[Linux user base keep growing !]

Thanks for sharing your viewpoint, it is interesting to read it. I wish you well and when you visit a coffee shop to make business decisions on the customers which go there, a good latte.

EDIT
No sarcasm was meant in the above text.
I bought the Steam Deck and was pleasantly surprised to be able to start up many beloved and used programs like Davinci Resolve among a 3D Application and other programs on it. As always depending on the use cases, Linux can be a viable solution.

[Linux user base keep growing !]

1 hour ago, LondonSquirrel said:

Because it was the first link I found. Also, two years old is not "such old Data". <2% is still not worth bothering with.

If the Linux desktop market was big enough, it would be worth it by itself. Try a little experiment: Write a business plan, along the lines of "we will ignore 98% of the desktop market and aim solely at the <2%".  See how far you get.

Two years is a lot in the tech world.
Depending on the product and wanted perceived image, you will deliberately do stuff which will be seen as gobsmackingly stupid for the outside world.
Aiming for specific target groups is nothing new.

According to the Steamsurvey;
Windows has over 96% of users (of ~500 Million customers)
Serif decided that it would help to cater first to the tiny minuscule less than 2% OSX crowd.
 

[Sketchbook: Timur Ariman]

Vectorartwork experiment.
Two diamond shapes with just two solid colours,some FX and a couple Live Filters.
Moving or recolouring one of those shapes takes a couple seconds for the UI refresh.


Edit: here is the used Layerstack.

[Linux user base keep growing !]

  

6 hours ago, LondonSquirrel said:

Cos the market is so small, practically nobody builds software for desktop Linux.

 

Admittedly two year old stats, but: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/05/linux-user-share-on-steam-hits-second-highest-percentage-in-years/

Quote: "it (Linux share of Valve users) seems to have rocketed back up to be at the second-highest point it's been in years with 1.14%". Rocketed! Rocketed up to a bit over 1%.

The market is just not there. It really isn't.

uhm, why use such old Data when the user statistics can always be taken directly from the source which gives newer data too?

https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/Steam-Hardware-Software-Survey-Welcome-to-Steam
steady  gains with statistics from one month ago, December 2023:
1.97% for Linux
1.63% for OSX
96.4% for Windows

For Games, the market is being build up by Valve/Steam with the sale of its portable PC/Console, the Steam Deck and its newest revision.
Quite a neat portable system, Arc Linux running on it. With Proton + Wine, you can besides Linux stuff use quite a lot of Windows based Games and Software on it.

[AI in Affinity]

11 hours ago, fiery.spirit said:

There's even software from Escape Motions called Rebelle that will simulate wet paper and let the "paint" run, blend, bleed, and bloom across the surface-- sometimes annoyingly realistically. 
None of that needs the latest AI image regeneration grift.

Rebelle has since v5 AI included for upscaling your works (because all those simulations are resource hungry and up-scaling the result with AI is less taxing), its called NanoPixel technology.

AI can be helpful if it´s used as an aid to overcome technical mishaps like fixing a too small set canvas or aiding in masking out flying hair etc.

[AI in Affinity]

47 minutes ago, iconoclast said:

Does it really upscale without a loss of quality? Even if the upscaled photos look very good - are they still photos anyway? Or are they, properly speaking, collages?

The Treachery of Images a 1929 painting from René Magritte
This is not a Pipe is written underneath

I upscaled it 4X with AI, It is still not a pipe, you can´t use the image on your end (phone,tablet/pc screen etc) as a pipe.


AI upscaling can sometimes fail and distorts results. As with every other technology,  to AI it applies too; it is best to be wary of using AI without vetting the results with the original data.

I am eager to know what AI systems Serif has vaguely said will come.

[Why won't Serif listen to customer needs and create a Lightroom alternative for us?]

I agree, best would be a DAM which keeps the folder/file structure intact and shows "unknown" files as is.

only other solution I know of is the file manager XYplorer but thats usually coupled with a lot of scripting and elbow grease to make it do what you need.

https://www.xyplorer.com/index.php

https://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?t=18442

 

[Why won't Serif listen to customer needs and create a Lightroom alternative for us?]

https://en.eagle.cool/article/757-how-to-import-images-with-iptc-attributes

The option of Importing images with IPTC keywords is available in Eagle.
A keyword list of ITCP to import doesn´t seem to be available there.

