Why are slices and artboards pixel-snapped in a vector-based tool?!

[ancillarysword]

Hi,
I'm working on a logo with multiple color variants, and I need to export each as EPS for print. Sounds simple, right?

But Affinity Designer makes it painful:

• Slices snap to pixel bounds, even in a document set to millimeters.

• Artboards do the same, even with snapping disabled.

• There's no way to create a slice or artboard that exactly matches the curves of a vector object — everything gets rounded to pixel values.

This makes clean EPS export for print work frustrating and error-prone. I’m working with curves and real-world dimensions, not screen pixels. Why is a vector design tool forcing me into pixel-aligned outputs?

Please, devs — can we get:

• Slices/artboards based on object bounds in real units (mm/pt)?

• A full opt-out of pixel rounding for print workflows?

Affinity Designer is great, but this part feels totally broken for serious print work.

Thanks,
A frustrated print designer

[Komatös]

Hello @ancillarysword and welcome to the forums.

You can deaktivate Force Pixel Alignment and Snap to pixel bounds with the Snaping tool bar icon.

[ancillarysword]

I know that. It's not the 1st time I'm working in AD. Printscreen below: I made an artboard with the "Size: Selection" with ALL snapping off. It works like this even in Export persona when making slices. Unless the object is X:0 Y:0 with whole pixel numbers the artboard and/or slice is never aligned properly. And let's be honest, this is NEVER a case when designing logotypes etc.

Also don't be mistaken. The size of that artboard is OK, just the alignment is wrong so I need to position all objects manually. The upper gap means a bit is missing on the lower part.

With making slices out of objects in Export persona it is even worse, the slices NEVER align to objects on all sides.

 

Edited June 9 by ancillarysword

[ancillarysword]

To make things a bit clearer.

This here is a 100x100mm Artboard in Export persona. The slice was auto made and does not align with the 100x100mm artboard and thus an object inside that is 100x100mm (a circle in this example). The slice was auto snapped to 1182x1182 PIXELS.... And yes, my document is in mm, CMYK, all snapping, even the forced is off.

If I make it 1181x1181, the slice is smaller. Not by much in this example but when designing and exporting a logotype, you NEED it 100%, not 99%.

It is simply stupid. When designing for a digital usage, yes of course, you need whole pixels. When exporting for print, it doesn't make any sense and to be honest, it's unusable.

[NotMyFault]

Affinity is pixel oriented even if a document uses physical units. 
the title of your post says „pixel snapping“ and this lead to wrong interpretation (focus on snapping).

you are right that pixel alignment is a huge pain for users of Affinity products. This has been reported before gazillion times.

Snapping is a band aid helping to solve the issue partially, it is not the cause.

Affinity converts all units to px and exports get rounded up to whole pixels. A few tricks help to ease the pain:

• use 144 dpi for UI design using pt as units, so 1pt equals 2px
• use 304.8 dpi for documents using mm as units, see 

[ancillarysword]

Thanx! Well that is a 100% deal breaker for me. I have really wanted to get away from Adobe products but this is such a disastrous decision and execution by Affinity designers and devs that I need to stick with overpriced Illustrator and InDesign until this inexplicably stupid (dis)functionality is approached by someone who understands what-s and why-s.

That hack works in a way but it doesn't work well with bleed btw.

Sorry for the rant. I have really wanted to love Affinity products...