Topic: Affinity Photo: a first Photoshop alternative?

[Francois]

The verdict on whether it will be a photoshop killer or not is still out, but here's a perfect chance to give it a try.
Serif has just released Affinity Photo for Windows as a public beta. You can download it by simply giving them an email in exchange for the link.
Since I couldn't be bothered by that and all the future mails that will inevitably come, I just used a temporary email.

For those who want to give it a try, here's the link
https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo/

[SLVR]

I hate to say it but I don't know what I would do without photoshop. I've been using it for over 10 years and a lot of what I use it for has become second nature. It would be hard to change at this point.

[tkmedia]

I hate to say it but I don't know what I would do without photoshop. I've been using it for over 10 years

over 20 years for me! I was told to try using lightroom, as i didnt do much manipulation beside levels and dust, but just not used to the workflow.

[imagesfrugales]

Only after you signed up they tell you that you need a 64 bit version of windows :-( So I stick with Gimp, and yes, Faststone, which is great image viewer in first line but also a great and extremely easy to use editor with 16/48-bit support. And it's free. All Adobe software was a pita with lots of probs and bloat here. Never more.

[Late Developer]

I used to use PS (in a very basic way) but I now use LR CC almost exclusively - with a bit of tweaking using the Nik software plug-ins if I want to do something a bit different.

[jharr]

I used GIMP for years. I have recently been using PS, but would have no problem switching to a new open source product as long as it will do levels and dust spotting. PS for me is like killing a fly with a nuclear warhead.

[Indofunk]

I started out using PS, but now use LR (I'm stuck on a pre-CC version). There are only 2 things that are "missing" in LR for me, and they are a PS-style clone tool (as opposed to LR's clone/heal tool), and ... not sure what exactly this is called, but ... where you can tone the shadows differently from the highlights? So when the shadows have a purplish cast but the highlights look perfect you can just tone the shadows? I'd have to fire up PS to find out what it's called...

I like the idea of another piece of software that can do similar stuff, but like most others here, I'm just so used to the LR workflow that I see no reason to learn a new software.

[Pete_R]

Free download is 64 bit only - counts me out. Bah!

[Francois]

What I think will attract more people is that this is not rentalware like all Adobe products in the CC series but a traditional piece of software that you can actually buy.

One of the things I like is that they didn't try and turn it into a swiss army knife like Photoshop. So far in photoshop, I probably use less than 5% of everything it can do. So that could turn out to be a somewhat interesting alternative if for some reason my venerable version of PS stops working.

But so far, I use the now defunct Picasa, Irfanview (this thing is fast!), PS and for some scripting stuff ImageMagick.

But like probably more than a few of us, I did go through a ton and a half of programs since the 1990's. So far, ACDsee, Picture Publisher, a short stint with Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop, Picasa, Irfanview, Photoscape, KPT Goo, Printshop and a lot more I can't remember had some time on a machine or another.
So I'm getting used to switching... but only if I can find better and hopefully portable versions.

[Kayos]

I used to use Gimp, as I went through a phase of using Linux desktop

I however needed Windows for something, then I installed Lightroom then photoshop, that was years ago and I now happily pay the £8 per month for both

I have the latest version, workflow that I can use with my eyes closed and support if needed.

I'm open to try new stuff but I usually end up comparing it to what I know and can't be bothered so unless it blows me away with something like "one click instant and perfect dust spotting" it's unlikely I will use it for long


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[Indofunk]

"one click instant and perfect dust spotting"

Now that's something I could get behind!!

[Nigel]

I used to use PS (in a very basic way) but I now use LR CC almost exclusively - with a bit of tweaking using the Nik software plug-ins if I want to do something a bit different.

I'm the same I use LR for 99% of everything I do. I pay for the Adobe photography CC which also gives me Photoshop but I seldom use it. I've used Afinity photo on the Mac for some time and I like it. I was they'd bring out a LR equivalent and I'd happily say goodbye to Adobe forever.

[Francois]

Well, I gave it a try and must say I'm not terribly impressed so far. Personally, I have a hard time figuring out what all the hoopla was about since I tried it.
While the program looks fantastic and is quite easy to use, not many of its features are revolutionary.
Maybe I originally set the bar too high (or Adobe did), but I was expecting more of a mix between Lightroom and Photoshop. A kind of Lightroom without the database feature. I was expecting to at least have a dodge and burn brush like the one in Lightroom... but it's not the case.

In itself, it's not bad but I can see myself using a mix of open source software to get somewhat similar results.
Lets just say that using UFraw or RAWtherapy, The Gimp, Photofiltre, Deblur and some HDR software and you'll get the same functions, just not all in one package. But you'll have the advantage that you can find those programs in a portable format (I already have them on a stick)