Looking for a photo editing tool that’s easy on the wallet but powerful enough to handle your creative projects? Affinity Photo could be the solution.
With a one-time purchase and a range of advanced features, it’s often seen as a worthy alternative to Photoshop. But does it live up to the hype?
In this Affinity Photo review, I’ll walk you through its key features, what works well, and where it might fall short. Stick around as I dive into what you can expect from Affinity Photo and whether it could be the right fit for your editing needs.
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What is Affinity Photo?
Affinity Photo is a photo editing tool that strikes a balance between power and affordability.
It’s a popular choice for both beginners and professionals who want a reliable alternative to more expensive options like Photoshop.
I first gave it a try when I needed something to work with RAW images. With features like advanced layer management, retouching tools, and detailed photo manipulation options, Affinity Photo provides plenty of creative control.
That said, it can feel a bit overwhelming if you’re new to editing software. For instance, tasks like applying filters or making precise adjustments require a bit of a learning curve.
But once you get the basics down, it’s a flexible tool that can handle almost any editing challenge you throw at it.
Affinity Photo key features
In this section of the Affinity Photo review, we’ll look at some of the key features of Affinity Photo to give you a sense of what you can expect when using it.
Comprehensive photo editing tools
At its core, Affinity Photo offers a full suite of editing tools that handle everything from simple color adjustments to complex retouching. For example, you can quickly adjust exposure, contrast, and saturation with a few clicks.
But what sets it apart is its level of control. The software allows you to work with layers and masks, which means you can make non-destructive changes to your photos.
I’ve used this feature when editing portraits, allowing me to fine-tune every detail without permanently altering the original image.
It’s great for creating composites, repairing images, or even just fine-tuning certain areas of a photo.
Advanced retouching and healing
The software comes with tools like the Healing Brush and Clone Stamp, which make it easy to remove imperfections or unwanted objects from an image.
I used the Healing Brush to clean up some blemishes in a portrait shot, and the results were nearly flawless.
The Clone Stamp is perfect when you need to duplicate a section of an image to fill gaps or replace damaged areas.
These tools give you the flexibility to restore and enhance your images in ways that feel seamless.
RAW editing
This is another important part of Affinity Photo review. For anyone working with RAW images, Affinity Photo has a dedicated RAW editing workspace that allows you to fine-tune the white balance, exposure, and other settings that can’t be edited directly in a regular photo editor.
It’s really useful when you are working with images shot in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
The ability to adjust things like shadows and highlights in RAW format gives you a much wider range of editing possibilities before you dive into further adjustments in the main workspace.
Layer and masking support
Layer-based editing is a critical feature in any photo editing tool, and Affinity Photo supports it fully. This means you can stack multiple adjustments and apply them in a non-destructive way, giving you more freedom to experiment.
Masking tools allow you to apply effects to specific areas of an image without affecting the entire picture.
For example, when I was working on a landscape shot, I was able to selectively enhance the sky while keeping the foreground untouched. It’s a fantastic way to achieve precision in your edits.
Brushes and effects
Affinity Photo also includes a variety of brushes and filters to help you add creative touches to your images. You can use brushes for painting, blending, or adding textures, and there’s an extensive library to choose from.
Filters allow for quick adjustments like blurring, sharpening, or adding artistic effects to a photo.
These tools are great for experimenting with different looks, and they can help you take your edits to the next level when you want to get creative.
Affinity Photo review: pros and cons
Offering powerful features at a one-time purchase price, it’s a solid choice for anyone wanting to dive into photo manipulation or editing. But as with any tool, there are both positives and drawbacks to consider in this Affinity Photo review.
Affinity Photo pros
Powerful editing tools
Affinity Photo is packed with professional-grade editing tools. Whether you’re working with basic adjustments like exposure or doing detailed tasks like frequency separation, you’ll find everything you need. I’ve used it for both quick touch-ups and complex photo manipulation, and it has handled both with ease.
Excellent RAW editing
The dedicated RAW workspace in Affinity Photo allows you to make initial adjustments before you begin detailed editing.
I’ve worked with RAW images extensively, and being able to tweak exposure, shadows, and white balance without losing image quality has been invaluable. This feature is great for photographers who need flexibility right from the start.
Intuitive interface
Despite its depth, Affinity Photo has a user-friendly interface. It’s well-organized, and I found it easy to navigate.
The clean design means you can jump right into your work, without feeling overwhelmed by unnecessary options. For example, basic tasks like cropping and color correction are simple to accomplish right away.
One-time payment
One of the biggest draws of Affinity Photo is that it doesn’t come with a subscription model. You pay a one-time fee, and you own the software. For someone tired of recurring costs, this is a huge win.
This is especially useful for budget-conscious users or those who don’t want to commit to a monthly or annual subscription.
Affinity Photo cons
Next, in this Affinity Photo review, let’s take a look at its limitations.
Limited compatibility with Photoshop files
While Affinity Photo can open Photoshop files, the compatibility isn’t always perfect. You may run into issues with layer styles, effects, or filters that don’t transfer well.
Can be slow
Although Affinity Photo is known for its powerful features, it can sometimes feel slow, especially when working with large files or complex edits.
Photo management needs improvement
While it excels at editing, managing your photo library is another matter. You’ll need to rely on third-party software or manually organize your files.
This can be a bit cumbersome for photographers or designers who need to import large batches of images or keep their photos neatly organized within the software itself.
No readymade templates
Unlike some competitors, Affinity Photo doesn’t come with built-in design templates for things like social media posts, brochures, or business cards. If you’re looking for ready-made templates to jumpstart your designs, you won’t find them here.
Affinity Photo pricing
When it comes to pricing, Affinity Photo stands out for its one-time purchase model, which is quite different from subscription-based options like Adobe Photoshop.
You pay a single fee for the software, and it’s yours to use without worrying about recurring costs. At the time of writing, Affinity Photo typically costs around $54.99, which is a solid price for the range of features it offers.
For a professional-grade photo editor, Affinity Photo offers great value. While it’s not the cheapest software out there, the one-time fee is a smart choice for those who want powerful tools without the ongoing costs.
Summing up: Affinity Photo review
Affinity Photo offers a strong set of tools for photo editing, especially if you prefer a one-time purchase over subscription fees. It’s an excellent solution for individuals or small businesses looking for professional-grade features at a reasonable price.
While it’s not perfect—there are occasional performance slowdowns and the lack of design templates might be an issue—it remains a reliable option.
From my experience, it’s a solid pick for anyone needing a versatile photo editor without committing to recurring costs.
Did I miss anything in this Affinity Photo review? Did you try Affinity Photo? Do you have any questions or comments? Share your thoughts below in the comments section.
