Hello all,
I would like to write a list of features that make Affinity Designer can be called application for professionals. I know that probably some forum users get angry with my words but please read my explanation. Currently this Adobe Illustrator is the standard application for professionals. With its help you can design a poster, large format advertising or packaging. You can also prepare a project READY FOR PRINTING. Sorry but AD currently does not have many features that allow you to easily design the packaging or a poster and prepare the project for printing.
Below I will try to list all the functions which according to me is missing:
Missing designing functions:
- Selectable units (pixels, millimeters, inches)
- Possibility of dimensioning graphic elements (elements in the project, visible after saving)
- Tracing raster graphic
- "Offset path" function
- "Gradient mesh" function
- "Aling to selected object" function
- AI-style transformation/scale tool
- AI-style zooming tool (by selecting area and zooming, not photoshop-style zooming)
- Selecting by attributes function
- Locking/unlocking selected objects
- Creating a pattern function
- Creating a package of files (linked photos, used fonts + creating report one specified folder)
- Barcode generator
Missing "preparing for print" functions:
- Fist and MOST IMPORTAINT - Separation preview
- object "Overprint" atributes
Without most of these functions AD has no chance to become a serious application that can be an alternative to the market leader.
No matter whether someone likes it or not but it's B2B determines what is standard in the market and what is not. Currently, the standard is Adobe Illustrator. There are several reasons. According to me, except that it offers a lot of interesting features, it is open to the external plug-in developers. We have a great design supporting plug-ins from astute graphics, we have a great plug for preparation for printing and 3D visualization (from ESKO). They are extremely expensive but for the leaders of the market price is not such a problem. The opening up to third-party plugins creators seems to me to be one of the keys to existence as an alternative to Adobe Illustrator. Create your plug-in market oper to the third-part creators. Make money from a percentage of the profits (like Android Market, Apple Store).
Serif - please! Be a real alternative to Adobe. I am writing this as the holder of APh and AD (even though I do not need it - but I bought them to support you)