PaulEC

This announcement was a shock. While Version 2 was oversold, and the recent slow pace of bug fixes and limited feature updates is concerning, I understand there was a lot of V2 under-the-hood work. Regardless, we were more than happy to pay for the Version 2 ‘all options’ package, even though we don’t (at the moment) run Windows machines and the iPad apps remain something to be explored. The value from V1 was so great that buying version two was both a V1 'thank you’ and a V2 encouragement.
The new ownership compels us to examine of our continued use of Affinity software.
Background
We are a small publishing operation creating image-rich print and multi-media ebooks, based in regional Victoria.
We used PageMaker and then the Adobe Creative Suite from its inception until it went subscription. It was not cheap software – $AU600 to $AU800 a seat with half-price updates that, particularly toward the end, were of diminishing worth. We always had the option to skip an update, over the nine years we probably skipped half – skipping more often towards the end. The Australian pricing was at times up to twice that Adobe charged in the US after allowing for the $AUD/$USD exchange rate. It was very expensive software, but as we purchased outright we could partially control the cost. When the subscription ‘model’ was introduced it effectively doubled our already high costs (again charged at much higher prices than to US users), and the moment we stopped paying we would have lost access to our files.
We limped on with CS6 for publishing and drawing while we pivoted photo processing to Apple’s Aperture – based on this being flagship software from a major corporation. This prove to be a major mistake. We also started producing multi-media ePub projects in Apple’s iBooks Author. Another mistake.
Affinity journey
As CS6 faltered, we waited impatiently for Affinity Publisher for our print-based work, taking part in the beta testing. The moment it launched we moved some projects across, even though key features were missing (compared to In-Design) and there were strange bugs. The killer aspect for us was/is the seamless integration of the three apps. This more than compensated for missing functions and ‘managing’ bugs.
When Apple abandoned Aperture we moved to Photo. The first in our string of abandoned software experiences.
For ePub we are still, just, managing to use iBooks Author but expect that ability to ‘break’ any day. We were hoping Publisher would have a robust ePub capability before that final break.
Continue or abandon
The sale is forcing us to review the place for Affinity in our workflows.
We need software longevity. It is not uncommon for us to revisit projects across a decade. We have just spent weeks updating a project from 2014 where the hundreds of photos processed in Apple’s Aperture have to be redone. So my overriding concern is: what are the odds that the Affinity apps will still be viable in 2034?
Our other requirement is perpetual licence software we can to continue to use.
Unfortunately, ‘wait and see’ isn’t a option as we are due to begin several major projects. Do we continue to pour time, effort and capital into projects based on Affinity software or do we look for alternatives now?
This is a summary of our thinking.
Adobe takeover
One of the concerns raised in this thread is the potential for Adobe to buy Canva – given the mood and direction of Australian competition regulators I think this is so unlikely that it does not figure in my calculations.
VC cash grab leading to enshitification
Two of the three Canva founders are on record as holding 18 per cent of the company each, I guess the third also holds 18 per cent – that would give the three a controlling holding. For short-term VCs an IPO allows them to cash out, so there is a path for control to remain with the founders – parties to the assurances we are receiving today – while VCs can grab their cash.
Institutional shareholders
Two of Canva’s institutional shareholders are Australian ‘industry’ superannuation funds that together manage $250 billion of investments. We have two types of super funds – the commercial ‘for profits’ run by financial institutions etc. who make profits for their owners (and generally lower returns for their member) and ‘non-profit’ – the much larger group – of ‘Industry’ funds run only to benefit their members, often union-controlled, and generally long-term ‘ethical’ investors. That Canva’s institutional shareholders are in the second group provides some comfort.
Entrepreneurs with social conscious
Australia has a small group of billionaire entrepreneurial software developers with strong public conscious. Reports suggesting the Canva founders fall into this group – the pack leader is Atlassian co-founder Mike  Cannon-Brooks, a major driver of large renewable energy projects.
Serif’s fate
A few posts have pointed out that Canva acquired Pixabay and Pexels five years ago to support their offering. Both continue to operate as they had pre-acquisition – as stand-alone organisations with previous management – while providing that support to the main Canva product. It is not a leap to see Serif treated this way as the professional offerings would not make sense being folded into the current Canva 'anyone can design' offering.
The driver for Canva is adding ‘professional’ capabilities. In buying Serif, Canva has paid a lot for that capability. Canva senior management are very astute – they have built a $26 billion business from scratch. Dismantling or compromising Affinity software is not an ‘astute’ path, while strengthening it is. And knowing that a very large part of the attraction to Affinity users is perpetual licences, why would you change this major selling point over Adobe?
However, offering AI or cloud-based services requires a subscription to cover the ongoing costs – the template for that is Luminar Neo – you can by perpetual licences with optional AI-based ‘add ons’ with a subscription.
Much of the angst in this thread is around assurances being given by people who are/will not be in a position to deliver/honour those assurances. On reflection, I think there is a reasonable chance those people will remain in positions where they can honour those assurances for several years beyond an IPO.
Our decision
Making the wrong choice – stay or go – will have a substantial financial and resource impact on our business/operation. It is not a decision to make lightly.
For the moment that decision is to delay the major projects until 2.5 is released, see if there is an improvement in bug fixes and ePub features. If so, we will tentatively begin one of our major projects on Affinity software and remain watchful until Version 3.
If not, the search for alternatives will begin.
There are paths for this to be a net positive for Affinity, and we who use the software. I really hope this is the outcome.

