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Hi @ColinG, Apologies for the delayed response here as it appears as though this was originally posted in the beta section of the forums. Unfortunately Affinity Photo doesn't currently support all Photoshop plugins, my apologies. Specifically, Luminar Neo is logged with our developers to be supported in a future update if possible, I'll be sure to add your 'vote' to this development log now. I hope this clears things up!

I have numerous Photoshop effects, plugins, brushes that I would like to extend to Affinity products. Is there a way to use them in the new Publisher, Photo, or Designer products?

Please show us your Photo Settings, Photoshop Plugins section. What happens when you try to use it?

I am new with Affinity Photo Mac and will use the photoshop plugins of CS6. But i cannot find the correct path to the plugins or see them. Not in the CS6 Folder or in the Library Folders. Is there any instruction? Thanks for some help! Josef

Hello, is it possible to use the Photoshop Plugins please and how ? Is there a default plugins that transform any photo into a sketch, a nice art draw with many parameters ? Thx !

Guys, after all, what are the Photoshop plugins that are 100% compatible with affinity ?? The 'Nik collection' is working, though it can not assign shortcut keys to it.

I believe the word 'Requires' should read 'Requires Global'. (There's something a bit buggy about the Settings interface: on my machine running Ventura, paths aren't shown completely unless you hover over them.) The following is from the Help for Using Plugins (which needs updating as it still refers to Settings as "Preferences"): To allow access to supporting plugin files: From the Photoshop Plugins tab, under the Plugin support folders box, click Authorise Global. The folder dialog will default to root ("Macintosh HD"). You can click Authorise here and access to support files will be applied recursively, or you can specify a particular directory that contains the support files. Press Close. Once I'd done that and restarted Photo v2, Color Efex Pro 4 and Analog Efex Pro 2 went green and are now available in my Filters-Plugins menu.

Ok you probably need to point Affinity Photo to that folder, it should have a plugins folder inside or have the plugin within that folder, so, from Affinity Photo, under Preferences > Photoshop Plugins, under Plugin Search Folders you need to add a link to that folder.

Pro: Seamless with PhotoShop plugins, Filter Forge is so-so. Topaz works fine. Con: A minor gllitch, I hope. When I'm working with a tablet (Gaomon 1560) I've noticed that selecting a tool with the stylus doesn't happen. I have to use the mouse.

How do I change the default directory from C to D for Photoshop plugins

FWIW, I have the old free Google version of the NIK collection installed on my Mac. (I am not sure of the collection version but the individual standalone apps range from 2.0.12 to 2.2.24 & the plugin versions range up to 4.3.24. All have creation/modification dates in March of 2016.) When I first tried to use them in AP 1.8.1, I was disappointed to see the Demo or Buy notice. When I opened Preferences > Photoshop Plugins I noticed that the "Plugin Support Folders" list was empty (no "/" showing as it had been in 1.7.3); the "Authorize Global" button was not greyed out; & there were multiple red plugin Status indicators saying that global authorization was required. After clicking the "Authorize Global" button & restarting AP, I no longer got the Demo or Buy notice & all the old NIK collection plugins appear to be working again, to the same extent they did in 1.7.3. So it seems that the AP update cleared global authorization & all that is required to get the old plugins working again is clicking that button & restarting the app. Yay! 😀

On 1 makes Photoshop compatible plug-ins. I am trying to use these with Affinity Photo. 1. Go to Preferences=>Photoshop Plugins and add Plugin Search Folders. ---since the dialog box specifically mentions "Folders" can we assume that this is in contradistinction to "Files"? 2. On 1's Plugin Folders reside in Mac=>Applications=>ON 1 Photo 10. --each of the Plugins resides in its own subfolder. 2a. Add ON 1 Photo 10 Folder to "Plugin Search Folders" Box in Affinity Photo. 2b. Enable Root "/" in Plugin Support folders (though Plug-in Support is contained in On 1 Photo 10 Folder 2c. Select "Authorize Global." 2d. Select "Close" 3. Restart Program. Failure: Under Filters=>Plugins, no files appear. 4. Go to Preferences=>Photoshop Plugins and add Plugin Search Folders. 5. Add path to "On 1 Photo 10" subfolders where each plugin resides (MacHD=>Users=>XX=>Applications=>On 1 Photo 10=>Plugin Files 5a. Select Authorize Global; then Close 6. Restart Program. Failure: Under Filters=>Plugins, no files appear. 7. Go to Preferences=>Photoshop Plugins=>Open Default Folder in Finder 8. Go to Default Folder 8a. Copy *.plugin files from On 1 Plugins Folder 8b. Global Authorize 8c. Restart Program. 9. Failure: Under Filters=>Plugins, no files appear. (Allow unknown plugins is checked). So what am I doing wrong? I understand that an automated installation won't work in the absence of Photoshop. But these are Photoshop-compatible. They might work with Affinity Photo if I could get them installed. The trip down the rabbit hole following all these steps was unsuccessful What will work to INSTALL these, so that Affinity can see them? Does Affinity work with *.plugin files or is it looking only for folders, or...who knows???

