UI change on Windows with Surface Pro

[Tinylightbold]

1st of all, amazing build of the 2.0 version!

Love the addition of data merge. As well as the other aspects in the Suite 😃

I have however 1 question/request for the Software suite (all 3 of them).

The ability to change the UI when working on Windows.

As I work mostly remote on my Surface Pro. I find it many times handy working with the pen. However the UI on Windows is build on mouse and Keyboard work.

 

Is it possible to add an addition to the UI, where you have the ability to change the UI based on mouse/keyboard work or Tablet/Pen work/view. (As UI the Ipad has probably an amazing UI/UX experience, this could be something as base)

This by example with a click on an icon in the Toolbar or in view.

 

By not having loads of money for an Ipad, it sure would be amazing to have this added in a future update. 🙂

Edited November 9, 2022 by Tinylightbold

[_Vin_]

I would love this! When I see how it looks on iPad, I so wish it was more friendly toward Windows based tablets. It would make drawing so much easier for me on my surface. I hoped when version 2 comes, there will be something like that.

[S__B]

I agree! I recently bought a Surface Pro, and since I also have a Windows desktop, I decided against an iPad after much deliberation. Unfortunately.... I was able to try out the iPad version at a friend's house and was totally blown away. I started illustrating and my workflow was at least twice as fast. I could use the UI naturally and everything was where my haptic memory expected it to be.

I would like to know if this can be implemented for non-Apple devices? I was actually wondering why this is not included in v2 (no offense ❤️). Is there something that makes this impossible? 

I think there is a large creative community that works with Windows... we have suffered for far too long - please, please, please give us an update!

I really hope to get an answer here as this will affect my future buying behavior. Do I really need to buy an iPad now 🥲 ? 
 

Edited November 13, 2022 by S__B

[GRAFKOM]

In Affinity support on Surface pro, I miss the icons: undo and redo and the trash icon and rotating the canvas with a gesture. Working on the tablet itself with a pen and without a keyboard is very tedious. Although the drawing itself is quite smooth, to undo or redo the operation you have to click on the Edit menu and then click on undo. Or if I want to remove a node with a pen, how do I do it? only by invoking the on-screen keyboard and clicking the DELETE button. With more serious work on the Surface Pro, the service becomes very cumbersome.

So my suggestions: Add the ability to add undo, redo, trash, print, import, export icons to the top toolbar and add two-finger double-tap support on the screen to undo operations - just like on the iPad.

I bought Surface Pro 8 specifically to support Affinity, but working on it to support Affinity programs is very tedious with just the pen and actually without any gestures. How much do you have to pay to add these options to the Affinity package?

Serif give me the price - I'll pay what it takes - I need it for my professional work, not to play on the tablet.

[Claudio60]

Take a look at Tabletpro, it could be a solution

[Guest]

I'm surprised the Windows store app versions of the software isn't already like the iPad pro version? I bought direct from Affinity so I assumed mine was a desktop layout only for that reason, but perhaps the Windows store version is exactly the same. Good idea though, and would be useful for me too as a fellow Surface Pro user! 

[_Vin_]

4 hours ago, Claudio60 said:

Take a look at Tabletpro, it could be a solution

I looked into it few months ago, while it looks nice, it costs additional $26. I don't want to pay extra for these options nor to have additional software. Hence I really hoped tablet mode comes in V2, even if it's paid addon of ~10€.

[Claudio60]

14 minutes ago, _Vin_ said:

Hence I really hoped tablet mode comes in V2, even if it's paid addon of ~10€.

It would have been nice

[chessboard]

I would like to bring this up again. Double tap to Undo and/or Icons for Undo/Redo and Delete in the toolbar would really help and would be appropriate for a pen and touch device like a Surface. At the moment a keyboard is still needed when using Affinity on a Surface. That's counterproductive for a mobile device.

[CJGould]

PC's are no longer just desktops. A good proportion of Windows users use a two in one device - essentially a tablet (like an iPad). Yet, we do not have a specific tablet app for windows. In addition, users have been requesting this for many years now, and it still has not been addressed. It is almost impossible to work with any Affinity app on a Surface (or similar) device - yet 3-in-1/tablets are the preferred platforms for creatives. The inability to use the touchscreen to rotate the canvas, or double tap for undo, as well as trying to work with an interface designed for larger screens has had me looking for alternatives. Yet, I am fixed in my ways and have been using Serif products since the first DTP - way, way back. Therefore, I am hoping for a solution from Serif. For the time being, I am using an app called Leonardo (which has all of the features that Photo and Designer should have) for drawing and preliminary work, then finishing on desktop (good job I still have one!). 

This is an issue the Affinity needs to address urgently, or they will be left behind and alternative will rise to the surface (pun intended).

Here is some data to back this up (from AI)

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Desktop to Laptop Shift

• Global laptop revenue is projected to hit $150 billion by 2025, while desktop PC sales are expected to drop by $54 billion in the same period.
• In the U.S., laptop sales are expected to generate $37 billion by 2025, compared to a 12% drop in desktop sales.
• The shift is driven by mobility, remote work, and hybrid lifestyles, with users favoring devices that can move between home, office, and travel.

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Laptop to 2-in-1 Devices Shift

• The 2-in-1 laptop market is growing at a CAGR of 14–21%, depending on the source, with forecasts reaching $34 billion by 2032.
• These devices combine the portability of tablets with the productivity of laptops, making them ideal for professionals, students, and creatives.
• Detachable Chromebooks and Windows-based convertibles are gaining traction, especially in education and budget-conscious markets.
• Features like stylus support, 360° hinges, and detachable keyboards are driving adoption across sectors — from business to healthcare to design.

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Future Trends & Market Signals

• Remote work and online learning continue to fuel demand for flexible devices.
• Stylus-enabled 2-in-1s are becoming more popular among creatives and professionals who need precision input.
• Windows remains dominant, but Chrome OS and Android are growing in education and entry-level segments.
• Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with rising demand in India and China.
• Manufacturers like Microsoft, Lenovo, HP, and Dell are investing heavily in R&D to push innovation in this space.

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