albertkinng

I hold a Master's degree in Commercial Arts and Design, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Art History and Graphic Communications. However, the tools I currently use in my work were not part of my formal education. My expertise lies in old-school software like Photoshop, Freehand, Page Maker, and Quark Xpress. What sets me apart from the new generation of graphic designers is my experience of being there when copy-pasting was a manual process. This real-world experience allows me to create and compare with a depth of understanding that others may lack. Despite my educational background, I believe that graphic designers without formal education should not be treated as inferior. Many of them possess impressive skills that could make me question my own accomplishments. Education certainly has its merits in today's world, but it is not a guarantee of success in the field of graphic design. In fact, platforms like YouTube have nurtured numerous talented designers who make a comfortable living from their craft.

I quit all of them.

This is precisely what I mean. In my experience, buyers often believe that the original product is superior and will attempt to "fix" the one they purchased. Canva is well-known for its simplicity, so I anticipate that this will be their initial approach. Nevertheless, all of this remains speculative.

Richer! …And I have experience in similar corporate settings. Please wait six months and be patient. Some companies are prepared after six months, while others may take a year. Canva appears to be a well-organized company. I believe that in six months, they will have everything sorted out—what stays, what goes, and the dos and don'ts for Affinity. This is speculative, but if these changes benefit Canva users, don't be surprised if our apps are slightly simplified after an update. I'm confident that if this occurs, a Pro version will likely be offered at a price.

It’s called Corel Vector now. Same will happen to Affinity. Canva Designer, Canva Photo and Canva Publisher. Accepting that fact will bring you peace of mind. https://www.coreldraw.com/en/product/vector/

yes. OMG, yes! It drives me insane! Amen! They even sell templates online! In PSD!!! really??

Why? I'm enjoying every minute of it! You can meet the real hard core fans here! The rest will pay monthly no matter what! 😂

I want to emphasize that I truly value the talent within the graphic design industry. I have personally been working in this field for a long time, starting off by manually adjusting lenses inside a photomechanic camera that seemed as large as closing a submarine door! However, one of the challenges we face today is that many people are solely focused on digital media, particularly social networks and websites, leaving behind the importance of printshops. These printshops still follow the same procedures from the 80s, albeit with better machines, but unfortunately, they often encounter the same demands from designers. Just last week, I sent a 6 spot color separation PDF as requested, only to receive a call from an intermediary who claimed that all the files were black. It became evident to me that this individual was positioned in a department where they lacked a comprehensive understanding of the workflows and technicalities involved. I simply advised them to forward the files to the print department, reassuring them that those professionals would know how to handle the situation. Although this response was not well-received, the end product turned out to be flawlessly beautiful. Recalling a similar incident from last year, I approached a supposedly experienced Art Director and inquired whether they were familiar with the picas measurements for file accuracy. To my surprise, they had no idea what I was referring to. It is disheartening to encounter individuals with college degrees who lack even the basic understanding of the graphic design industry. To illustrate this point further, my 15-year-old daughter recently received a Photoshop Batch from a professional user via email. However, she lacks the knowledge and skills to use Photoshop effectively. This highlights the issue we face as true professionals within the industry. We are being negatively impacted by a new generation of "Canva users" who view graphic design as merely "generating images" and moving clipart around. What we truly need are companies like Affinity that continue to support and cater to us, the professionals who have dedicated our careers to this field. It is disheartening to witness the industry being dumbed down for the sake of the new generation, who are willing to pay a monthly fee for quick and effortless design apps. Our expertise, knowledge, and commitment should not be undervalued or overlooked.

More like taking the puppy, putting him under anesthesia, performing surgery to add a cat's head in front of the children, then using electricity to revive him while they cry and the cat cries for help, with the dog's head unresponsive.

I revisited the latest posts and was astounded to find that this forum has already reached the stage where Adobe is set to acquire Canva. How did the forum evolve to reach such a critical juncture?

I used to be a fan of PageMaker. QuarkXPress was reigning supreme at that time and, consequently, I was obligated to learn and use it. However, PageMaker was the one I secretly adored all along.

Canva, like Adobe, is indispensable in the design business. Although I don't have a paid account, my primary focus is Brand Management and Unlimited Graphic Design for medium and large companies with marketing departments and agency partnerships. For instance, I create 50 artboards on Affinity Designer, export them as a single PDF, then upload them to Canva. Within Canva, I add placeholders for images so that my clients, who use Canva and appreciate its features, can easily customize the content. Once the templates are ready, I share a link on their portals for them to transfer the project to their accounts. I utilize Canva in this manner, solely for sharing projects that require customization by clients..

