Idk a few years back I stopped using Graphic (formerly iDraw) after realizing it was getting abandoned. Every once in a while I try opening an old .idraw file and the app still works despite no updates since 2018!
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Canva Relaunches Affinity as Free All-in-One Design App
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I am no longer using my older paid MS Office suites to create new documents because they are not 100% compatible with current versions of macOS. I do have a "subscription" to Office 365 through work though.
Aw crap. We have seen this before with Google. Count down to finding the catch and it’s going to be a doozy. They did NOT spend all that money to buy and run this team to make nothing.
After acquiring Serif last year, Canva has overhauled its Affinity design suite, consolidating three creative tools into a single free app for Mac and Windows.
The newly launched Affinity by Canva unifies vector, photo, and layout capabilities that were previously spread across separate Designer, Photo, and Publisher apps. So instead of juggling multiple apps, users can now switch between the three modes through dedicated Vector, Pixel, and Layout tabs within one interface.
The redesigned app includes a customizable workspace where creators can mix tools from different studios, rearrange panels, and save multiple setups for specific project types. Custom configurations can also be shared with teams and communities for standardizing workflows.
Following Canva's 2024 acquisition of Serif, the integration brings some other changes that might give longtime Affinity users pause. Everyone now needs a Canva account to access the software, but signing up is free. Canva premium subscribers also get AI tools directly within Affinity, including Generative Fill, Expand & Edit, and Remove Background features.
In a clear bid to rival Adobe, Canva's decision to ship the app for free is likely to be a welcome surprise for users who feared a subscription model was looming. "There's no catch, no stripped-back version, and no gotchas," said Ash Hewson, CEO of Affinity, commenting on the launch. But while Affinity insists the core app will remain free without restrictions, the account requirement and AI upsells signal a freemium approach. Whether longtime users will appreciate trading a one-time purchase for ongoing Canva integration remains to be seen.
An iPad version is planned for release next year, and existing Affinity V2 license holders can continue using their purchased software if they prefer to stick with the older model without the Canva integrations. Affinity can be downloaded from the Affinity Studio website.
Article Link: Canva Relaunches Affinity as Free All-in-One Design App
I was totally fine paying for this stuff before. I’m concerned I am going to become the product even with versions I paid for.
Yes, but the thing is, it wont be updated anymore. So there will not be a V3 version, no matter if I want to py for it or not.I did not read that the V2 software was going to stop working? Just keep what you have been using for your hobby and be happy! Or try out the new free version! Win-win!
Sooner or later V2 will stop being usable due to old bugs or software updates.
I've been messing around for about 10 minutes, and I agree. This is a significant re-think of the entire concept of these apps. I use Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop, and sometimes (actually most of the time) I need all three to complete one project. Affinity seems to merge them in a way that makes a whole lot of logical sense.
I'm wary of free software, and I have a general distaste for Canva, but this seems pretty good.
Yup. That's another possibility.
I am always very wary of CEOs and companies that promise 'free'. Yeah, right. Who are you kidding? There is ALWAYS a catch. It may not appear now, but it will appear.
Honestly, I much rather they say, here's the paid version of v3 Affinity. If you don't want to pay, there is an option to use it but with, for example, ads, limited function, etc.
Meanwhile macOS Tahoe users are still waiting for the updated icon of Pixelmator Pro.
Are you not saying the same thing as the post you quoted? The point is that there seems to be a catch, not that anyone was asking for the product to be truly free. The post you quoted identifies that there is something misleading by this move, and a desire for more transparency from the acquiring company; since many of us were very willing to pay for Affinity previously, we would rather be told upfront about what we (including you and the post you quoted) know is not going to be truly, "free".
the money is coming from the Canva ecosystem, which Affinity is part of now being owned by Canva. People are looking at this too narrowly. This is part of the bigger system which people pay for and which this will help incentives people to use as part of that.
Like a lot of people here, I'm also concerned about the long-term business strategy of this move, but not enough is being said about the integration of the three core design apps into a single app. In my opinion, this is what Adobe should have been working on decades ago instead of piling features on legacy apps that have conflicting and redundant operating modes, often having trouble working together. It remains to be seen if it's done well, but it could be a game-changer for workflow.
the horror of it all! If you are that suspicious make a free junk gmail, yahoo or hotmail account and sign up and enjoy using the great software for free. Good thing you didn't need an account for this forum, for discord, for just about everything you do online.
Nobody is happy. Free, people complain. Subscription, people complain. One time purchase, people complain when a new one comes out.
From all of the things they've announced, it sounds to me like their plan to make money is by competing with Adobe and others to be the main DAM (digital asset manager) for companies. Companies will pay them to store their brand guidelines, approved imagery, and more in Canva so their non-designer employees can use them and create things like slides and ads with approved branding materials easily. Meanwhile the designer employees can use Affinity to create the high quality imagery and source files that everyone else uses.
If they can break into that market, it's a big one.
DaVinci gets its revenue from audio/video hardware.
Blender is open-source with donors.
Canva... "pro" AI software...
Truth.
I’ve been adjacent to this market for decades, and the rebuttle from design professionals has always (always) ((always)) been that when it comes to getting content to print, it's Adobe or the highway.
Figma has proven that the Adobe monopoly is vulnerable. If Canva crack this print gap, could be a slam dunk.
You get the free app with all the version 2 had, plus extra’s like filters AND pixel vectorizer. So a good deal.
IMHO fireworks had/has no competition. It was a true multimedia graphics Swiss army knife.
Unless they lose current users who need something trustworthy to rely on for their professional work.
