raptor

We might soon be using Affinity apps on Linux via Windows virtualization with GPU passthrough without any lag or hitches (with native-like performance). These guys are hard at work on seamless Windows virtualization under Linux desktop: Windows OS is running in its own window side by side with Linux applications (no host OS - guest OS switching) while using GPU passthrough. This would allow us to use Windows apps without any (significant) performance penalty on Linux and run it isolated from the Internet - so no telemetry/data mining/spying/lack of user control. Linux would be the base system (also for any Internet activities) and the Windows apps without any real alternative would run via this technology. This is something I want to try when I get a new computer. High-core-count Ryzens or new Intel CPUs should be good for this. I am glad that AMD caused high-core-count CPUs to move into mainstream and get cheaper. Of course it might not be as seamless as running the native Linux app but it looks pretty promising. I will donate at least a few dollars to the main guy working on this project.

Hi, I too have requested this and other features regarding lock/unlock about year ago - https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/24994-better-lockunlock-workflow-gui-skinning-and-other-suggestions/#comment-118274 . At least we now have the Unlock All command. But it is still not enough for me because it is destructive - it doesn't retain the memory of your strategically locked items and doesn't allow you to lock the items again once you are done with editing. Serif should really add non-destructive Unlock All (= Unlock All temporarily). Xara (see the second GIF in the linked post) has had this very elegant feature for a long time (temporary Unlock All and temporary Show all). It is an essential feature for me and once you try it for a while every other layer based 2D software that doesn't have something similar seems very slow and unwieldy. Sadly Xara has some huge problems as far as vector editing and precision so I am looking more and more at Affinity Designer. I hope Serif will really start to make the user experience of the Affinity apps much better and more elegant. As far as UX Affinity apps have been really lacking a lot of smart features and thought-out ways since the launch of the project - up until several days ago we even haven't had the basic destructive "Unlock All"! I was very surprised by this when I first tried the Windows beta. I had expected the complete opposite since it was a brand new software and Serif could learn from mistakes of other 2D software makers and countless wishes of users (for example Illustrator users had requested better lock/unlock workflows for ages). I am going to post a new feature request regarding the "temporary Unlock all" and "temp. Show All" soon. I posted the previous thread in the beta section, it is old now and mixed with other requests. I also want to make better demo videos. You can try these two workarounds I discovered: workaround 1) Switch the "View mode" to "Outline". Outline mode allows you to select even locked object directly on the canvas. The catch: it doesn't work every time. I think bitmap images get ignored and something else might as well. workaround 2) Click Layers > "Unlock All". Select the desired object (let's call it "object-X") on canvas. It should get automatically selected and shown at the Layers palette. Remember its position in the Layers palette - it should be at the bottom of the visible part of the list - as the last fully visible item (if you don't have a lot of items in the list it might be higher). You can point your cursor directly at it. Now apply Undo (or Ctrl z) - "Unlock All" will get undone. The object-X will get deselected and locked (it will revert to the previous state) but now you know its position in the Layers palette and you don't have to scroll to find it at all. It is the next-to-last item in the visible part of the list (right below your cursor). So now you can simply select it via the Layers palette. I will probably make a short video about this.

Hi, I am testing the 1.6.0.89 Trial of Photo and Designer right now. Unfortunately the line rendering hasn't been improved at all. There is of course the Stabilizer but this tool is no replacement for proper line rendering. It might be useful in certain cases but it is unusable for regular sketching (too much lag, lack of control over the resulting shape, only slow and deliberate movement required, you have to fight the tool if you want to sketch quickly). I have recorded short video demonstrations (GIFs) describing the disadvantages of using Stabilizer as a solution for faceted lines. I also added a comparison with other programs (see below). If someone from Affinity is reading this - please fix the line rendering. The lines should be smooth even without any stabilization. Take a look at the quality of the lines for example in Autodesk Sketchbook Free. As far as I know there is no stabilization employed yet it allows you to draw extremely fast with no lag and with total precision (the line goes where you want it to go). I suggest downloading the Free version and studying the implementation while sketching with Wacom tablet. I don't say that a stabilization in general is bad. But it is a separate tool (or option) and should not be used as a fix for low quality line rendering (but maybe Affinity didn't add Stabilizer to fix the line rendering and they plan on solving this issue in the future - I don't know). Even with Stabilizer on, the lines are sometimes still faceted (if you set a low Flow value). Drawn with Wacom Intuos 2 A5:

"By accepting this agreement and using the software you agree that Microsoft may collect, use, and disclose the information as described in the Microsoft Privacy Statement (aka.ms/privacy), and as may be described in the user interface associated with the software features." "In order to provide this computing experience, we collect data about you, your device, and the way you use Windows." It is not exactly how I phrased that but it is still worrying and ambiguous.

