Is Affinity Photo ready for professional use?

[JulianVen]

I have been using Affinity Photo professionally for retouching images for several months now. During this time, I've been able to see in practice all the benefits and productivity that this application offers.

However, I don't think Affinity Photo is ready for demanding use for professional projects due to its instability. Tons of crashes, bugs and various incompatibilities with GPUs that most users face make it an unreliable solution.

These problems are common to the entire software industry, but what is worrying about Affinity is the huge delay of the technical team in releasing fix updates. There are even bugs that have been around since 2019 that are simply ignored by the team (at least, that's how it seems).

In my screenshot you can see the amount of crash reports I had in just two days of work. Most of them occur when opening or closing files, and some others in the middle of an edition, causing hours of lost work (in all these cases, the losses were not recovered when reopening the files).

Affinity Photo has a huge potential, it is currently in the focus of the creative market and in a decisive moment to conquer or lose the market from my point of view. I hope Affinity will seize this opportunity and make this software reliable as soon as possible.

(...and yes, these crashes happen with and without hardware acceleration).

[fde101]

55 minutes ago, JulianVen said:

the amount of crash reports I had in just two days of work

I have a hard time believing this is even close to "normal" as I have not experienced this at all with the released versions of the Affinity products.

Please make sure you have provided Serif with samples of those dump files so they can try to work out what is happening.

 

57 minutes ago, JulianVen said:

bugs that have been around since 2019 that are simply ignored by the team

While I agree that this is bad, the reality is that there have been bugs in other professional applications (and even operating systems) that have been around for an extended time with no apparent sign of prioritization by their developers.  This is particularly common with commercial (as opposed to open-source) applications.

[NotMyFault]

The ever increasing amount of unfixed bugs and regressions is hard to bear. It seems Affinity has absolutely no automated quality control, maybe due to missing scripting.

It would be so simple to run a huge set of test images (scripted edit operations) through Photo and compare the resulting images (exports) against a fixed reference for every new release.

Instead users doing this as part of beta program over and over again, manually.

Especially the UI situation is dire. 
 

If Affinity software would be part of a car, airplane, ship, etc Affinity would be forced to recall and fix bugs. 

[JulianVen]

On 11/15/2024 at 11:48 AM, fde101 said:

I have a hard time believing this is even close to "normal" as I have not experienced this at all with the released versions of the Affinity products.

This is absolutely "not normal", or at least it shouldn't be. I'm not the only one experiencing this, posts about Affinity Photo crashing after opening or closing files are very common on the forums.

On 11/15/2024 at 11:48 AM, fde101 said:

Please make sure you have provided Serif with samples of those dump files so they can try to work out what is happening.

The purpose of my post is not about these crashes specifically, but to discuss if Affinity Photo is ready or not to face a large community of professionals.

As for providing Serif with more information about these dump files, I have to admit that the time I've spent posting about other bugs in the past (writing as technically as possible and taking video screenshots) hasn't been worth it. It's remarkable how evasive the staff is and how they seem to ignore the facts that users bring to the table. This is not just me, but the vast majority of users who give their best time to help improve Affinity.

 

On 11/15/2024 at 11:48 AM, fde101 said:

While I agree that this is bad, the reality is that there have been bugs in other professional applications (and even operating systems) that have been around for an extended time with no apparent sign of prioritization by their developers.  This is particularly common with commercial (as opposed to open-source) applications.

As I mentioned, the entire software industry deals with bugs and crashes. I can talk about Adobe because I've been using the entire suite for 20 years. Adobe is the champion of bugs and crashes with every release. Even with old classic bugs that reappear every so often. But Adobe usually releases upgrades with fixes within a week or two. Affinity has had unresolved bugs since 2019 and the last update was... (3 months ago?). It's about the delay the technical team takes to resolve things.

[Ldina]

Ready for professional use? That probably depends on the context. 

Many people successfully use all three Affinity Apps for 'professional' vector work, press output, etc., and are able to make it work. That said, it can take extra time, knowledge and diligence to understand, manage and work around the issues that often pop up. It's much harder than it should be due to bugs, omissions, and some missing capabilities. This can be managed (mostly) if you are a small company or a lone designer, who creates all or most of the content required (or if you utilize very standardized content supplied by others, such as JPG, TIFF, PNG, and sometimes PDF files). 

