DJ_Jaybee

Free transform / distort feature is essential, we need to know where on the roadmap this feature is. Posted in the other section but hopefully this is where we might get an update response. Without it this software is unsuitable for many tasks and hoped it would have been included in the last release as so many have requested.

I needed this feature just yesterday. I use Affinity Designer professionally and a video producer was asking for icons that I had distorted for perspective in vector format. I couldn't provide that, nor could I provide any explanation for why that wouldn't make them wonder why I wasn't using Adobe Illustrator. Please fix. The usability of Adobe is abysmal but the lacking features of Affinity result in very awkward professional situations. Other beta and open source vector programs have this. What's the hold up?

I prefer Affinity because it is faster and more intuitive. I find Adobe apps clunky, overpriced, and painful to use by comparison. In this case, I would have distorted the vectors in another app but a) I didn’t anticipate this graphic being requested for another use where vectors would be required. It was a simple landing page graphic. And b) going into vectorstyler, which I do use occasionally, is an awkward workflow that adds time to the task. Vectorstyler and Inkscape also have clunky interfaces by comparison. Affinity suits all of my needs 98% of the time, but that missing 2% is irritating because it shouldn’t be that difficult to add the missing key features. I do use alternative apps for other features too like auto trace. Still, it would be better to have these at the ready within the app. I handle incredibly high volume for multiple agencies. They value my efficiency, part of which is made possible by Affinity’s intuitive interface, which is reminiscent of Fireworks, a tool Adobe acquired and then killed, not realizing its efficiency advantages.

I would say Affinity Designer suits most needs for 80% of the time, but that missing 20% is irritating.  That 20% is what's missing to stay competitive.

We have no idea of whether these essential functions are on the road map and that is the frustrating part. I'm happy if bug fixes and smaller features are implemented in .x.x numbers as free updates and there if there is an upgrade price for the main version number 2.0 update - we expect would introduce substantial features and functionality improvements.
If it's this model that is holding it up, then if there is an interim update charge to implement some of the these essential missing functions - if it's reasonably priced, people would pay to for these and also keep the project moving...
If we could see the proposed features on the road map and vote, then at least we would know what's on the to-do list - and get and get feedback on what is considered important to address next in line.

Free transform / distort feature is essential, we need to know where on the roadmap this feature is. Posted in the other section but hopefully this is where we might get an update response. Without it this software is unsuitable for many tasks and hoped it would have been included in the last release as so many have requested.

We first got Affinity Designer when Adobe dropped Fireworks... as it's a great hybrid vector / pixel tool and whilst it doesn't do everything that Fireworks does / did we discovered that it's an excellent program for creation and editing.
Affinity Designer has quite a lot of features we consider much nicer than Fireworks and illustrator, so in using it over the years have grown to love it - and will generally prefer to use it... but for some work requirements it is still missing key features - mainly for me, the free distort tool. 
At the moment I would probably use Affinity Designer 70% of the time - if it had free distort tool that would potentially be able to use it 90% of the time.
At that point I would be wondering if we still need Adobe... which seemed to be what Adobe's latest customer survey was asking, so maybe they are getting worried that there is more competition now + people have grown to like other software when they've tried it. 
If they hadn't dropped Fireworks, we probably would never have started looking at other options and seen other software we really like working with.

We first got Affinity Designer when Adobe dropped Fireworks... as it's a great hybrid vector / pixel tool and whilst it doesn't do everything that Fireworks does / did we discovered that it's an excellent program for creation and editing.
Affinity Designer has quite a lot of features we consider much nicer than Fireworks and illustrator, so in using it over the years have grown to love it - and will generally prefer to use it... but for some work requirements it is still missing key features - mainly for me, the free distort tool. 
At the moment I would probably use Affinity Designer 70% of the time - if it had free distort tool that would potentially be able to use it 90% of the time.
At that point I would be wondering if we still need Adobe... which seemed to be what Adobe's latest customer survey was asking, so maybe they are getting worried that there is more competition now + people have grown to like other software when they've tried it. 
If they hadn't dropped Fireworks, we probably would never have started looking at other options and seen other software we really like working with.

It's essential. We are also paying for Adobe subscriptions as essential tools like a free distort tool still isn't included. If you have art work you've already created and want to add it into a perspective scene and need to retain vector editability to edit shading etc - with free distortion tool you can place this in the scene in seconds... if as a designer or illustrator you need do this - the first time you find it's missing, you would consider this tool essential.

Fascinating insight mate, great post 👌🏻

We first got Affinity Designer when Adobe dropped Fireworks... as it's a great hybrid vector / pixel tool and whilst it doesn't do everything that Fireworks does / did we discovered that it's an excellent program for creation and editing.
Affinity Designer has quite a lot of features we consider much nicer than Fireworks and illustrator, so in using it over the years have grown to love it - and will generally prefer to use it... but for some work requirements it is still missing key features - mainly for me, the free distort tool. 
At the moment I would probably use Affinity Designer 70% of the time - if it had free distort tool that would potentially be able to use it 90% of the time.
At that point I would be wondering if we still need Adobe... which seemed to be what Adobe's latest customer survey was asking, so maybe they are getting worried that there is more competition now + people have grown to like other software when they've tried it. 
If they hadn't dropped Fireworks, we probably would never have started looking at other options and seen other software we really like working with.

