
- 83CBG-QP6AS-GBSLB
- P91LK-D7SB8-RT9JN
Program Activation Method
- Install GIMP – Run the installer and follow the installation wizard prompts to install GIMP on your computer.
- Launch GIMP – Locate GIMP in your applications menu and open the program.
- Check for Updates – In GIMP, go to Help > Update GIMP to check if any updates are available. Install updates.
Alternatives to Affinity Photo
- Photopea – Advanced browser-based editor supporting PSD files. Entirely free to use with no downloads or signup required.
- Krita – Free digital painting and illustration app good for artists and texture painters. More focused on drawing than photo editing.
- Capture One – Specialized RAW photo editor with advanced color grading tools. 30-day free trial available.
FAQ
A: Yes, Affinity Photo is available for both macOS and Windows platforms. You only need to purchase it once to use the same license on Mac and PC.
A: It supports PSD, JPEG, PNG, SVG, TIFF, PDF, EPS, EXR and other common formats. It can open and save Photoshop PSD files making workflow with Photoshop easy.
A: Affinity Photo is fully available on iPadOS as well. This allows working across Mac, Windows, and iPad with one purchase. The user interface is optimized for touch on iPad.
Conclusion – Download Affinity Photo
In conclusion, Affinity Photo is a powerful and versatile photo editing software that is specifically engineered for creative and photography professionals. The latest version of Affinity Photo can be downloaded from the website and is a full-blown product that allows users to edit and retouch images with full control.
With its multi-layered composition feature, users can create complex and detailed compositions with ease. The preview workspace in Affinity Photo allows for instant editing and retouching of multi-layered compositions. This software also includes Affinity Publisher and Affinity Designer, making it a comprehensive suite of tools for creative professionals.
With its advanced features and high-performance engine, Affinity Photo is a great alternative to Adobe Photoshop for raster editing. It also offers powerful tools for adjusting shadows and highlights, allowing users to bring out the full potential of their images.