If you are collaborating with the wide world of designers, rely on a lot of 3rd party content (much of which was created using Adobe apps and provided in their proprietary file formats, PSD, AI, etc), are in a production environment, need to deliver source files to customers, etc, it's more of a challenge. For my needs, AfPhoto is generally up to the task (though I realize it is not for some workflows). Designer can be a bit more of a challenge (if you need a pure vector file), since it is what I'd call a mixed "vector/pixel" program, so it depends on the project. This can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on the final output requirements. Publisher, to me, is the weakest link, at least if your final destination is a Printing Press or RIP that needs to maintain full vector content, K-Only text and lines, avoid rasterization, do proper transparency blending (e.g., there is no user selectable CMYK or RGB Transparency blend space), etc. The PDF-LIB module Affinity uses can result in some export limitations and issues, and since nearly all jobs are submitted to printers as PDF files, this can sometimes lead to problems. Since so much 3rd party content is provided in various PDF 'flavors and PDF versions', this can also be a problem. Affinity has many PDF 'compatibility rules', doesn't support PDF v1.3, and sometimes requires a fair amount of trial and error to get a pristine file that is 100% Press Ready. It helps to have a good PDF Analysis tool (e.g., Acrobat Pro, PDF Toolbox, etc) to check the final exported PDF file before submitting it. Publisher can be made to work for Press jobs most of the time, as many have done, but it's harder than it should be, especially in a production or team-based workflow. 

I know the above is somewhat critical, but to me it is fair and balanced overall. There's a lot to like about the Affinity Suite and I use it all the time for my personal work, but I no longer do paid professional work or send jobs to Press. For my needs, it works great, and I'll continue to use it for my own personal printing, design, photo editing, emails images, posting on the internet, PDFs for technical manuals, brochures, etc....as long as they are destined for digital use only or an inkjet printer. But if I were to take on more professional Press design work, and especially if I had to work with other designers, or use a lot of 3rd party content (various flavors of PDF, AI, PSD, etc), I hate to say it, but I'd be using InDesign. I'd probably use AfPhoto most of the time, and Designer whenever I could. (I'm not a big fan of Adobe Illustrator's interface).

To me, the Affinity Suite is close to being professional, and it makes me sad that so many of the long-standing bugs, omissions and shortcomings remain unaddressed. If they were addressed, the Affinity Suite would be a serious contender in the professional marketplace. To be fair to Serif, it's a very steep hill to climb...the entire professional print ecosystem is built around Adobe, PSD, AI, INDD, PDF, Postscript and the equipment and procedures that are designed to process them. Having been through numerous corporate acquisitions, I know they are usually very disruptive and time consuming, and it takes time for things to settle down, so I'm content to give Serif more time to see whether they will address these issues. I sincerely hope they do because I like their products and how they work together. Fortunately for me, the Affinity Suite usually works well for my personal needs.

I hope I didn't offend anybody's sensibilities because that was certainly not my intent. Just my honest assessment. Let the tomato-throwing commence!! 😃

[JulianVen]

13 minutes ago, Ldina said:

It's close to being professional, and it makes me sad that so many of the long-standing bugs, omissions and shortcomings remain unaddressed. If they are addressed, the Affinity Suite would be a serious contender in the professional marketplace. To be fair to Serif, it's a very steep hill to climb...the entire ecosystem is built around Adobe, PSD, AI, INDD, PDF, Postscript, and equipment and procedures that are designed to use them. Having been through numerous corporate acquisitions, I know they are very disruptive and it takes time for things to settle down, so I'm content to give Serif more time to see whether they will address these issues. I sincerely hope they do because I like their products and how they work together. Fortunately for me, the Affinity Suite works quite well for my personal needs.

I agree 100%

Thank you very much for sharing your experience.

[Old Bruce]

15 minutes ago, Ldina said:

I know the above is rather critical, but to me it is fair and balanced overall.

Fair as far as I can tell too. I do disagree with some your comments but I would think they are true for your work.

[Meliora spero]

No. Only if your time has no value.

[albertkinng]

Every experience with a tool varies depending on the type of work you do with it. For me, the Affinity apps has been my primary tool for work since 2014. I’ve been using them consistently without encountering any issues that couldn’t be resolved. Ultimately, the decision to switch from Adobe to a Affinity apps has been the best choice I’ve ever made. However, I comprehend why some large corporations and individuals who rely on Adobe apps feel compelled to keep paying monthly fees for the privilege of using a creative tool. I make a living with Affinity Apps, I am using them every day, 8 hours a day. Yes, they are professional tools. I’ve attached an Affinity Designer document detailing the extensive graphic user interface development for an app design project.

[Pšenda]

3 hours ago, albertkinng said:

I’ve attached an Affinity Designer document detailing the extensive graphic user interface development for an app design project.

In your case, when due to the number of Artboards, their joint display in the Layers panel loses clarity, an alternative option for displaying them similar to the Pages/Artboards panel would be useful. That is, a list of artboards, where after selecting it, only the items of the given Artboard would be displayed in the Layers panel, just like with Pages.

