Swat

If you let us know where your raw files come from, we could advise further, you have to be careful with the latest tech because on windows Affinity Photo only uses Serif Labs, on mac we also have the Apple (Core Image RAW).
The Serif Labs relies on LibRAW and 2.10 is using the latest stable version 0.21.1 of LibRAW.
 

That's always the best way, comparing both by trying them side-by-side out and doing something with them as you would then also usually on a daily usage basis!
I have and use both PSE & APh, though older versions of both due to older computer hardware & OS restrictions. - For PSE I also make some use of the Elements+ and ElementsXXL add-ons, which do enhance the standard PSE version and reuses a bunch of additional PS only features here then. Though Elements+, at least on my older systems here, slows an older PSE version performance-wise slightly a little bit down (...on that older less mem outdated hardware I run this on).

Since PE is primarily a DAM (with basic editing functions that are more than sufficient for many users), the comparison with APhoto is difficult, because it has no DAM functions, but the editing functions are much better. So you have to specify whether editing functions or DAM functions are important to you.

DAM = Digital Asset Management: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_asset_management
Photoshop Elements is a graphics editor for photographers, image editors and hobbyists. It contains most of the features of the professional version but with fewer and simpler options. The program allows users to create, edit, organise and share images. Elements Organiser is the digital asset management app for Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements.

Well if it is just for RAW processing and applying quick image manipulations and applying some add-ons etc. IMO Adobe PSE is all you need here. - Adobe's Camera RAW will generally give better results for a bunch of cam raws than APh right out of the box. And for hobbyists who have and shoot a lot of images, their included imaging cataloging app part is quite good & useful. Also several PSE filters and the like work overall much better and do offer more quick turn arounds than Affinity counterparts. Another point PSE Actions are much more powerful and useful than the APh Macro facility with it's many limitations.
 

Wow! Version 2 of Affinity is here and with a 40% discount!

Wow! Version 2 of Affinity is here and with a 40% discount!

Oh hello fine people! I've been around for a little while and realise I never introduced myself — how rude! haha 
I'm Miriam. I live and work in Cape Town, South Africa. I'm a surface pattern designer, illustrator, and graphic designer. I discovered the Affinity apps about 2 years ago now and I've never looked back! I have a rescue doglet called Josie, who monitors my working hours closer than a micromanager!
I just wanted to say hello! So, um, hello!!

Hi, I checked it 🙂 and I will definitely buy one set, I like it.

Hello everyone,
My name is Julie and I’m an architect/illustrator living in Sweden. I recently started to illustrate the architecture of the city I live in. Throughout high school and university I was creating digital art in Adobe - mostly photo manipulation and presentations. It was only after graduating that I discovered illustration and the possibility to combine vector and pixel in Affinity Designer.
In 2020 I dove into the Affinity Suite on both desktop and iPad. To smoothen the transition from Adobe and to improve my workflow (especially on the iPad), I created my own vinyl keyboard shortcut stickers for Affinity. I have been using the German version of the stickers since I made the switch. Last year I also made an English version with slight improvements. The keyboard stickers are available on my website in case you want to check them out:
https://arkeytekt.com

Not exactly new here, but returning after a pretty long absence. I have just updated my copy of Affinity Photo (purchased back in 2016). Some members will remember me from the old Serif forums (I don't think I need to hide the fact that I beta tested Serif software for many years and am someone who grew up near Nottingham).
After 31 years as a teacher, I have now retired and intend getting my DSLR out of mothballs ready to start learning how to use it properly. I'm looking to join a local camera club and hope to champion Affinity Photo as I learn to use it.
So, a big "Hello again!" to those I already know and "Hi!" to those I don't. 😄

Hei! I’m Voita. I am a freelance designer and illustrator, also work as a content creator for Prusa Research (yes, 3D printers). Everyone in our team has been using Adobe products for a long time. I took a different path and switched to Affinity products a long time ago, with which I have been satisfied for many years. And I must say that this software makes my work much easier, compared to Adobe.  I run Affinity products on all available platforms.  However, Affinity Designer for iPad is something for me 😏.

Greetings.
I am Bob Harvey, long-term Serif user, who has decided to adopt the Affinity brand.  I have been using Darktable for a while to process raw images and do other stuff, but I like to have a range of tools to hand so I have taken the 50% price offer for Affinity.  
 