Indeed. That is strange because the first time I was able to read the whole article. Try this info directly from the researcher instead: https://twitter.com/m8urnett/status/866353982217699328 or alternatively these key words in Google: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b&q=Mark+Burnett+windows+10+enterprise&oq=Mark+Burnett+windows+10+enterprise&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i160k1.7163.13926.0.14376.22.22.0.0.0.0.148.2438.6j16.22.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.22.2428...0j0i19k1j0i22i30i19k1j33i21k1.rLRL8OU-aic&gfe_rd=cr&ei=XTikWeSYFsHR8gfmzr-IDA As far as the first link I was talking more about Bruce Shneier himself as being much better and unbiased source. I am not sure right now and I will have to check but I think he even uses Windows but he still criticises it. The EFF might be biased but it is always better to be cautious when in comes to Microsoft (and other big companies) with its history of shady tactics (one of them happened recently here in my country when MS payed some bigger media not to write about how it once unlawfully nearly destroyed a hardware shop because it was selling PCs with Linux). As far as data or whole disk encryption - that is entirely another topic and another layer of security. I wasn't talking about it. I was talking about the issue of the OS seeing user's important data and being able to suck them out whenever Microsoft pleases. Encryption doesn't help here. When you are working with the data it must be decrypted and MS can see and get the decrypted data since MS fully controls your OS, not you anymore. This is why people working with valuable data can (and should) have an issue with this. They probably use some kind of encryption already and employ some anti-malware strategies - but all this is toothless if MS were to decide to suck some of their data through the telemetry service. Yes, if you use Linux or OS X or whatever you are still more or less vulnerable and have to employ some countermeasures but it is still better than OS from the company that openly says (in its EULA) that they can go through any of your data and send anything out. This is just too much even for people without very sensitive data. MS has no business to constantly sniff around if user says no. If they want the data for crash reports there are much better ways how to do it without spying. The only way I would use Windows 10 (if I had to) is inside some container isolated from the Internet. And using Win10 inside a company - I would be OK with it. It is up to the company what it uses. I wouldn't work with my personal data there anyway. I was rather talking about freelancers, home personal computers, business/company owners etc. Those who can decide what equipment to use. Also apart from the telemetry there is the second issue I have already talked about - MS can (and likes to) actively and constantly control and rearrange your system. When you set something up you can never be sure it will stay this way. MS can revert it back any time. Some settings or features can disappear etc. You cannot stop update installation and focus on your work. Ads can appear inside OS and take up valuable space. You are no longer in control. This is a nightmare especially for people doing some serious work and people that like to customise their tools and workflows. This is where Linux shines. Of course it comes with the price (not user friendly, certain issues) but if you really want you can set your workstation up according to you and make changes how YOU want. Win XP, Vista and 7 were not infinitely configurable but they were/are still far cry from Win 10 when it comes to user control. I don't know about you but I like to customize my working environment according to my needs and I like to remain in control of it. I am not planning to completely ditch Windows (at least yet). I have some plans (virtualisation/emulation/remote desktop/specialized computer/...) how to use it alongside my main system if Microsoft doesn't come to its senses or if there is not some game-changing event (an influx of awesome apps) concerning Linux or OSX. But I will always want some reliable and customisable non-intrusive (and good looking) core main system. A workhorse. It might be Linux, it might be something else but it won't be Win 10 in its current form. I kind of liked Win XP, Vista and 7. But I have never been a huge fan of Microsoft and never completely trusted it. Thank you but my English should be much better.