 

 

 

 

[Why won't Serif listen to customer needs and create a Lightroom alternative for us?]

if a mac and windows compatible DAM only solution is needed, Eagle is imo a good option.
https://en.eagle.cool/

 

 

[Quick FX Panel - on all Applications]

The Layer Effect window should stay on the last active panel, in the given example  Outer Shadow tab/window should still be visible when switching the Layer. Right now after clicking on another Layer, Outer Shadow "closes" switches to Bevel/emboss.

The behavior is unwanted and same issue as the Quick FX window closing its tabs bug which once was fixed.

 

The User wants the opened state no matter if its the Layer Effects or Quick FX  to remain the same.

As an example for the QuickFX situation, other programs give the Users the ability to disable/enable AutoClose UI Groups since sometimes both UI behaviors can be preferred by the user.

 

[Quick FX Panel - on all Applications]

2 minutes ago, carl123 said:

If you ignore the Quick FX Panel (for now) and access the FX dialog by using the FX icon in the Layers panel you will find that the FX dialog stays open until you close it.

Even when switching layers or documents

can you please record your own screen? https://www.screentogif.com/

here is what is happening on mine (win 11)

[Quick FX Panel - on all Applications]

It is a bug which reemerged, might be best to write in the above linked thread.

 

[Quick FX Panel - on all Applications]

If the FX stays the same for everything;

1. copy your Layer with the already applied FX. CTRL+C

2.select all the other images you want the FX applied to.

3. go to Edit > Paste FX

To erase already applied FX , copy from an layer without an applied FX and use Paste Fx on all Layers you want to remove it on.

Another workflow is to grab the FX and move it ontop of another Layer, seems to only work  on a per Layer basis.

EDIT; not to invalidate your complaint, having the edited FX expanded at all times sounds good for quick adjustments on other Layers.

 

 

 

[Capture One / Affinity Photo Plugin]

What you want is scripting capabilities + an API for Affinity Photo. The Serif Team has posted this;

 In other words; the Capture One Developers can do it themselves once the scripting feature is available.

[Is there AI support in the Affinity programs?]

37 minutes ago, R C-R said:

Not currently, but according to an interview (in Japanese) with Ash there will be an unspecified AI feature added at an unspecified time in the future.

By any chance, do you have a link to the interview and could you kindly provide it?

 

only thing about AI and ML i could find so far was on Facebook.

[Affinity vs Adobe vs Blender models of thinking]

Blender is supported by big companies due to low barrier of getting it + Adobe users use it in conjunction with Adobe products.

Same for other big supporters.

Logic dictates, you support what helps/ strengthens your Position.

 

The risk of Embrace, Extend and Extinguish from malicious sides always lingers around but the Foundation so far managed it well.

 

 

14 hours ago, barbarerik said:

you need to have one software for each technique you want do. I think you are missing opportunity to bring new strong multipurpose software. Instead you of copying same old capitalist model of thinking buy more specific programs.

This post was triggered by not to be able create motion blur in Affinity designer which is mind blowing. Do you really want me to jump from one software to an other because of blur??? guys pleas recalculate your direction. 

 

Have you looked into Studio Link?

https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/press/newsroom/serif-launches-affinity-publisher-with-stunning-new-studiolink-technology/

https://www.provideocoalition.com/studiolink-the-magic-technology-that-unites-all-affinity-suite-apps/

 

[Where is Pantone Viva Magenta]

21 minutes ago, pano said:

Why Serif is not making it's own palette with a different name?

Because, as far as I know, only makes sense when the Palette Colours are associated with their respective physical buckets of paint.
Those physical buckets of paint which you can more or less easily order and use in your printer.

[When does a picture bowser come?]

56 minutes ago, Photo amateur said:

If I want to know what's in the afph I have to save for example as a JPG to know what's in it.

you can enable thumbnail preview in settings which will show a small preview image of the file, no need to save an additional jpg.

Über Bearbeiten >Einstellungen... kann man Miniaturen mit Dokumenten speichern. aktivieren.

If you have the other programs too, repeat those steps in each program and thubmnail previews will be available for those files too.

 

Another thirdparty program other than what walt.farrell mentioned, which might be also useful to you and also shows thumbnails for afphoto afpub and afdesign files is Eagle.  https://en.eagle.cool/  It has no ability to edit raw images, it just neatly organizes files and references for you.
Edit; Eagle also allows replacing the preview image with custom thumbnails either via a file you made or from you clipboard (alt+ctrl+shift+T)

[Update the WebP library to the latest version to prevent possible vulnerability attacks]

I wonder if MSIX sandboxing helps here or not?

[How accepting would Affinity be to changing some of the standard UI/UX paradigms which are from Adobe in the 90's (outdated) ?]

