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Published Nov 3, 2024 ⦁ 17 min read
Affinity Photo: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Affinity Photo: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Affinity Photo is a powerful, affordable alternative to Photoshop. Here's what you need to know:

Key features:

Quick comparison:

Feature Affinity Photo Adobe Photoshop GIMP
Price $49.99 (one-time) $9.99/month Free
Raw editing Yes Yes Limited
PSD support Yes Yes Limited
Personas 5 Multiple Single

Affinity Photo offers professional-grade editing without breaking the bank. It's ideal for hobbyists, small business owners, and anyone tired of Photoshop's subscription model. While it has a learning curve, its familiar interface and powerful tools make it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced editors.

Affinity Photo basics

Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is a powerhouse of photo editing. Here's what makes it stand out:

Main features

How it compares

Feature Affinity Photo Adobe Photoshop GIMP
Price $49.99 (one-time) $9.99/month Free
Raw editing Yes Yes Limited
PSD support Yes Yes Limited
Non-destructive editing Yes Yes Limited
Personas/Workspaces 5 Multiple Single
GPU acceleration Yes Yes Limited

Affinity Photo holds its own against Photoshop but costs less. It's a one-time purchase, not a subscription.

"Affinity Photo is an incredibly attractive alternative to Adobe Photoshop, which hardly differs from the class leader in its essential functions." - Macworld Review

The interface is familiar to Photoshop users but still user-friendly for beginners. Its five personas (Photo, Liquify, Develop, Tone Mapping, and Export) help organize your workflow.

Plus, it can open and edit Photoshop files, including smart objects. This makes it great for team projects or if you're switching from other software.

How to start using Affinity Photo

Let's get you up and running with Affinity Photo:

Computer requirements

Most modern computers can handle Affinity Photo. Here's what you need:

Component Minimum Recommended
Processor Intel Core i3 Intel Core i5 or higher
RAM 4GB 16GB
Storage 1.5GB free space 30GB free space
OS Windows 10 (May 2020 Update) or later Windows 11

Download and install

1. Buy and download

Head to the official website or Microsoft Store. It's $49.99, one-time fee.

2. Install it

3. Trouble?

Set up your workspace

1. Get your images in

Drag and drop files or create a new canvas (File > New).

2. Make it yours

Tweak colors (Edit > Preferences > User Interface) and toolbars (View > Customize Tools and Toolbar).

3. Add your tools

View > Studio. Throw in tools like Brush, Swatches, Color, or Adjustments.

4. Pro tip

Start with default settings. Customize as you go. You'll figure out what works best for you.

Understanding the interface

Affinity Photo's interface is simple and beginner-friendly. Let's break it down:

Main parts of the interface

  1. Center: Your image
  2. Left: Tools panel
  3. Top: Toolbar (changes with active tool)
  4. Right: Up to 10 essential panels (Color, Histogram, Layers, etc.)

Affinity Photo uses "Personas" to organize its interface. The Photo Persona is where you'll do most of your editing.

Tools and what they do

Here's a quick look at some key tools:

Tool Function
Move (M) Repositions layers or selections
Crop Trims the image
Brush (B) Paints or applies effects
Eraser Removes parts of a layer
Clone Copies one area to another
Healing Removes blemishes or unwanted objects

Pro tip: Use keyboard shortcuts (in parentheses) for quick access.

Moving through panels and workspaces

Affinity Photo has 26 panels across three Personas. Here's how to manage them:

Customize your workspace:

  1. Move a panel: Drag its label
  2. Dock a panel: Drag to a panel group or docking area
  3. Save workspace: Window > Studio > Add Preset
  4. Load preset: Window > Manage Studio Presets > choose preset > Load

Need a fresh start? Reset the Studio: Window > Reset Studio for the current Persona.

Stuck? Tap and hold the question mark icon (bottom right) for tool tips.

Affinity Photo's different modes

Affinity Photo packs a punch with its specialized modes. Let's break them down:

Photo mode

This is your home base. It's where you'll do most of your editing. Think:

Basically, if you're editing a photo, you're probably in Photo mode.

Liquify mode

Want to reshape your image? Liquify mode is your go-to. You can:

It's great for subtle touch-ups or going full-on surreal.

Develop mode

Develop mode is all about RAW files. It lets you:

It's like working with digital negatives - you've got tons of flexibility.

Tone Mapping mode

Dealing with tricky lighting? Tone Mapping mode has your back:

It's perfect for those shots where the sky's too bright and the ground's too dark.

Export mode

When you're ready to share your masterpiece, head to Export mode. You can:

It's all about getting your image ready for its debut, whether that's online or in print.