Yeah, I agree. I am not a developer but can imagine coding a more complex and capable software like graphics app must be very hard. I am glad that Serif even decided to take on this project at all - Linux or no Linux port. It is just my (perfect-world) wish that they started to develop all their apps as multiplatform from the start. Like Adobe Brackets, Atom, Sublime Text, Blackmagic Fusion, Davinci Resolve, Gravit Designer, Maya, Modo etc. - all very likeable apps because they are made for all the three main platforms (some of them from the very beginning). (Maya being rental-only now became less likeable for me but that is for another discussion.) Anyway it looks like there might be some trend going on with multiplatform development from the beginning. So there is at least some slight chance that in the future we will choose operating system based on its quality and features and not based on which applications run on it. One can dream, right? That is true. I also don't rule out Apple platform completely as my next choice. There are some disadvantages though (at least for me). Virtually no option to customize the OS or hardware. No option to build your own computer. Apple dictating too much what is good for its users and not listening to feedback - be it hardware or software. Vendor lock in. Higher prices with no inexpensive alternatives that you can upgrade as you go. Etc etc. Well, we will see.

I am sorry SrPx, I don't want to sound rude or anything and I know that you said you don't agree with everything in it but this article is one of the least informative I have come across. (I don't know who wrote it but probably) a guy running a Windows tips site (so probably heavily biased towards MS) is basically just saying: "Come on guys, use Windows, Microsoft is the good company, trust me." I rather like deeper and (hopefully) unbiased analysis from security researchers. For example Bruce Shneier wrote or linked several articles about this issue: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=windows+telemetry+site%3Awww.schneier.com&kh=1&ia=web The findings of a security researcher Mark Burnett also illustrate how trustworthy Microsoft is. The Enterprise edition was supposed to be the only edition where you can completely disable all telemetry - it is even advertised by Microsoft as one of the reasons for businesses to migrate to it. It turns out it is not true at all: https://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/3010612/is-windows-10-enterprise-ignoring-privacy-group-settings-and-sending-private-data-to-microsoft Also another interestig article: Why Telemetry is a big deal, even on Enterprise SKUs https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/4mx5b0/why_telemetry_is_a_big_deal_even_on_enterprise/ Well, you have a choice not to use lots of these services or use them wisely. Even if you cannot completely protect your privacy this doesn't mean we should stop caring and hand out every piece of personal data to everyone. Where will it end? Somewhere you have to draw a line. It should be quite the opposite - we already have to share a lot of personal data so no more of my personal (remaining) data for other companies. But lots of people don't care at all. They are perfectly happy with various personal electronic assistants, smart TVs and even toys laden with microphones and cameras listening to everything, mapping their rooms etc. I would agree that for those people Windows 10 telemetry is the least of their worries. But what about people like researchers, scientists, inventors, writers, lawyers, doctors etc? Their data are often very precious and treasured for a good reasons. I don't think they are very happy about their OS having any kind of 24/7 telemetry, which can send out anything now or in the future to the not very trustworthy company like Microsoft. Since the transfer is encrypted no one really knows what is sent (now or in the future). Or what about regular people that just want to have a little privacy when using/working on their PC. They can ignore facebook, smart electronics, IOT etc. but it is much harder to completely switch to different OS with all their important applications. I don't want to force them at all. That's why I used words like "consider" and not words like "the world depends on it" :). I am just stating that there might be much larger potential user base than one would think and why even happy Win7 users might think of switching. I am just adding my voice to this discussion that I would pay quite a bit of money for Linux port if they ever decide to do it. But I have to admit that it would still be a gamble for them. That is for sure. (Sorry for my English.)

Hi, I haven't read whole thread but what a lot of people (including developers of various non-Linux programs) forget is that right now is the time when lots of users (even users that enjoyed using Windows) consider leaving Windows because Microsoft went crazy, started to openly spy on users and took control of the OS from them. An OS that can send any of your personal/professional data out (and no, you cannot completely disable telemetry no matter how many settings you turn off ... even on Enterprise edition!) and can change any settings or install updates at any time while you are trying to do serious work on it is nightmare especially for professionals. And lots of graphic artists tend to be professionals. Lots of people are fed up with this paradigm shift that Microsoft (and others) are trying to push. Since Apple is not perfect either (and can decide at any time to do the same) Linux-based operating systems are the only ones left not prone to this. Not perfect but not without potential. I am not really a hard-core Linux fan and don't like lots of things about it but I have to say it appears to be the only option if you want to remain in control of your data, privacy and workflow. Right now I am on Win7 (no telemetry updates installed) and I am considering switching to Linux in the future. I will certainly have to setup some kind of Virtual environment with passthrough and run Windows in it at first. But I hope more high quality native apps will start to appear on Linux. So I think this is the good time to consider porting the Affinity apps to the Linux-based OSes as well. This is not a few Linux enthusiasts wanting to use Affinity on their experimental machines, this is quite a few people fed up with Microsoft and willing to try alternatives. Anyway I hope virtualization technology really takes off and becomes as smooth as possible and easy to setup. This or something similar could be a solution if no one makes any good graphics apps for Linux: GPU Passthrough for Virtualization with Ryzen: Now Working (Sorry for my English)

