Affinity Photo for Windows - 1.9.0

[Patrick Connor]

We are pleased to announce an update for the Windows release of Affinity Photo, version 1.9.0

Changes in this build

A highlights explanation can be found here: 5 things you should know about Affinity Photo 1.9

The changes in Affinity Photo for Windows 1.9.0 (made since the last release Affinity Photo for Windows 1.8.5) are as follows:

New Features:

• Live liquify layers (learn more)
• Linked layers (learn more)
• Pattern layers (learn more)
• Stacking for astrophotography (see tutorials here)
• Divide blend mode (learn more)
• Path text added (learn more)
• Windows hardware (GPU) acceleration (for users running Windows 10 (April 2020 update or later) with a Direct3D feature level 12.0 capable card) (learn more)
• Studio Presets for the UI layout to save your favourite workspace setups for different tasks, explained here Studio panel combinations (also learn more)
• Create brushes from current pixel selection (learn more)
• Linked images and Resource Manager (learn more)
• Use filters on masks
• Edit spare channels as layers
• Added per-layer antialiasing controls in the advanced blending menu
• Added export preview panel (for raster types)
• Support PDF passthrough to ensure perfect representation of original PDF when exporting, without the need to have embedded fonts installed
• Benchmarking option to measure speed of your device
• Content sync of store purchases (requires registration)
  This feature is explained in more detail here Sync your Affinity Store resources with your Affinity 1.9 apps

Fixes & Improvements:

• Improved “Serif Labs” RAW engine including native CR3 support
• Elliptical marquee automatically creates from centre
• Hierarchical view (learn more)
• Configurable bleed and margin guide colours
• Import multiple LUTS (learn more)
• Placed scale for all placed files, which allows scaling to be reset to 100%
• Snap to pixel selection bounds
• Added curves adjustment to the tone mapping persona
• Added JPEG-XR 101010 import support (useful for screen captures from Xbox, etc.)
• Added support for 12bit grayscale TIFF files
• Added “Duplicate spare channel” to right click menu
• Blend modes now work on “alpha only” layers (masks, adjustments, live filters, etc.)
• Gradient map adjustments now support global colours
• Filter effects now work properly with global colours
• The Curves adjustment now has numeric field controls for precise positioning
• Unable to use CMYK/LAB/GREY equations in a Live Procedural Texture
• More filters now work on masks / adjustments / spare channels (Add Noise, Perlin Noise, etc.)
• LUT adjustments can be exported directly from the adjustments panel, and batch imported from files
• Added Canvas Rotation option to Preferences
• Fixed Changing between RGB and CMYK sliders in Colour Chooser panel gives incorrect values
• Fixed Moving a mask from a layer to the live stack group crashes the app
• Unable to open .heic if there is a special character in the file path
• Original file name no longer saved as "Title" in PDF, after renaming the file
• TIFF file handling improvements
• Fixed Tools getting stuck in the hand tool cursor after using spacebar + alt and click to zoom out
• Hue shift slider background should not move with the slider
• Creating or adding pixel selections from other layers to a selection also selects the respective layers
• Various stability improvements
• Help and Localisation improvements

 

UPDATING TO THIS VERSION (Free for existing customers)

The software version can be seen on the splash screen and the About dialog (in Help > About Affinity Photo).

If you’ve purchased from the Affinity Store— each time you start the Affinity Store software it will check for updates and offer any available update. The latest update will install over the top of any earlier version, with no need to uninstall. You can download the latest installer by logging into the affinity store here and find the order in your account and use the "Download" button in there. Alternatively, this new release (and previous versions of Affinity Photo for Windows) can be downloaded from this link. (that installer is NOT for Windows Store purchases and needs a product key).

If you’ve purchased from the Microsoft Store— Microsoft Store updates are done automatically by the operating system (each time you start the application). If this does not happen for you, open the Windows Store app and click the three dots in the top right corner of the app and then go to Downloads and Updates. Click Get Updates. This should hopefully force the update to show.

[Patrick Connor]

All Readers

This thread is solely for commenting on this announcement.

Please do not post bugs or problems that you find when using this version of the software in this thread, instead make a new thread in the Photo Bugs on Windows section and questions about usage go in the Desktop Questions forum.

[Pšenda]

Thanks for the "learn more" links, they are very helpful.

[Mithferion]

Installed and registered without any problem.

Best regards!

[Djoule]

Thank you for the Divide blend mode. It's really powerfull to remove a color cast and a huge time saving method.

[Gnobelix]

Download, installation and registration with no problem.