The Designer Persona of Publisher has all the functionality of the Designer Persona of the Designer app. The Photo Persona of Publisher has most of the functionally of the Photo Persona of the Photo app, but there are pieces missing in Publisher. For example, File > New Batch Job and the various kinds of stacking operations in the File menu. Also, in Filters, there's no access to Photoshop plugins. Publisher also doesn't have the other Personas from the Designer and Photo apps. That doesn't matter much with Designer's Pixel Persona if you own a Photo license, because the Photo Persona gives you more. But you don't have the Export Persona, nor several Photo app Personas: Tone Mapping, Liquify. You do have some access to the Develop Persona in V2, but not as complete or easy as in the Photo app.

RC-Astro StarXterminator and Affinity V2 Mac. I bought the product, but can not get it installed. When you do their Mac Install it loads on my hard drive, but AP does not see it. I have checked use Photoshop plugins (note, I do not have PS). Can sometime help me get this installed? Thanks

How would that work? Publisher doesn’t support Photoshop plugins, so I don’t see how it could be expected to make them available via its StudioLink feature.

If you're on Windows, go to Edit/Settings/Photoshop Plugins and direct APh to C:\Program Files\Skylum\Luminar Neo. In that folder is the plugin (LuminarNeo.8bf).

Dear Affinity, It's well over a year now and no Photoshop plugins work in Photo! In particular, NIK and Alien Skin are required for my workflow. When I was in your beta, I raised this issue and the answers were not good. Despite that, I still purchased Designer and Photo with the hope that one day they would work. It's not like these plugins breathe rarefied air --- NIK was bought by Google and are free and Alien Skin Eye Candy and Image Doctor are right up there as most popular used. After updating to 1.65, I see no progress has been made as can be seen by this short video I created. Alarming, at best. On top of that, there is actually a bug where preferences says 2 of the NIK filters work when in actuality they do not (and I tested this with a photo not in the video). Here's the screenshot of that. Having said all of this, I am not here to blast you or inflame anyone and will not respond to anything of that ilk. Au contraire, I am here again to beg/plead you to be decisive about Photoshop plugins. This has been a gray situation that is perpetuated from my point of view and demonstrated by the short list of plugins you indicate are certified. In the next few weeks I have to make a decision about Adobe because my CS 5.5 Extended has hit a new problem for which the only current answer is to join the horrible Adobe Cloud --- and for which, by the way, a support agent I spoke to yesterday let me know that 80% of us older customers have voiced opposition to the Adobe Cloud model and yet 80% of those have still relented and have joined. I truly love your approach, the great support and the reasonably close proximity to Photoshop and while I am still a novice I have also adapted Designer as my main vector program without any issues. But Photo won't happen for me without compatibility for existing plugins as I have 100's of files using both NIK and Alien Skin Eye Candy and Image Doctor. It's likely nontrivial for you and equally nontrivial for me. If I know you have a plan to fix this once and for all, I can live with the delay until you get there (months, but not years!). In fact, I have said this before, I would bet you a nice dinner that the great folks at Alien Skin would work with you in some mutual way to get all their plugins working. If there is no plan or the plan remains gray then I will reluctantly buy Adobe Photographer for my business which will cost me about the same as if I followed my older strategy with Adobe to upgrade every 2nd version. I hate the thought of supporting Adobe, but like 80% of 80% who also hate it I will be compelled to buy it (and thus abandon Affinity Photo) --- this part of your strategy is not a winner as a purchase may not equate to adoption and in the long run those $'s will go to Adobe. Rob-> PS: I also use Vertus Fluid Mask 3, which also does not work and while not as popular as NIK or Alien Skin, there is a big customer base.