Mode What it's for Cool features
Photo Everyday editing Color tweaks, retouching, selections
Liquify Warping images Push/pull, twirl, smooth tools
Develop RAW processing Non-destructive edits, lens fixes
Tone Mapping HDR and exposure balance HDR merging, contrast boosts
Export Prepping files Format choices, quality settings, resizing

Basic editing steps

Let's jump into the main editing tasks in Affinity Photo. These will get you started on transforming your images.

Opening and importing images

Getting photos into Affinity Photo is simple:

Affinity Photo handles all standard image types, including RAW files.

Cropping and resizing

To crop:

  1. Select Crop Tool (or press C)
  2. Drag to select crop area
  3. Click Apply

To resize:

  1. Go to Document > Resize Document
  2. Enter new dimensions or DPI
  3. Choose resampling method if adding pixels
Action Steps Tips
Crop Crop Tool, select, apply Non-destructive; adjustable later
Resize Document > Resize Document Change dimensions or DPI

Adjusting brightness and contrast

Brighten images:

For contrast:

Basic color correction

Fix colors:

  1. Start with white balance picker tool
  2. Adjust exposure and color in RAW Persona
  3. Move to Photo Persona for detailed corrections
  4. Use 'Tones' tab in Develop Persona for basics

"For a waterfall image, use the white balance picker on a neutral pixel (like water) to adjust color temperature. This can warm up the image, enhancing yellowish greens."

Be careful with RAW Persona changes - they're irreversible.

Using layers

Layers are the backbone of Affinity Photo. They let you stack and organize different parts of your image. Why are they so important? Simple: non-destructive editing and complex compositions.

What are layers?

Think of layers as transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. Each sheet can hold:

The top layer is what you see first. It can hide or blend with the layers below. This setup gives you the freedom to edit and move things around without messing up your original image.

Working with layers

Here's how to get started:

1. Open your image in Affinity Photo

2. Find the Layers Panel (usually on the right)

3. Your image shows up as the background layer

Want to add a new layer? Hit the "+" icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel. Or use Ctrl+J (Windows) or Cmd+J (Mac).

You can do a lot with layers:

Pro tip: Use adjustment layers for edits you can undo. Affinity Photo has 22 adjustment options you can add as separate layers.

Layer masks and blending

Layer masks are like invisible erasers. They let you hide or show parts of a layer without actually deleting anything. They're perfect for mixing images or making specific changes.

To add a layer mask:

  1. Pick the layer you want to mask
  2. Click the rectangle-with-circle icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel

Blending layers can make your images pop. Here's a quick how-to:

1. Open two images with different exposures (like one for the sky, one for the ground)

2. Copy and paste them as separate layers in Affinity Photo

3. Use a layer mask to blend them together

Step What to do Why
1 Get your images ready Same ISO, focal length, aperture; different shutter speeds
2 Put them in Affinity Photo Copy and paste as separate layers
3 Name your layers For clarity (like "Sky", "Ground")
4 Make sure they line up Change top layer blend mode to "Difference"
5 Add a layer mask To blend layers selectively
6 Paint on the mask Show what you want (white shows, black hides)

Insider tip: Use the Paint Brush Tool with 0% hardness and 60-80% opacity for smooth blending.

Selecting parts of an image

Selecting specific areas in a photo is crucial for editing. Affinity Photo gives you tools to do this without messing up the rest of your image.

Basic selection tools

Affinity Photo has three main tools for simple selections:

  1. Selection Brush Tool: Paint to select
  2. Flood Select Tool: Click to select similar colors
  3. Freehand Selection Tool: Draw around what you want

Using the Selection Brush Tool? Here's how:

  1. Find it on the left in the Tools Palette
  2. Click and drag over your area
  3. Use "Snap to Edges" for quicker selection of clear edges

Advanced selection methods

Need something more complex? Try these:

Improving selections

Want to make your selections better?

  1. Use different modes (New, Add, Subtract, Intersect) to adjust
  2. Try the Freehand Selection Tool in Subtract Mode to remove areas
  3. Mix and match tools. Use Flood Select for big areas, then fine-tune with the Selection Brush
Selection Tool Best For Tips
Selection Brush Detailed areas Use "Snap to Edges"
Flood Select Large, similar-color areas Toggle "Contiguous"
Freehand Selection Irregular shapes Use to refine other selections
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Fixing and improving photos

Affinity Photo packs a punch when it comes to fixing flaws and making your images pop. Here's how to use some key tools:

Removing flaws

Got a blemish? No problem. Here's how to zap it:

  1. Open your photo
  2. Grab the Blemish Removal Tool (or hit J)
  3. Click and drag over the spot

For best results, use small, repeated strokes. It's like erasing - gentle and precise wins the race.

