Any plans for AI features?

[Domske]

Are there any plans for AI features? I'm thinking about removing the background and extending images. It can and should only be run locally!

[fde101]

Some users would prefer that the existing AI features which were just added in 2.6 never would have been.

Those which were added are not generative like the features being requested here; those are much more controversial right now than the AI selection tools that were recently added and are (hopefully) a long way off, as some users may not even be able to continue using the software if those ever get added to it.

[walt.farrell]

There's already Subject Selection in 2.6, @Domske, which is AI-based and runs locally. That gives you "remove background" by first selecting the subject, refining it if needed, inverting the selection, and pressing Delete. More information here: https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/whats-new/

Extending images is already possible with Inpainting, though crudely and not AI-based. Extending images in an AI-based way is (to me) a form of generative AI, which Serif have said in the past they do not intend to implement (though of course plans can change).

It is unlikely that Serif will comment here on their future plans, as they generally don't do that.

 

[Bound by Beans]

Can customers who want AI-assisted editing — the kind that saves hours of mind-numbing, time-wasting routine work — not be allowed to ask without the usual non-Serif-related permanent residents of the forum launching into the same old generative AI story?

AI is here to stay, and it can be an almost miraculous assistant — so that photography isn't one part shooting and nineteen parts editing, which often results in thousands of photos sitting in storage because photographers or their assistants simply don't have time for them. And then the incentive to take more photos disappears — because you never actually get the time to edit and process them?

Very soon, no software will have a viable business case unless it helps save time — and if anyone understands that, it's Serif, just look at the last-minute Canva acquisition right before AI became the new normal. It was sold as a success story and a brotherhood, but in reality, it was a last-minute rescue.

The debate about AI-generated content is a completely different discussion and should be kept separate when customers are asking for AI-assisted sharpening, selection, noise cancellation, or whatever else. It’s the biggest helping hand and time-saver so far for people who edit photos — and it was never the intention that skilled photographers also had to master every technique in Photoshop, Photo, and the like. Let people enjoy that time-saving without the usual lament from the old guard.

[walt.farrell]

9 minutes ago, Bound by Beans said:

without the usual non-Serif-related permanent residents of the forum launching into the same old generative AI story?

@Domske asked if there were any plans. I related the last-stated plan at this point, which I consider relevant to the question they asked. I was not debating the merits.

[Domske]

@walt.farrell Thanks, I missed that new Object Selection Tool. I haven't tested it enough yet, but I've seen better ones. Especially on edges like hair. But it could be helpful. I already tested some online tools. The background is removed automatically almost perfectly. I just thought it would be great if Affinity Photo had a feature like this. I hope it comes soon. I prefer the local, for privacy reasons etc. We'll see.. Thanks again for the hint.

[walt.farrell]

You're welcome.

[AndyMac]

Unsure why "Those which were added are not generative like the features being requested here; those are much more controversial right now than the AI selection tools that were recently added and are (hopefully) a long way off, as some users may not even be able to continue using the software if those ever get added to it."

If there are AI tools to help you with your editing, including maybe some whay could be called generative processes around extending photos, better object replacement, etc. people don't have to use them - maybe, for users who are absolutely against any AI assistance through generative approaches, the options to do this could simply be disabled in the menus?

Surely, with Canva now owning Affinity, their experience and capabilities around AI can be used to infuse all the Affinity products with these capabilities.

[fde101]

On 4/15/2025 at 3:01 AM, AndyMac said:

people don't have to use them

Some users have expressed that they are in work situations where they are so restricted in this area that if the tool supports it at all it is much harder for them to prove that they did not use these features, which they are strictly banned from using in their work situations - if they can show that they are using a program which does not have these features, or that these features are completely disabled in the software, it may mean the difference between whether or not they can use that software at all for their work.

As I have said before, I believe the best approach to this is if those features will be introduced, they should be created as separate plugins to the software, so that those who want them and are allowed to make use of them can install the plugins, and those who are not allowed to have them or who do not want them can simply not install those plugins.

[sixem21c]

Unless you want to lose all the Designers that use the Affinity Collection of Apps, i suggest you keep AI out of these Applications.

The Reason Designers moved away from Adobe Subscriptions, is that Affinity was a Professional Set of Tools that could Replace Photoshop, etc without a Subscription just a One Off Payment. So far everything has worked Well as a Replacement for Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign without AI.

I have used Affinity since 2017 and if AI is Embedded into it, i will move on to another App without AI - even if it’s Open Source.

Maybe you should provide an Opt Out Option. Be it an Off Switch for AI or an AI Version of Affinity Apps & Affinity Apps as they are Now with NO AI.

Whilst your New Masters at Canva are Diving into AI Head First. The Affinity Apps are Not Canva aka Design for Dummies…

Canva Users would not Know What Good Design was, if it Bit them on the Arse & AI will Fill that Knowledge Gap.

Please keep the Affinity Apps: Designer, Photo & Publisher AI FREE!!

[Hangman]

2 hours ago, sixem21c said:

Maybe you should provide an Opt Out Option. Be it an Off Switch for AI or an AI Version of Affinity Apps & Affinity Apps as they are Now with NO AI.

The Machine Learning features in the Affinity apps are opt-in...

This is from the press release...

"Affinity 2.6 brings some very exciting updates and improvements to the software, including our very first Machine Learning features.

Please note that the two new features, which use Machine Learning models (Object Selection Tool and Select Subject), are optional and require downloading of the relevant models for them to work. These are installed as pre-trained models, and they do not use any of your own data for further training. Furthermore, these operations all work ‘on device’, meaning none of your data leaves your device at any time."

[sixem21c]

A Graphic Designer Poster with Attitude (Whatever!) Sorry, Not a Fan of Ai.

Made in Affinity Designer V2.6.2 Using Vector Graphics, Images, Type, Blend Modes & Layer FX.
Love the Type Tool in Designer and Being Able to Add Layer FX to Type is also Great.