Doesn't Affinity Photo support regular Photoshop plugins?

Hi. I just downloaded The NIK Collection 3 set of filters. My computer is running High Sierra and Affinity Photo is VER 1.83. The meet the requirements. I followed these instructions. As below... 1. Installation & create plugins Process Nik Collection by DxO installation During “Compatible Host” step, click on + to create a custom plugins folder in your preferred directory (use the combination shift+Cmd+n if necessary), then click Open In the installer, you will see a Adobe Photoshop Custom1 host added to your list By successively clicking on Continue and Install , a 'DxO' folder will be created in background in the directory you chose............................"NIK Collection" not DxO Folder. This 'DxO' folder will contain all Nik Collection by DxO plugins Continue installation until finished and click on Close 2. Launch the application Affinity Photo 1.8 (or higher) 3. Import Nik Collection plugins into Affinity Photo 1.8 (or higher) In the top menu, go to Affinity Photo > Preferences Select Photoshop Plugins tab In “Plugin Search Folder” click on Add In the dialog popup select the “DxO” NIK Collection folder created after installation and press Ok In “Plugin Support Folder” click on Authorize Global and Authorize without selecting anything In “Detected Plugins” check the checkbox to “Allow “Unknown” plugins to be used” Close the “Preferences” via the Close button Select Restart Now If opened after restart, close the “Preferences” popup 4. Import your image to Affinity Photo 1.8 (or higher) 5. Launch Nik Collection by DxO plugins via Affinity Photo 1.8 (or higher) Go to Filters > Plugins > Nik Collection > “Plugin Name” Thru the process "NIK Collection" folder was created instead of a "DxO" Folder. Other than that the instructions were exactly the same as above. Ron I have made a few attempts at this yet there remains no selectable items when i check the Filters> PlugIns > Nik Collection.

No. The trial version has full functionality. Unzip the plugin file you downloaded. Put the .8bf file and the gmic directory into the Photo 2 directory shown in Preferences, Photoshop Plugins, Restart Photo 2. Authorize unknown plugins, and you should have it available in the Filters pulldown.

thks, this would be great! I have tried (I have the trial version of affinity photo 2 ) , and followed the instructions for Photoshop plugins, but it does not seem to find it (I put the files in the ad-hoc directory, and authorized unknown plugins ) maybe due to the trial version? best, jmf

I know this question has been asked for Affinity Photo and people actually could, but I'm wondering if there is any way we could use them in Affinity Designer too? I'm asking specifically because I have an icon program that I use in photoshop (https://iconscout.com/icondrop/for-office) which I'm hoping I could use with affinity designer as their native windows app is still under development.

Hi, I took advantage of Black Friday sales to purchase DxO's Nik collection. I followed the installation instructions for installing the plugins into Affinity Photo. They show up Preferences > Photoshop Plugins, "Allow 'Unknown' plugins to be used" is checked, "/" is in Plugin Support Folders and "Authorize Global" is greyed out. When I select a pixel layer in the Photo Persona I can select only one of the plugins that appears in Filters > Plugins > Nik Collection, "HDR Efex Pro 2". All the others are greyed out and cannot be clicked, not even the two that have status "Working." HDR Efex Pro 2 did run when I clicked it. I am running Affinity Photo 1.6.7 on macOS 10.13.6 on a 2018 MacBook Pro 15" with Touch Bar & Touch ID. The pixel layer is "Background," generated by the Develop Persona. The file that was developed was a Nikon RAW (NEF) created on a D7200 using Adobe RGB. The Develop Persona uses the ROMM RGB profile for output. Neither Lightroom nor Photoshop is installed on the machine.

I'm actually worried about Affinity Photo's future if nothing happens in regard to AI-based tools. That's where the most meaningful current advances in imaging tech are, and Serif really needs to up their game here. Right now I can't even smoothly integrate external AI tools like those from DxO or Topaz which have Photoshop plugins that don't work with Affinity Photo.

I recently purchased a PS plugin to be downloaded into Affinity Photo. Specifically it is by Fixel Algorithms called Edgehancer. I unzipped it and downloaded it into the plugins folder. When i go to use it it shows as being in the download menu but when i click it nothing happens. Am I doing something wrong or is it incompatible with AP. I have downloaded the NIK suite and it appears to work fine.