Happy Easter to all.

Happy Easter to all.

Happy Easter to all.

I don't think there's anything wrong with new (to the forums) users deciding to contribute now, this is obviously an issue which everyone is going to be affected by, in one way or another. I'm actually more inclined to have doubts about people who continually change their nickname and avatar!

I think my Affinity app is snappier since Canva took over!

To address some of what is being said on this thread...
Firstly to be clear I'm not a founder, but have been with the company for 25 years. I'm officially appointed as Managing Director of the company, but also use CEO as my title as that is my role in terms of how other countries would view it.
Both Canva and us have made 100% clear we are committing to perpetual licences always being available. That will include V3 or any other future major upgrade of our apps which are released. What's more I will say with Canva's backing we are not under the same financial pressure we would have been to release a V3 anytime soon, meaning those of you using V2 will actually benefit from more features as free updates which may previously have been held back for a V3 if that makes sense. This is of great benefit from an engineering standpoint too as we are far better testing and releasing features in smaller chunks than saving them up to package up as a sellable upgrade. 
https://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/affinity-canva-pledge/
https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/27/24113423/affinity-canva-acquisition-pledge-license-price-subscription
https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/
As we have made clear there will at some point be a subscription option also which people can take if they choose to. I'm sure there will be additional benefits to that subscription in the future such as asset and document sync, sharing and collaboration and other things which naturally require a subscription as they are features which incur ongoing cost. It may also include other things which can be leveraged with a Canva subscription such as greater stock libraries of images, graphics and fonts. Hopefully that would just be considered reasonable and understandable. There will certainly not be any cynical cutting down of features or limitation of ongoing support in our existing apps just to force a subscription play.
I understand examples of previous acquisitions can make some of you fearful, but they are just historic examples - it has no bearing on what will happen in this case and we are genuinely doing something here which is very different and special. Everything I said on Tuesday, and what both Canva and us pledged yesterday, is 100% true and we are going to stand by it. That includes keeping our entire team here with no layoffs, and continuing to be based in Nottingham. 
If you want to believe this or not is up to you, I'm not sure what more we can say at this point to convince those who doubt it. We'll deliver on this over the coming months and years so whatever is being said right now I know it's going to be all good and assuming you are still using Affinity apps you will be happy with how they have developed and that we have continued to be fair and inclusive with our pricing.
Also to follow on from Patricks point - I can take some of the personal attacks on me, but I have to say some of the conduct on this thread with some of you being very quick to attack other community members just because they hold different opinions is really disheartening to see. You can absolutely give your opinion on this deal for sure, and we are happy to leave this as an open forum within reason, but that does mean being courteous to other forum members and not just repeating the same points over and over.
Thanks,
Ash
 

@Patrick Connor In that case I honestly apologise, that is not how it came across in the newspaper article I read, which gave the impression that they bought the company when it was cheap, waited until they could make a huge profit, and then left. That just proves that you should never take newspaper reports at face value! Again - apologies.