Clone Stamp vs. Healing Brush

These tools are your secret weapons for trickier touch-ups:

Tool What it's good for Pro tip
Clone Stamp Exact pixel copying Use a separate layer
Healing Brush Blending retouched areas Sample similar textures

The Healing Brush often looks more natural. It's like a smart paintbrush that matches the surrounding area.

Quick tip: Play with brush size and hardness. Soft brushes blend, hard brushes define.

Filters and effects

Want to take your photo from "meh" to "wow"? Try these:

Pro move: Use Live Filters. They're like magic - you can change or remove them anytime without messing up your original image.

Editing without changing the original

Affinity Photo lets you edit images while keeping the original file untouched. This means you can go wild with your edits without worrying about messing up your original work.

Using adjustment layers

Adjustment layers are your best friend for non-destructive editing in Affinity Photo. They let you tweak things like brightness and color without touching the original image.

Here's how to use them:

  1. Open your image
  2. Click the Adjustment Layer icon in the Layers panel
  3. Pick your adjustment type
  4. Tweak the settings

You can stack these layers and shuffle them around. And the best part? You can always go back and change or remove them later.

Working with live filters

Live filters are like adjustment layers' cool cousin. They focus on creative effects and work on layers below them.

To use live filters:

  1. Select your layer
  2. Go to Layer > New Live Filter Layer
  3. Pick a filter
  4. Adjust the settings

These filters stay editable, so you can tweak or ditch them whenever you want.

Why keep the original intact

Keeping your original image safe has some big perks:

Perk What it means
Freedom to experiment Try different edits without fear
Maintain quality No image degradation from multiple edits
Flexible workflow Easily undo changes or make different versions
Future-proof Keep high-quality originals for later use

Advanced editing techniques

Affinity Photo packs a punch with its pro-level tools. Let's dive into three game-changing techniques: panoramas, focus stacking, and HDR imaging.

Making panoramas

Want to capture sweeping vistas? Here's how:

  1. File > New Panorama
  2. Import your shots (overlap them by 25-30%)
  3. Let Affinity do its magic
  4. Fill gaps with Inpaint Missing Areas

Quick tip: Stick to standard or telephoto lenses to avoid wonky edges.

Fay and Matt Doyle, who shot Snowdonia, put it this way:

"Post-production should enhance, not change. We use it to bring out the best in our original shots."

They nailed wide-angle views while keeping that sweet telephoto compression using Affinity's Panorama Persona.

Focus stacking

Ever wish everything in your shot was tack-sharp? Enter focus stacking:

  1. Tripod up
  2. Snap multiple shots, focusing on different spots
  3. File > New Focus Merge
  4. Add your pics and let Affinity blend

James Abbott, a pro shooter, says:

"Focus stacking is a game-changer for landscapes. It gives you edge-to-edge sharpness that's almost unreal."

For landscapes, 2-3 shots might do. Macro? You might need 8+, especially up close and personal.

HDR imaging

HDR tackles scenes with extreme bright and dark spots:

  1. Shoot multiple exposures
  2. Use Affinity's HDR Merge
  3. Tweak to balance highlights and shadows

The goal? Natural-looking results, not over-cooked images.

These techniques can take your photos from meh to wow. Play around and find your sweet spot.

Saving and exporting

Done editing? Time to save and export your work. Here's how:

File types and uses

Web vs. print

Web:

Print:

Tip: Use File > Export for options. For PDFs, click "More" to add bleed and crop marks.

Batch processing

Save time with multiple images:

  1. File > New Batch Job
  2. Add files (no folder option)
  3. Set output location and format
  4. Choose dimensions and color profiles
  5. Apply macros if needed
  6. Click OK to start

Speed up: Enable parallel processing to use all CPU cores.

Note: Affinity Photo's batch processing is different from Photoshop's. No auto-renaming or error handling during the process.

Tips for working faster

Want to speed up your Affinity Photo workflow? Here are some time-saving tricks:

Keyboard shortcuts

Learn these key shortcuts to cut your editing time:

Action Mac Windows
New Document ⌘ + N Ctrl + N
Save ⌘ + S Ctrl + S
Undo ⌘ + Z Ctrl + Z
Zoom In ⌘ + + Ctrl + +
Select All ⌘ + A Ctrl + A

Pro tip: Grab the full shortcut list from Affinity's website. Keep it nearby while you work.

Creating and using macros

Automate repetitive tasks:

1. Open the Macro panel: View > Studio > Macro

2. Hit record

3. Do your editing steps

4. Stop recording

5. Name and save your macro

Here's an example: Create a macro for balancing sky brightness in landscape photos. It could add a graduated filter, apply a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer, and fine-tune settings.