Affinity Designer Trial 1.5.3.69, Affinity Photo Trial 1.5.2.69 The bitmap brush engine in both programs renders hand drawn lines with very low quality - lines are not smooth, they end up faceted/broken no matter the drawing style or brush settings. Sadly this is not adequate even for basic sketching. I am sorry to say that but this is the worst I have seen. The last picture is from OpenCanvas - line rendering in OC is very good. This is how it should be done at the very least. Even Photoshop (an all around app not specialized in sketching) has always done an adequate job in this regard. One of the best rendered lines I have seen were in Autodesk Sketchbook (and of course Studio Tools/Alias). But since even inexpensive Sketchbook went rental-only I have lost interest in the software. Sorry if this has already been talked about and put on the roadmap. I did a quick search and didn't see any thread mentioning this issue. With high quality bitmap brush engine Affinity apps would become much more versatile.

Hi, first off, thanks a lot for developing these great applications. Finally someone is serious about highend 2D graphics and competing with Adobe (and software-as-subscription paradigm). When the Win beta was released I quickly gave it a quick test drive in a virtual machine (I am still on Vista). So I am not qualified to asses for example the performance etc. Anyway here are some of my observations/feedback: What could be improved: 1, There is no way to directly (in a viewport) select a certain locked object in order to unlock/edit it. You have to unlock everything. Huge disadvantage of unlocking everything is that the memory of what was locked is not retained. You will have to find and lock all the previously locked objects again which can be extremely tedious task. The alternative is finding the locked object in the layer palette, but if you have lots of objects (some of them locked) it becomes a nightmare. You cannot even find out the name of the locked object in the viewport (there is no indicator when you hover over it or click on it). Also there is no indicator in the viewport that the object is locked (other than that it is non-selectable). My suggestions: - A modifier key + click would allow you to select even locked objects (for example Shift +middle click). In addition to that an icon indicating a lock would appear near the object and allow you to unlock the object. - Or there could also be "unlock everything temporarily" button like Xara has (or something similar). It unlocks everything but will remember what was locked. You can manipulate objects etc. and when you click the button again it will lock the previously locked objects. With this tool you can easily find your locked object in a layer palette (to unlock it etc.) I made a simple example to demonstrate the problem and how other software deals with it - as an inspiration: The problem - you need to select the greenish-yellow triangle (which is locked) and you cannot afford to unlock all objects (otherwise you will lose the memory of what was locked/unlocked). So you have to search for the object in the layer palette. Good luck if you have lots of objects in the scene. This is how Illustrator (CS6 and maybe CC) and Affinity Designer works (problem demonstrated in Xara): Xara's "All objects/layers editable" aka "unlock temporarily everything" to the rescue. Now you can directly select the object and edit it. You can easily locate the object using "find" button. When you are done, lock the previously locked objects again using the same button: This gif shows how you can quite easily find and unlock a locked object (greenish-yellow triangle) using "All objects/layers editable" workflow. The state of other objects in the scene (locked/unlocked) remains unaffected. And you don't have to look for a needle in a haystack either: 2, The UI is too dark for me. Light version would be welcome (I know you are working on it ... I just wanted to let you know my opinion). Please consider adding as much customization options to the GUI as possible - even complete custom GUI skinning. Then everyone will be happy. I for one don't like the new "flat UI" trend (not that Designer has completely flat UI but it could be a little bit more "plastic"). I will expand on that later... I will post more suggestions (and praise) later... Best of luck with this project! I am looking forward to the released version. (Excuse my English)