Cheers

[Powerhorse]

Congratulations Serif. Well don

[sedgeAlan]

Embarrassing I know, but after upgrading I cant find where the newly downloaded free packs have been installed, HELP !

[walt.farrell]

3 minutes ago, sedgeAlan said:

Embarrassing I know, but after upgrading I cant find where the newly downloaded free packs have been installed, HELP !

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums.

First, you can look in the My Account window (Help > My Account... or use the icon on the right of the Toolbar) to confirm they have actually been downloaded.

If they are not downloaded, click on the cloud icon to download. If they are downloaded, expand that pack (arrow icon on left) and see what they are. Most likely for this set of free content they will show as .afassets, and in that case look in the Assets panel (View > Studio > Assets).

[dmstraker]

Well done to all Serif folks. Another great milestone achieved. As a former programmer (and QA guy), I really appreciate the effort.

I did a 1.9 video of beta changes on my InAffinity YouTube channel, and will do another now.

[Mystical]

Awesome update, look forward to the new improvements and changes.

[sedgeAlan]

16 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums.

First, you can look in the My Account window (Help > My Account... or use the icon on the right of the Toolbar) to confirm they have actually been downloaded.

If they are not downloaded, click on the cloud icon to download. If they are downloaded, expand that pack (arrow icon on left) and see what they are. Most likely for this set of free content they will show as .afassets, and in that case look in the Assets panel (View > Studio > Assets).

I found them, thank you very much for your help

[Gregory St. Laurent]

Thank You, Thank You! You guys Rock! Incredible update!

[Sapiento]

Finally! Creating brushes that keep the original size instead of a random 64 pixel height. Great addition! Pattern layer is also a great new tool.

[AffinityJules]

All's well this end.

Many thanks.

[SrPx]

**WOW**. Have been disconnected as terribly busy lately (happily)... The list of improvements since latest stable !!!  😮    😎😎🤑 And actually I was hoping for exactly those improvements! Huge Kudos... But I need greater adjectives to describe it, in this, my second language...

[DavidGri]

having logged issues elsewhere about 1.9, whilst they get resolved, can I go back to 1.8? I can't find the official download site for earlier versions  

[Patrick Connor]

@DavidGri 

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums  

4 minutes ago, DavidGri said:

...can I go back to 1.8? I can't find the official download site for earlier versions  

from the opening post

8 hours ago, Patrick Connor said:

Alternatively, this new release (and previous versions of Affinity Photo for Windows) can be downloaded from this link. 

You will need to uninstall 1.9.0 and reinstall 1.8.5

[DavidGri]

thanks. I will do this whilst I wait an update on the crash issues I have reported

[Westerwälder]

Ich bin nach den Irritationen heute Nachmittag sehr zufrieden mit Affinity Photo, alles funktioniert was ich bisher ausprobiert habe! Sogar auf dem Tablet mit Win10 Home ist heute Abend die Installation absolut Problemlos durchgelaufen! 

Die Musterebene aus Auswahl gefällt mir!

 

Google Übersetzung: I am very satisfied with Affinity Photo after the irritation this afternoon, everything that I have tried so far works! Even on the tablet with Win10 Home, the installation went through with absolutely no problems tonight!

I like the pattern level from selection!

Friedhelm

[Heres Johnny]

Any way to export Studio Presets?

[Smee Again]

Nice job! Thanks Serif for the updates -- but I do have a question:

Is there any hope of getting a "fill slider" that isn't actually an opacity slider?

"Fill" works differently than "opacity" in the eight "special blend modes" ( Color Burn, Linear Burn, Color Dodge, Linear Dodge (Add), Vivid Light, Linear Light, Hard Mix, and Difference). Very important in color grading images, among other niceties.

 

[Xzenor]

5 hours ago, Igguk said:

Installed and removed this piece of c**p after 20 minutes.  Could have been shorter if it was able to just change my brush in less then 5 minutes...

Hope I can go back to previous version.

Okay, bye!

When you manage to ask help like a normal person then we'd be happy to help you figure out what's wrong.

[Xzenor]

So, image on my work-laptop was messed up. weird squares and sloooow as a snail on THC.
Turned off the new hardware acceleration and all is well again. Apparently the GPU isn't supported or something but the checkbox for H/A was on by default.

So, if you see unexpected weird stuff in 1.9 (while being sober) try turning the hardware acceleration off.

[DavidGri]

I switched off the h/w acceleration on my Surface Laptop 3 and the problems went away! Given this is a popular laptop I hope the problem gets resolved