NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => Processing & Publication => Topic started by: Gary on October 08, 2015, 03:46:47

Title: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: Gary on October 08, 2015, 03:46:47
Anybody using it? And if so, do you like it or not like it?
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: Fons Baerken on October 08, 2015, 06:55:09
What do you mean, Gary?
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: Gary on October 08, 2015, 07:18:21
What do you mean, Gary?

Affinity is a photo processing program that has been out for about a year.  I was wondering if anybody here has been using it and their opinion of the program.
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: smusesuse on October 08, 2015, 09:48:38
I started using the beta version and consequently bought the software when they released it. So far I don't like it at all, but I have to admit that I have practically no experience with photo editing software and I believe affinity was designed for professionals, not beginners. Anyhow, I encountered things that simply didn't work (blemish removal) or that I couldn't find at all (inpainting brush). Not sure whether this is to be blamed on the software or my intelligence. ;) I updated it recently, so I should give it another try.
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: elsa hoffmann on October 08, 2015, 09:55:40
If I understand correctly - its a graphic design program and not a photo editing program?
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: smusesuse on October 08, 2015, 10:02:17
Well, there's Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo. I was talking about the latter.
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: Fons Baerken on October 08, 2015, 10:12:28
for the mac only
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: Gary on October 08, 2015, 15:58:48
Thank you Susanne. At $39, (the special limited time offer), it is worth a look I guess. Yes, it is Mac only.
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: HCS on October 10, 2015, 12:06:43
I also purchased the program, indeed called Affinity Photo.

Suse, you really need to hang in there for a while, because indeed it has a lot of potential. They are aiming for a photoshop replacement and i think they're getting quite close already. Some things are quite hidden (as they are in PS), so a look around their forums and documentation online does really help.

I also have Pixelmator, which is nice, but can't do things PS (and now Affinity) can do, like L*a*b* and channels. Other than that, it is a bit easier to start using, but has a really different approach to the UI.

Anyway, i intend to stick with Affinity, because they'll keep on adding to the already great feature set, something i've found out Pixelmator (or others out there) aren't really doing.
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: smusesuse on October 10, 2015, 13:56:46
I haven't given up completely on it yet, Hans. But it does frustrate me. I tried the "just play with everything" approach but certain tools don't seem to work? Like the aforementioned blemish removal - I've watched tutorials, followed every step, nothing. I even handed my macbook over to Jakov once to give it a try. I really have no idea what's going wrong there.
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: Gary on October 10, 2015, 17:34:57
I have CS6, Aperture, PhotoNinja, Capture 1, et al. I like PhotoNinja, but it slows down to a snail's pace when you load it up with a ton of files and I tend to shoot a ton of files. I like Aperture, but it is no longer being supported. Capture 1 is very good, but for some reason I'm, not bonding with it (probably one of those vicious circles things ... I'm not bonding because I'm not using it ... I'm not using it because I'm not bonding ...). So I pick up Affinity and see what happens. PS works, but I just hate Adobe ... I've hated Adobe for decades. Presently my work flow is Aperture for RAW conversion and global adjustments and PS for final polishing and specific area manipulations.
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: HCS on October 10, 2015, 21:03:22
I have CS6, Aperture, PhotoNinja, Capture 1, et al. I like PhotoNinja, but it slows down to a snail's pace when you load it up with a ton of files and I tend to shoot a ton of files. I like Aperture, but it is no longer being supported. Capture 1 is very good, but for some reason I'm, not bonding with it (probably one of those vicious circles things ... I'm not bonding because I'm not using it ... I'm not using it because I'm not bonding ...). So I pick up Affinity and see what happens. PS works, but I just hate Adobe ... I've hated Adobe for decades. Presently my work flow is Aperture for RAW conversion and global adjustments and PS for final polishing and specific area manipulations.

I can't get to grips with the raw functionality and quality of Affinity. I've also disliked adobe long enough to search around to find proper replacements.

I'd really give C1 another good try. Hang in there for a while, it's worth it if you ask me.

Suse, what's wrong in that case i don't know. I'm not an expert in Affinity (nor any kind of post processing), but in case we meet up again any time soon, we could have a look. Did you visit their forum and online documentation?
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: Sash on October 17, 2015, 14:09:20
I have it, but almost never use it, Affinity has a modern interface and some cool tools and I find it useful when (very rarely) I need to remove a subject or do some other tricks. But I never use it for good old basic editing like curves, clarity, shadows and highlights, noise and sharpness etc,. since here it can not even hold a candle to CaptureOne. C1 oozes professional quality, Affinity feels amateurish in comparison despite all its impressive tools and options. Some tools definitely need further polishing. But that is my feeling, your mileage can vary.
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: Andrea B. on October 17, 2015, 19:59:08
I've made some progress with the Affinity Developer mode. I think Affinity looks promising as a Photoshop replacement. However, I am so used to easy edits with NX2, that everything else is grindingly tedious by comparison particularly when it comes to selection of areas to which edits are applied.

Suse, this winter when things get slow and I'm stuck indoors, I'll work more on learning Affinity and maybe we can figure out some stuff, OK? I'm hoping some good tutorials appear soon. Actually they may already be out there, but I have not had time to look.
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: HCS on October 17, 2015, 20:06:49
... Actually they may already be out there, but I have not had time to look.

Not really advanced yet, but some stuff is there: https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/photo/
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: PeterN on October 17, 2015, 21:54:57
I have it and don't use it.

The problem with most editing software is the lack of a good library program. I also have C1 and a couple of others but I find LR quite unique in terms of speed, features and database capabilities. I would replace PS by Affinity or any other program if there is a smoothless interface with LR.


Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: armando_m on August 22, 2017, 21:14:10
I'm downloading the affinity windows trial , will see how it works for me

I have not used LR for a while now ...
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: armando_m on August 24, 2017, 15:41:47
update:

their RAW conversion - shadow recovery is not up to my expectations, and the affinity suggestion to use shadow recovery on the already converted file still is not close to what can be accomplished with ACR or CNX2

I have uninstalled their trial
Title: Re: Affinity Anyone ... ?
Post by: Anthony on August 24, 2017, 22:20:39
Armando, interesting, I came to the conclusion that their raw conversation was not good for Fuji files.

However, Affinity has potential as a Photoshop alternative, although it has not yet tempted me to jump.