Affinity's Big Change: What You Need to Know

Affinity, a popular image-editing tool, has just undergone a significant transformation. After being acquired by Canva, Affinity has launched a new, unified app called "Affinity by Canva." This app combines the features of Photo, Designer, and Publisher into one. The best part? It's free to use with a Canva account.

The Catch: Paywall on AI Features

However, there's a catch. The app's generative AI features are locked behind a paywall. These features, like Generative Fill and Remove Background, require a Canva subscription, which costs $120 a year. This move might not sit well with users who prefer one-time payments over subscriptions.

Compatibility and Future Updates

The new app, also known as version 3, is compatible with both Windows and macOS. It supports a wide range of operating systems, from macOS 10.15 Catalina to the latest Windows 11. An iPad version is also in the works.

Creator-Centric Development

Affinity's CEO, Ash Hewson, emphasized that the new app was developed with input from the creator community. It focuses on performance, reliability, and creative freedom. Hewson also assured users that the AI features respect privacy and control. Work done in Affinity won't be used to train AI models.

Fate of the Old Affinity Apps

But what about the old Affinity apps? They're still available for download and use. However, they won't receive any future updates. Moreover, files created in the new Affinity v3 app can't be opened or edited in the older versions.

A Shift Reminiscent of Adobe

This shift might remind some users of Adobe's move from perpetual licenses to subscriptions. While the old Affinity apps might still work for a few years, their lack of updates and compatibility issues could become a problem in the future.