I live in Lincolnshire, and most of my photos go on the Geograph Project web site, where my profile is https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/8272 , and where I have a number of projects, such as
My ongoing Covid-19 photodiary A local photodiary Occasional Blogs I have developed an interest in Panoramas, for which I have found no software better than Microsoft ICE, but I am going to give Affinity a whirl too.
Here is one of Brean Down, for example

 
 

Greetings to all who dwell here. Went seeking refuge from the cult of Adobe and found Affinity. I'm in heaven! Love the software, looking forward to using the tablet versions, especially. Now can anyone tell me how to add and avatar? I really don't want to be a giant B forever

Hello to everyone. My name is Thomas J Herring from Portland Oregon in the USA. I’ve used the Adobe products off and on since the mid nineties, I think. It’s been so long that I’ve forgot. Anyway I had to use the Adobe cloud system and realized I wasn’t making enough money to justify using it but like a lot of users, I was stuck. Then Adobe decided to cut me off because my MacBook and IPad were 2008 and 2014 and outdated. A found Affinity when I stumbled onto J Cristina’s YouTube channel about cutting the chord to Adobe. I checked you out and went for it. I have all three Affinity software programs to go on my new MacBook Air and IPad.
What a change! I’m still experimenting on them. For now I’m working on the Designer program. It runs circles around Illustrator! I bought the Photo and Designer books and use the videos to help me figure things out. So far I love this. Thank you and and keep up the great work. I hope to do step by step artwork on YouTube someday using your product. Just do me a favor and don’t mess up a good thing by following Adobe business practice. What you have could go a long ways. I even downloaded Devinci Resolve for my animation work. If everything goes well I’m never going back to Adobe again.
 
TJ Herring 

Hi everyone. I'm Cazz from St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, UK.
For many years, I have been using Serif Craft Artist Professional (I still use it to this day on another computer - it's a great piece of software. 
I resisted making the jump to Affinity Designer as programs such as Adobe Illustrator scare me lol, and in all honesty, AD did (does) too. I have no graphic design qualifications and am all self taught. 
So why did I take the plunge? Well, I have plenty of time on my hands for a few weeks now due to a broken ankle and hate not doing anything. 
So here I am and here's my first design using some lovely smoke & fog brushes kindly uploaded by a member a while ago (apologies, I can't remember their name).
Looking forward to learning more ....
 
Let the journey commence.......................................

@Darision, @Tremble, @DoubleAACE, @Hendrin & @Fabrício O. L.
Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums     &  

Hi everyone. I am new to this forum. Nice to be here 

New User trying to learn Affinity after decades of Freehand. I built an Affinity doc using tutorial support, very happy with it, then hit a wrong key and lost all my hard work. Tried "control z" tried "delete" tried to get back to the file I was working on. I think the error was hitting "new artboard" ... I could not escape nor return to my file, which was lost to the ages. Speaking of ages, I am 77, have been a Freehand lover since early '80s, have MX on my old computer. Newer computer Mogave 10.14.6 accepted Affinity and works fine. Except of course of the difficulty I just outlined. 

Hi everyone,
my name is Swat, I live in Czech Republic and I am new to Affinity.
I worked as a freelance programmer and computer technician, now I'm retired.
I like photography and 3D printing and maybe 1000 other things
I look forward to learning how to use Affinity Designer, and I hope to find more ideas on this forum.
Swat

Hey folks! I'm TJ,  you can find me everywhere online by /melior64
I've been using Adobe since 2005 but am in the process of transitioning over to Affinity! I'm blown away by the free trial of Designer and am part way through my trial of Photo. Great to be here and looking forward to learning some great stuff!
I'm super friendly so send me a message on any platform

So far, I'm just looking around, so the nuances in the new version of Designer don't tell me much - but I'm very happy when the software creator cares about his product and user satisfaction. All the best!
Swat

All Readers
Please do not report bugs in this announcement thread. 
All bugs in Affinity Publisher for Windows need to go here https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/forum/82-publisher-bugs-found-on-windows/

Just for those who care - a few minutes ago I finally put my old Xara Xtreme in a drawer and bought Affinity Designer. I haven't tested the Designer for too long, but I believe I made the right choice. 
Swat

I am one of them, the 30 day deadline is a great attraction for me, but this your offer sounds very good, thank you for the information.