I don't think there's anything wrong with new (to the forums) users deciding to contribute now, this is obviously an issue which everyone is going to be affected by, in one way or another. I'm actually more inclined to have doubts about people who continually change their nickname and avatar!

Ash is and has been one of the four Directors of Serif, and is the Managing Director. 
He has been the public face of Serif for major announcements since I've been an Affinity user. 
I'm not sure they even have a CEO.
https://rocketreach.co/serif-europe-ltd-management_b5c6e74df42e0d20

I don't think there's anything wrong with new (to the forums) users deciding to contribute now, this is obviously an issue which everyone is going to be affected by, in one way or another. I'm actually more inclined to have doubts about people who continually change their nickname and avatar!

Well, not quite nothing. Version 1 can’t open files saved from version 2, so it’s important to work on a copy of the file if you want to retain the ability to open the original file in the older version.

With all the hype surrounding Canva's acquisition, let's not forget it's Easter.
Have a great Easter.
 
Made with Affinity Photo, assets from @v_kyr.

Also from me to you: happy Easter ! Made this one in APhoto for my grandchild 😂
 

I also wish you all a happy Easter, despite and precisely because of all the excitement about the takeover.

It speaks volumes that all the statements come from Ash and not the Serif CEO...

Not sure what point you're insinuating by this. Did you see my first post?
I’ve been an affinity Customer since very early on in the version one days. The original acquisition statement was the first time I felt I really needed to speak up, which lead me to join here, and the second pledge statement was just as significant that I needed to respond again.
I certainly hope that I won’t need to be back again.

It must be said that the old Plus/Legacy Serif software was sold as a "lifetime" licence (not subscription), but Serif washed their hands of those apps several years ago. Some do still continue to work, but others are problematical. Serif will no longer help with any support, either supplying product codes for people who have lost them, nor will they help with any technical questions. I can see that  this could well be the same case with the Affinity software in a few years. I really hope that Serif will provide some means of off line activation, in the event of the current versions of the apps being replaced with newer versions (under the Canva banner,) for people needing to reinstall their current versions. I suspect, that like Adobe, Canva will not be interested in maintaining online activation systems in perpetuity.

@Patrick Connor In that case I honestly apologise, that is not how it came across in the newspaper article I read, which gave the impression that they bought the company when it was cheap, waited until they could make a huge profit, and then left. That just proves that you should never take newspaper reports at face value! Again - apologies.

@Patrick Connor In that case I honestly apologise, that is not how it came across in the newspaper article I read, which gave the impression that they bought the company when it was cheap, waited until they could make a huge profit, and then left. That just proves that you should never take newspaper reports at face value! Again - apologies.

@Patrick Connor In that case I honestly apologise, that is not how it came across in the newspaper article I read, which gave the impression that they bought the company when it was cheap, waited until they could make a huge profit, and then left. That just proves that you should never take newspaper reports at face value! Again - apologies.

I cannot allow this to stand. Gary Bates and Jim Bryce were both very long term employees in Sales and Development for well over 20 years long before they took on Director roles. They dedicated their careers to both the Serif Legacy range and the Affinity range. Please stop this

On the subject of trust, one thing I trust implicitly is that nobody can predict the future with any certainty. Consequently, all these comments about what Canva and the Affinity staff will or won't do in the future is nothing more than speculation & should be treated as such.
Personally, I think the sanest course is to wait & see how this plays out over the next several months, particularly if they deliver on the promise of the accelerated update schedule with more critically needed bug fixes so many of us are aware of & hopefully some new often requested features, but if you think otherwise, so be it.

Yes, I agree. I've not only invested in both versions of the Affinity suite, but I've also purchased a fair amount of Affinity specific brushes and other content. I'm not happy about spending any more without cast iron guarantees about the future of Affinity. (Something that Serif, and Ash, can't give, now that Serif is owned by another company!)

Registration was essentially a means of harvesting contact details so that they could put you on their mailing list and their sales staff could call you for ‘upselling’ purposes.