It's essential. We are also paying for Adobe subscriptions as essential tools like a free distort tool still isn't included. If you have art work you've already created and want to add it into a perspective scene and need to retain vector editability to edit shading etc - with free distortion tool you can place this in the scene in seconds... if as a designer or illustrator you need do this - the first time you find it's missing, you would consider this tool essential.

Free transform / distort feature is essential, we need to know where on the roadmap this feature is. Posted in the other section but hopefully this is where we might get an update response. Without it this software is unsuitable for many tasks and hoped it would have been included in the last release as so many have requested.

Free transform / distort feature is essential, we need to know where on the roadmap this feature is. Posted in the other section but hopefully this is where we might get an update response. Without it this software is unsuitable for many tasks and hoped it would have been included in the last release as so many have requested.

Any ETA on non destructive free transform, perspective and warp tools like those found illustrator/Photoshop?
 
 

+1 This feature would be really useful

We have no idea of whether these essential functions are on the road map and that is the frustrating part. I'm happy if bug fixes and smaller features are implemented in .x.x numbers as free updates and there if there is an upgrade price for the main version number 2.0 update - we expect would introduce substantial features and functionality improvements.
If it's this model that is holding it up, then if there is an interim update charge to implement some of the these essential missing functions - if it's reasonably priced, people would pay to for these and also keep the project moving...
If we could see the proposed features on the road map and vote, then at least we would know what's on the to-do list - and get and get feedback on what is considered important to address next in line.

I don't see how apps that don't have non destructive free transform, perspective and warp tools can replace Adobe .. When I first came across Designer I got excited as it was the nearest thing I'd seen to Adobe Fireworks, however the lack of non destructive free transform tools is a real problem and we've been waiting a looong time without a peep from the people at Affinity....

There are plenty of things that Fireworks did perfectly years ago - that in 2021 I’m still scratching around hoping for a proper alternative to use. Affinity Designer is close - and does some things better than Fireworks, but is still missing some essential functionality that would make us able to forget the F word for good. I understand importing Fireworks PNGs isn’t possible... and I’d still like the states / animated gif ability that Fireworks had... and export preview to adjust quality/ file size optimisation... but the free distortion tool is something that should really be part of the vector and pixel tools and is most important to me. Fireworks also had a plugin / extension ability that allowed other developers to create useful tools and functionality - maybe this should be introduced to Affinity Designer so that there is another way for additional features to be introduced.

There are plenty of things that Fireworks did perfectly years ago - that in 2021 I’m still scratching around hoping for a proper alternative to use. Affinity Designer is close - and does some things better than Fireworks, but is still missing some essential functionality that would make us able to forget the F word for good. I understand importing Fireworks PNGs isn’t possible... and I’d still like the states / animated gif ability that Fireworks had... and export preview to adjust quality/ file size optimisation... but the free distortion tool is something that should really be part of the vector and pixel tools and is most important to me. Fireworks also had a plugin / extension ability that allowed other developers to create useful tools and functionality - maybe this should be introduced to Affinity Designer so that there is another way for additional features to be introduced.

There are plenty of things that Fireworks did perfectly years ago - that in 2021 I’m still scratching around hoping for a proper alternative to use. Affinity Designer is close - and does some things better than Fireworks, but is still missing some essential functionality that would make us able to forget the F word for good. I understand importing Fireworks PNGs isn’t possible... and I’d still like the states / animated gif ability that Fireworks had... and export preview to adjust quality/ file size optimisation... but the free distortion tool is something that should really be part of the vector and pixel tools and is most important to me. Fireworks also had a plugin / extension ability that allowed other developers to create useful tools and functionality - maybe this should be introduced to Affinity Designer so that there is another way for additional features to be introduced.

Agreed 👏🏻

It is interesting that Affinity abandoned the idea of listening own audience. A lot of huge companies loses a touch with real customers and there are few projects that took the lesson and started to listen and implement what professional users wants. It is free knowledge for affinity. I remember when Adobe overslept with SKETCH and they made a Adobe XD. They created a place where people could give them ideas and we could vote for new implementations. With their budget and all of that feedback, they quickly made something that is valid alternative for UX/UI designers.
Affinity, think about it. If you are short on money open a KICKSTARTER or whatever, I would be happy to support you for a next generation of affinity or a clear roadmap. If you would really support your programs I bet there would be more PROs who would throw a extra coin on your products. If not, personally I think you are already outdated and in my opinion you’re becoming a very good entrance level casual software. I still manage to use it professionally (and it is love/hate relationship), but I know that I have to avoid a lot of ways to design stuff just because I know it is impossible to make it in affinity. I wish it wouldn’t be a thing. I already bought more then one set of your programs for my team and I'm willing to buy more, but please... Listen, Implement, be honest and communicate plans, be more transparent - as every new inventive "startup" should be, to give people ownership and to create a trust and hope for a change.

I agree and the silence is puzzling and makes me suspicious

Free transform / distort feature is essential, we need to know where on the roadmap this feature is. Posted in the other section but hopefully this is where we might get an update response. Without it this software is unsuitable for many tasks and hoped it would have been included in the last release as so many have requested.