"To begin you need to open up your macro panel. Go to View, Studio, and select Macro. Our macro panel appears. At the moment it's empty because we haven't started recording anything yet. So let's start recording. Press the record button and let's set the foreground to that 50% black we want for our film." - Steve Caplin, Instructor at LinkedIn Learning

Personalizing your workspace

Set up your interface for quick access:

Quick tip: Hide panels you rarely use. Less clutter means more focus.

Fixing common problems

Affinity Photo can sometimes act up. Here's how to fix common issues and keep things running smoothly.

Speeding up slow performance

Is Affinity Photo crawling? Try these:

1. Update GPU drivers: This often fixes performance issues, especially with newer versions.

2. Turn on OpenCL Compute Acceleration: Find it in Edit > Preferences > Performance.

3. Give it more RAM: In the same menu, increase Affinity Photo's RAM allocation.

4. Use an SSD: Store your files on a solid-state drive for faster access.

5. Tweak display settings: Using a high-res monitor? Try lowering the resolution.

"The update includes a complete rewrite of the software's memory management, allowing for faster performance across all platforms, including Intel and M1-based Macs, Windows, and iPad."

This refers to version 1.10. If you're on an older version, updating might solve your speed issues.

Fixing common error messages

Crashes and errors? Here's what to do:

Error Fix
Frequent crashes Update graphics drivers or toggle Hardware Acceleration
Crashes when opening Run in Windows 8 compatibility mode
Extension issues Manage extensions in settings

Some third-party apps can cause crashes:

Where to get help

Stuck? Try these:

  1. Affinity forums: Connect with other users for solutions.
  2. Official support: Contact Affinity by Serif Customer Support for tough issues.
  3. YouTube tutorials: Free resources for fixing common photo problems in Affinity Photo.

Wrap-up

Affinity Photo is a solid Photoshop alternative that won't break the bank. For $49.99, you get a powerful photo editor without a subscription.

Here's what we've covered:

Want to level up your Affinity Photo skills? Try these:

Do This Why It Helps
Watch official tutorials Learn from the pros
Hit up the Affinity forum Get tips from other users
Edit often Build your skills
Mix up your projects Master different tools

As Phil Ebiner, our course instructor, puts it:

"Don't Stress. Have Fun Learning."

Start simple. Work your way up to the fancy stuff like HDR and compositing. The one-time purchase means no rush - learn at your own speed.

Keep pushing yourself. Try new things. Before you know it, you'll be cranking out pro-level edits.

More learning resources

Want to level up your Affinity Photo skills? Here's where to start:

Official Affinity resources

  1. Affinity Learning Hub: Tutorials, guides, and cheat-sheets
  2. Affinity Forums: Connect with users, ask questions, share work
  3. Affinity Spotlight: Find inspiration from other users

Online courses

Popular options for structured learning:

Platform Course Key Features
Udemy Affinity Photo for Beginners Experienced instructor, exercise files, simple techniques
Affinity Revolution Affinity Photo Beginners Course In-depth tutorials, user-recommended

Free video tutorials

  1. Serif's YouTube channel: Beginner-friendly tutorials
  2. Affinity Photo website: Quick-learning video series

Books

"Essential Affinity Photo 2" is a top pick for photo editing.

Learning tips

  1. Start with basics: Watch Serif's free videos first
  2. Practice often: Edit regularly to improve
  3. Join the community: Use forums for help and sharing

FAQs

Which is better, Affinity Photo or Photoshop?

Photoshop

Affinity Photo and Photoshop are both top-notch photo editing tools. But they're not identical twins. Here's the lowdown:

Feature Affinity Photo Photoshop
Pricing One-time $34.99 Subscription
Workflow Persona-based Customizable
Automation Limited Extensive
Learning curve Steep Steep

Affinity Photo is like the cool new kid on the block. It's cheaper (one-time fee) and packs a punch. Rod Lawton from Amateur Photographer says:

"Affinity Photo is an exceptionally powerful photo editor that matches pretty much anything that Photoshop can do and improves on it in many areas."

But Photoshop? It's the seasoned pro. It's got more tricks up its sleeve for automation and customization.

So, which one's for you? It boils down to your wallet and what you need.

Just starting out? Affinity's persona-based setup might be your jam. It's like having different toolboxes for different jobs.

Photoshop, on the other hand, is like a massive workshop. It's got EVERYTHING, which can be awesome... or overwhelming.

Bottom line: Both can handle pro-level editing. Your choice depends on your budget, how you like to work, and where you want to go with your editing skills.

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