Oval

because someone took the windshield wipers off

We are pleased to announce updates for the MacOS release of all of the Affinity Suite, to version 1.8.6 
These updates make our applications fully compatible with Big Sur and optimised for the Apple M1 chipset (Apple silicon).
This new support for Big Sur 11.0 comes in ADDITION to our existing support for macOS 10.9 to 10.14, and so this 1.8.6 release works on all of them, and is suitable for all our macOS customers.
New Press Release on what Big Sur and Apple M1 hardware mean for the Affinity Suite
Changes in this build
Apple just released Big Sur, its latest major macOS update. This update is something our developers have been working on for quite some time and we’re thrilled to share that our latest 1.8.6 update for the macOS versions of our apps is fully compatible with Big Sur, which means even better performance of Affinity apps on Mac. Perhaps even more exciting though is that 1.8.6 is fully optimised for Apple silicon, the new faster hardware architecture, starting with the M1 chip, as announced by Apple at a launch event on 10th November 2020. For more on Apple silicon, see this page on our website.
This update is a "universal" install, built for both the existing Intel based architecture and the new Apple M1 based architecture. Whatever hardware you are running on this new release is built for optimal performance. It also comes with a new icon, to reflect Big Sur styling, and some behind the scenes tweaks focussing on performance.
UPDATING TO THIS VERSION (Free for existing customers)
The software version can be seen on the splash screen and the About dialog (in application menu, for example "Affinity Photo" > "About").
These threads below (to the last update for each application) describe how to install these new 1.8.6 updates and the features and fixes in the earlier updates.
Affinity Photo for macOS 1.8.4 Affinity Designer for macOS 1.8.4 Affinity Publisher for macOS 1.8.4

Thanks! I've removed my post above because it was slightly incorrect and got myself confused! So instead of keep modifying it i'll repost with correct info!

There is a known issue that the Document Setup dialog is incorrectly showing the opposite of the selected option. So for example creating a New Document with 'Prefer Linked' will place images as Linked, however the Document Setup dialog is incorrectly reading 'Prefer Embedded'. 

I will try the Web preset and see if I get any difference in behaviour to what I've said above.

Ouch! Seems to be a malfunction. Please report this extreme bug. :-)

Would have loved to read something like “that will have a stunning warp function very soon” instead. 

Looking at the age poll, I think Serif should change to BIG icons and BIG text in the UI.
You are not alone.
 

would be

or texts

Adding my vote for this feature. Span/Split columns is hugely useful.

And if users want to make changes directly they don’t want to use a detour via distant panels. Yes, it is about usability …

Here you go, Walt!

 

Try theanine next time

Can’t you simply delete the relevant ‘propcol’ file? 
 

Duh. Of course. Not enough caffeine this morning, I guess.

I appreciate all the things Affinity is adding in to Designer/Photo/Publisher - I love that it's not just like other vector apps - things are well thought out, efficient and streamlined.
Loving the new 1.9 features so far.
I have no issue with a mesh fill tool/feature, but I agree with the others, it's a lower priority to me than other vital features that would allow me to switch fully to Affinity full time.

Everyone has their own biased list of "most important"  features - but there seems to be a strong consensus that we need vector-based distortion tools for objects and text, pure 100% vector brushes, cleaner boolean operations - (each time I add several expanded overlapped strokes together it leaves a mess of unattached nodes, sometimes the pieces i am adding together disappear entirely)
Maybe less important to others but certainly vital to me - a vector eraser tool, smooth tool and blob brush equivalent (vector work can be more "artistic" this way) and a more professional print setup

Down the line adding a 3D effect or the mesh fill tool/feature once the most universally needed tools are added that allow us to let go of Adobe and Corel and other fully.
Just my thoughts

Thanks for the comments guys - it's definitely good perspective and really useful for our thought processes

The same can be said for PS, as evidenced by the plethora of Adobe & 3rd party PS tutorials on the web.

Affinity Designer Customer Beta (1.9.0.2):
 

Affinity Designer Customer Beta (1.9.0.2):
 

Perhaps "understand" would have been a better word, as "appreciate" has other unintended meanings

could be clearer

As this is a much requested "feature" (taken for grated standard) is there any future plans to change the above Serif view? 

because someone took the windshield wipers off

because someone took the windshield wipers off

Hi @Oval,
Thanks . Issue logged.,