[PaoloT]

Unfortunately, it is true that the Affinity apps don't always fit my professional workflow – so much to be sometimes "in the way" – and exhibit more bugs than desirable.

But I still deal with some parts of the alternative, and not everything is going completely well. My crash reporter shows a huge amount of crashes from an Adobe app that I still have to use.

I'm not particularly happy of the situation with professional software in general, in a time where bells and whistles are the focus of the development, and the core features are left behind. It's a bad sign of how the work in general is declining by quantity and quality. AI will just offer an illusion that everything is continuing well.

Paolo

 

 

[JulianVen]

On 11/19/2024 at 11:19 AM, albertkinng said:

Every experience with a tool varies depending on the type of work you do with it. For me, the Affinity apps has been my primary tool for work since 2014. I’ve been using them consistently without encountering any issues that couldn’t be resolved. Ultimately, the decision to switch from Adobe to a Affinity apps has been the best choice I’ve ever made. However, I comprehend why some large corporations and individuals who rely on Adobe apps feel compelled to keep paying monthly fees for the privilege of using a creative tool. I make a living with Affinity Apps, I am using them every day, 8 hours a day. Yes, they are professional tools. I’ve attached an Affinity Designer document detailing the extensive graphic user interface development for an app design project.

 

I don't want this topic to end up like most of them, reduced to the persistent Affinity vs. Adobe debate. I even see the inertia of many users to adopt a kind of justification or conformity to Affinity's weaknesses because it's a fairer option to Adobe. My main point here is "Is Affinity a reliable option for professionals (especially those who are considering taking the time and effort to migrate to a new software)?

I haven't actively used Affinity Design or Publisher to have my own opinion of them. My comment is specific to my experience with Affinity Photo.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and keep up the good work with your projects!

[JulianVen]

3 hours ago, PaoloT said:

I'm not particularly happy of the situation with professional software in general, in a time where bells and whistles are the focus of the development, and the core features are left behind

I completely agree and also hope that Affinity continues to focus on productivity.

[albertkinng]

On 11/20/2024 at 10:08 AM, JulianVen said:

I even see the inertia of many users to adopt a kind of justification or conformity to Affinity's weaknesses because it's a fairer option to Adobe.

No software is flawless, and I strongly believe that professionals should invest in the tools they need, even if it requires a monthly subscription. Ultimately, being a professional isn’t defined by the tools you use, but by how effectively you solve problems. For example, numerous young talents today are proficient in tools like Photoshop and Illustrator; my 16-year-old daughter has already earned all the Adobe Creative Cloud badges through her classes. When I transitioned away from Adobe in 2014, I reached out to my clients—agencies and multimedia service providers—to see if they would continue to work with me despite my new choice. All of them were on board. However, it's important to note that not all users enjoy the same level of client loyalty, as some agencies may still require the Adobe CC suite for collaboration. In my design toolkit, I rely on Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, Affinity Publisher, Pixelmator, Photomator, Sketch, Hype 4, and Keyshape. These tools provide strong performance without the burden of monthly fees. My team previously used Multi App for real-time collaboration, but since it was acquired by OpenAI, we are currently exploring Pop as an alternative. While it’s not the same, it serves its purpose well.

[JulianVen]

On 11/27/2024 at 11:44 AM, albertkinng said:

No software is flawless, and I strongly believe that professionals should invest in the tools they need, even if it requires a monthly subscription. Ultimately, being a professional isn’t defined by the tools you use, but by how effectively you solve problems. For example, numerous young talents today are proficient in tools like Photoshop and Illustrator; my 16-year-old daughter has already earned all the Adobe Creative Cloud badges through her classes. When I transitioned away from Adobe in 2014, I reached out to my clients—agencies and multimedia service providers—to see if they would continue to work with me despite my new choice. All of them were on board. However, it's important to note that not all users enjoy the same level of client loyalty, as some agencies may still require the Adobe CC suite for collaboration. In my design toolkit, I rely on Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, Affinity Publisher, Pixelmator, Photomator, Sketch, Hype 4, and Keyshape. These tools provide strong performance without the burden of monthly fees. My team previously used Multi App for real-time collaboration, but since it was acquired by OpenAI, we are currently exploring Pop as an alternative. While it’s not the same, it serves its purpose well.

Thank you @albertkinng for sharing your experience. It's true, there are many types of professionals and necessities, but in general there is a common denominator to all professionals: "time is money". It's about this that I wonder if Affinity is ready in this topic. When a software crashes in the middle of a job, you lose time. When a tool doesn't work properly and you need to find a workaround, that consumes time. When the software doesn't perform well with the GPU, everything becomes slower. And if the development team spends months or even years to fix bugs, the situation becomes unprofitable.