1 hour ago, fde101 said:

I could easily arrange for a second monitor to use at home as well, but it would not be the same monitor I have at the office...

Some customers see benefit in calibrated screens and replicable light conditions in different rooms.
Your reply makes it clear, we have vastly different needs, wants maybe even use cases and views on what a productive environment should be.
Hopefully you get productive use out of your way and I wish you the best.

 

Of course, if your product is meant for the mass market and colour calibration is not needed (different ways to enjoy the product)
you could then think about ensuring the product is enjoyed by as many people as possible.
Sight impairment and colour blind people exist. For some projects it makes sense to also think about how it all looks when night mode of the screen is activated to ensure that the product is enjoyable in as many different light conditions as possible.

It´s a tad bit funny that some here are against UI scaling when Affinity already has a size change option included for the tool handle size.

 

[How accepting would Affinity be to changing some of the standard UI/UX paradigms which are from Adobe in the 90's (outdated) ?]

  

7 hours ago, fde101 said:

If they are different to the point that this can impact them, they should be working on solving this problem too.

(And yes, I know that won't actually happen any time soon - but that doesn't change the fact that it is the ideal).

unless humanity is in a hivemind, I can´t expect that developers who don´t know of each other could solve how big their fonts and icons are when I use their programs regularly side by side.
As I tried to write, having UI sliders per program is great so I can individually change the UI.
Some advanced programs allow UI scaling within their program on a granular level, each individual part of their programs can be scaled.
You just hover via your mouse over an UI area and use CTRL + Middle mouse pressed while doing an up/down movement with your mouse.
That ability is cool and would for Affinity Photo make sense for windows like Library,Layers,Brushes etc.
 

6 hours ago, Pšenda said:

So do you find it best to have to set up all the applications you use every time you connect and disconnect the monitor? Well, I don't - I don't really consider doing this four times a day to be the best solution.

The bold in italic marked is confusing, how often do you do that? I rarely if ever connect/disconnect my monitors.
Why would I even willingly connect disconnect my stationary monitors? Only scenario where doing so makes sense is when recording a clip with an external capture card.

A good program saves settings ,UI changes etc in a small file and reads that in while starting up.

Some programs which I dearly love and use regularly have an integrated and OS independent UI slider.
Just think about individual scaling in a browser, sometimes you want to scale a site or couple sites individually, same with programs.

Os wide scaling can make sense when you jump between 1080p, 4K,8k etc. but otherwise?  it´s imo bad practice to force one size fits all.
The forum sometimes gets threads opened by people which are wondering why their programs have issues due to OS wide UI scaling.
Additionally when in a productive environment, you absolutely do not want OS wide scaling.
OS wide scaling can take quite some time to do its thing and potentially crashes GPU intensive programs.

[How accepting would Affinity be to changing some of the standard UI/UX paradigms which are from Adobe in the 90's (outdated) ?]

4 hours ago, Pšenda said:

I can't imagine why anyone would want to set up each app separately

I do, best are programs which have a UI scaling slider.
Sometimes the UI designs are vastly different and a catch all be all just can´t do justice on homogenizing the UI size throughout a multi program pipeline.
 

[We need to talk about artificial intelligence.]

On 8/26/2023 at 8:31 PM, Steve Redmond said:

The book ''Who stole my cheese' seems appropriate here especially those who are poo pooing Generative AI.  Missed opportunities.  

your interpretation of the book title is a textbook freudian slip and very fitting especially with Adobes legal/PR fiasco(s).
The correct title of that book is "Who Moved My Cheese?"

[We need to talk about artificial intelligence.]

 

 

And so it begins.
Adobes big marketing claims of "its all legally backed up" are turning to dust.
Question is; will Adobe honor its claims of legally compensating Artists they stole from and compensate them against Adobe?

Quote

Adobe is so confident in Firefly’s ability to respect creators’ copyrighted images that it’ll legally compensate businesses if they’re sued for copyright infringement over any images its tool creates.

[We need to talk about artificial intelligence.]

On 7/25/2023 at 11:00 AM, Stepaan said:

(except from Adobe, which trains its AI on its own photo stock and has everything legally backed up

https://www.fastcompany.com/90906560/adobe-feels-so-confident-its-firefly-generative-ai-wont-breach-copyright-itll-cover-your-legal-bills

They just say to cover legal bills you might get when using their products or is there a newer article/statment out there?
 

Quote

Adobe is so confident in Firefly’s ability to respect creators’ copyrighted images that it’ll legally compensate businesses if they’re sued for copyright infringement over any images its tool creates.