Assessing Affinity Photo

[Bololoco]

I downloaded the Affinity Photo free trial yesterday in order to assess the software with the possible intention of purchasing a licence.

I have imported a RAW file, processed it to my liking and exported it as an Affinity File. However, i'd like to view it in windows media player but I only seem to have the option of opening it in Affinity Photo. Is this because i'm using a trial version?

Does the paid version of Affinity Photo allow me to save in all picture formats and not just Affinity?

[carl123]

16 minutes ago, Bololoco said:

but I only seem to have the option of opening it in Affinity Photo

Once you open/create an Affinity document you use File > Export to export it into other file formats (like JPG, PNG, etc)

PS. The trial version has all the functionality of the paid version

 

[v_kyr]

Welcome!

Export it as a common bitmap file, aka a JPG or PNG etc. So use File -> Export instead ...

See also related ...

• Export
• Export Settings
• Export Persona
  • Exporting using Export Persona
  • Export Options panel
  • Slices panel
  • Layers panel

[iconoclast]

29 minutes ago, Bololoco said:

...Is this because i'm using a trial version?

No. It's the same for example with GIMPs XCF-file-format. Most image editing apps have their own native file format that gives the user the option to save the document with all the content he uses while he is working on it: guidelines, selections, layers, masks etc. That's why there is a difference between Save and Export. "Save" is for what I described, "Export" is meant to save your work as a final result. Exported documents usually can't contain guidelined, selections etc.., but sometimes they are able to save even layers.

Image Viewers usually can't read this native file formats except they have plugins for it. E.g. for IrfanView, you can download a plugin to make GIMPs XCF-files readable in IrfanView. Photoshops PSD-format may be an exception to this rule, because Photoshop is the market leader.

[Bololoco]

Thanks and got it. I did try exporting a picture yesterday but could only seem to do it as a PNG......I obviously missed the menu that allows all the other file formats.

Problem solved and thanks

 

 

Question unrelated to file formats....so how good is affinity photo? I aim to become professional, although have no aspirations to be a "recognised" photographer.

I should probably ask this in a new thread but only really need a few responses to make an informed opinion, so it doesn't seem worth it.

[billtils]

36 minutes ago, Bololoco said:

how good is affinity photo?

"good" means does what you want, when you want it and how you prefer to implement it, so only you can answer that question.  

Probably the most important of these is "Does what you want" and if all you want is to take photos, do some editing to make them look good, and then file in a library then it's not the best solution to your needs.   If you want a good basic editor and either don't want a library or are sufficiently computer savvy to create a filing system, then use the software that came with your camera.  If you want a top-end editor and prefer to own outright, then AP is hard to beat (and great value for money IMO).

[Pšenda]

2 hours ago, Bololoco said:

so how good is affinity photo?

As already said, without knowing your exact needs and expectations, this question cannot be answered "correctly" - it will always be the subjective opinions of users with their specific needs, which may be very different from yours. It is therefore best to use the 30-day trial version and make your own opinion - how good it is.
However, it is certainly true that the utility value of ASuite in relation to the price is one of the best on the market - for the money it is difficult to find such a comprehensive tool that handles the entire DTP industry at a very good level. Of course, there are individual applications (for editing photos, for vector drawing, ...) that may be far more suitable for specific purposes, but a comprehensive tool with a uniform interface, with a universal file format and with simple switching between sub-applications (SymbolLink, Edit in ... ) you will find it hard to find.

[Bololoco]

Ok, well I will probably be buying AP once my trial ends. Can I get a cheap upgrade should I wish to get the bundle at a later date?

[walt.farrell]

10 minutes ago, Bololoco said:

Can I get a cheap upgrade should I wish to get the bundle at a later date?

No.

If you already have a license for one of the V1 applications, and have registered it with Serif, then you can get an upgrade discount of 25% on the Universal license now. If you don't qualify for that upgrade price, you can by the Universal license for (I think) about 2.5 times the price of a single application for one OS. That gets you all three applications for all three OSes.

But if you purchase a single application for a single OS, there is no advertised discount for later purchasing the other two for a single OS, nor for purchasing the Universal license. 

You could wait for one of the occasional sales, which may offer something like a 20% discount for individual application or Universal license purchases, but we can't predict when they might happen.

[R C-R]

6 hours ago, Bololoco said:

Thanks and got it. I did try exporting a picture yesterday but could only seem to do it as a PNG......I obviously missed the menu that allows all the other file formats.

It's the top item in the Export window -- the one just above "File Settings" that says "PNG." Click on that PNG text & a menu will pop up with the other export formats.

It may be hard to see but there are a pair of small 'v' marks (one inverted) next to the PNG text. This is used in many places in the UI to indicate the item is a popup menu.

[Bololoco]

Just found out that because I shoot with an OM System camera, i'm able to download their proprietary editing software, so have access to quite an advanced program already....sorry affinity but maybe one day if I change my camera.

Affinity does look good but i'm going to save myself some money this time round.