[albertkinng]

5 hours ago, JulianVen said:

When a software crashes in the middle of a job, you lose time. When a tool doesn't work properly and you need to find a workaround, that consumes time. When the software doesn't perform well with the GPU, everything becomes slower. And if the development team spends months or even years to fix bugs, the situation becomes unprofitable.

I answered this already:

Quote

Ultimately, being a professional isn’t defined by the tools you use, but by how effectively you solve problems.

 

Affinity vs. Adobe: A Comparison of Problems:

Adobe Scenario:   One of my brand management agencies reached out because an InDesign document they sent me appeared completely different from the PDF they provided. Initially, I assumed it was a font issue or missing linked images, so I asked them to send the packaged document. Even with the package, the file wouldn’t open correctly. With the clock ticking and knowing that "time is money," I decided to open the provided PDF instead. Using it as a starting point, I rebuilt the entire file from scratch and returned an uncorrupted version to the agency, saving them a full day.

Solution? Recreate everything from scratch.

Affinity Scenario:   A client who creates custom AMR decals upgraded their setup from Mac to PC, only to discover that none of their template files—created in Illustrator and Photoshop—would open properly using their Adobe CC account. When I tried opening these files in Affinity, the templates, which consisted of graphics masked in layers and organized into groups, were rasterized. To fix this, I ungrouped everything, identified the rasterized elements, and rebuilt them from scratch. Once complete, I sent the corrected files back, saving the client an entire day.

Solution? Recreate everything from scratch.

The Reality of Design Software:   If you’re seeking software that never crashes mid-project or tools that always work seamlessly without requiring workarounds, the design industry might not be for you. Over my 30 years in this field, I’ve never had a flawless experience with any professional software. Every project has its share of challenges. Tasks that seem simple on the surface often turn complex. Frustration is inevitable, and I completely understand how you feel. The hard truth is that no software is perfect. That’s just the reality of the design world.

 

[JulianVen]

I understand and even agree with your point of view in part. But what I'm discussing here is more about "Affinity Photo" bugs, and as I've written before:

On 11/15/2024 at 10:25 AM, JulianVen said:

These problems are common to the entire software industry, but what is worrying about Affinity is the huge delay of the technical team in releasing fix updates

In relation to this

29 minutes ago, albertkinng said:

Affinity vs. Adobe: A Comparison of Problems:

well...

On 11/20/2024 at 12:08 PM, JulianVen said:

I don't want this topic to end up like most of them, reduced to the persistent Affinity vs. Adobe debate

Regarding your comment here...

38 minutes ago, albertkinng said:

If you’re seeking software that never crashes mid-project or tools that always work seamlessly without requiring workarounds, the design industry might not be for you.

I appreciate your recommendation but I'm not thinking of starting in the "design industry". I've been in the "digital creative industry" for over 26 years now. And since that's been my main profession all that time. I can say today that yes... it has been for me (lol).

[albertkinng]

On 12/2/2024 at 2:53 PM, JulianVen said:

I appreciate your recommendation but I'm not thinking of starting in the "design industry"

It seems there's a disconnect in our understanding—either you don’t grasp my point or you’re limiting your perspective to the belief that tools must always function flawlessly. Given your extensive 26 years of experience, I find it surprising that you expect perfection from these tools. I'm aware that your expertise may involve tools I haven't used yet, so I would greatly appreciate it if you could share which reliable tools you utilize that never fail. This guidance would be invaluable in helping me save time in my own work. I understand you might not be relying on Adobe CC, CorelDraw Suite, or Affinity Universal, so I sincerely seek your insight as a fellow professional.

[JulianVen]

7 hours ago, albertkinng said:

I find it surprising that you expect perfection

I don't have that expectation at all. I think I've made it clear what I'm discussing here:

On 11/15/2024 at 10:25 AM, JulianVen said:

These problems are common to the entire software industry, but what is worrying about Affinity is the huge delay of the technical team in releasing fix updates. There are even bugs that have been around since 2019 that are simply

 

[Meliora spero]

The short version of this thread is that Serif apparently neither can nor wants to do better, and the acquisition by Canva is unlikely to make much of a difference. Canva's customer segment (who will never use the program's advanced features) consists precisely of users who neither can nor want to do better, but who are happy to buy their way out of the burden of creative work - creative work the rest of us, on the other hand, love.

I've seen Photoshop handle extreme workloads and complex tasks without crashing for decades, and the bugs I encountered have long since been fixed. It's completely unrealistic to imagine professionals who push their software to its limits switching to the meagre Photo.

[albertkinng]

@JulianVen Ok. 

@Deperditus Cliens Your comment is very good. Thanks for sharing.