Alright, let's clarify. Affinity has ceased to exist in its previous form. Only its name remains. Canva now dictates what stays and what goes. Even if the CEO were to declare otherwise, the truth is straightforward: Canva acquired Affinity, granting it supremacy. Affinity no longer holds sway. Consequently, any future software updates will likely reflect Canva's influence and preferences.

They once attempted to prevent other software from appropriating PostScript technology, a move that could be considered malevolent.

True, I'm ready for Canva Designer, Canva Photo and Canva Publisher.

Just for laughs 🤣

Believe it or not, I continue to work with local print shops that remarkably still rely on PowerMac G4s running macOS 9 to operate all their outdated machinery. They've even kept a stash of brand-new, old Macs on standby, just in case their current ones give out. This is no fabrication. The Scanners are hilarious!

I think I did the same for a while. Why QX needed to be that complicated at that time!?

As a devoted user and enthusiast, I've always shown immense loyalty to the apps I use, sticking with them through thick and thin. It took a significant amount of frustration for me to even consider switching platforms. My journey with Adobe began in 1994, but the introduction of Creative Cloud (CC) marked the beginning of my dissatisfaction. After a year of using CC, I was troubled by the realization that discontinuing my payment would mean losing access to all my cloud-saved documents and apps. This felt like Adobe was coercing me into a perpetual subscription, prompting me to explore alternatives. I experimented with several apps like Graphic for vector work, Pixelmator for raster graphics, Rapidweaver for web development, and iStudio Publisher, but initially, they didn't quite measure up. However, when Adobe bluntly announced a price increase, essentially forcing users to accept the hike or lose their data, it was the last straw for me. I canceled my subscription and began a frantic search for replacements. Options ranged from CorelDraw to running Adobe CS6 on older Macs—I was desperate. Serif, at the time, had a tarnished reputation, known for dated design apps that seemed more suited for crafting clipart or printing business cards on home printers. Everything changed with the debut of Affinity Designer. Though I approached it with skepticism, it became clear that this was the lifeline my business needed. Affinity Designer, alongside Pixelmator, allowed me to continue servicing my clients, gradually integrating other Affinity tools until my business regained its footing. While many flock to Canva, viewing it as user-friendly, I find it lacks the professional robustness necessary for serious design work, often yielding amateurish, uniform results. The acquisition of Affinity by Canva was an astonishing development, raising concerns that the excellence I had come to rely on might be diluted by Canva's more populist, less professional approach. Yet, part of me hopes that perhaps Affinity's influence could steer Canva towards becoming a formidable contender to Adobe, reshaping the landscape of design tools. Despite these uncertainties, my commitment to Affinity remains unwavering. These tools have been indispensable to my livelihood, and I'm prepared to stand by them until given a reason to do otherwise, much like my eventual departure from Adobe.

I believe you.

Thank you! I appreciate it.

Affinity has posted a four-point pledge promising that nothing will change. This statement is quite vague and can be interpreted in various ways. For instance, if they claim that Affinity apps will always be offered with a one-time payment, this might give rise to "Affinity Classic" apps that adhere to this business model, while new applications—hypothetically named "Canva Designer," "Canva Photo," and "Canva Publisher"—could adopt a subscription-based model instead. We should approach these promises cautiously. Now that the deal is complete and Affinity has been acquired by Canva, it's inevitable that Canva will eventually advance their corporate strategy through this new acquisition. Even Affinity's executives may be uncertain about the new ownership's intentions. I have witnessed the repercussions of major corporate acquisitions, such as CBS Radio purchasing a communications business in Tampa Bay and Univision acquiring a TV network in Orlando, Florida. In both instances, within six months, over 200 employees were let go, departments dissolved, projects merged, and products streamlined for increased profitability. Ultimately, none retained their original identity; even senior managers were left in the dark about the eventual outcomes. It's reasonable to anticipate that we'll ultimately see three applications inspired by Affinity's original suite, but now enhanced with collaborative and AI features, and offered to us at an annual loyalty price. The choice to stay with Canva's new productivity lineup will be ours to make. Let's savor the final moments of what we once knew. For me, those were ten years filled with exceptional applications and a vibrant community. Now, I must take a deep breath, brace myself, and await what's to come.

Clearly, the new boss is paving the way for newcomers. Many Canva users are unfamiliar with Affinity, so they require tutorials to grasp how to use a professional design app. Step by step, my friend—step by step.

I successfully resolved the issue by using Publisher and then transferred back to Designer where it now functions flawlessly! Allow me to demonstrate an alternative method to achieve the same result without relying on Publisher. My intention is to expand upon the existing features, introduce various layouts, and create a highly professional and efficient project. Once completed, I aim to offer this template on Gumroad with utmost confidence that Affinity Designer users will encounter no obstacles while utilizing it.