Serif releases Affinity Photo
Serif has officially released Affinity Photo, its new image-editing package, promising the core functionality of tools like Photoshop and Lightroom in a single, sub-$50 package.
Described as an “unashamedly pro” application, Affinity Photo has been available in beta since February, attracting largely positive reviews, particularly among photographers and retouchers.
As well as its price, Serif is promoting Affinity Photo’s performance. The software is “fully optimised” for 5K displays, and Serif promises 60fps pans and zooms “even with huge images”.
It has a real-time, non-destructive workflow – as well as Adjustment Layers, filters are applied as live layers and can be edited after application – and an 8,192-step Undo stack.
The software is designed with professional workflows in mind, with support for colour modes including RGB, CMYK, LAB and HSL, a standard range of RAW formats, and 24-bit export.
Serif also promises good support for PSD files, preserving layers, adjustments, effects and text.
If you want to delve into the details, there is now a comprehensive feature list on Serif’s website, including all of the essential functionality of a professional graphics tool.
The product’s homepage picks out the highlights, including what look to be pretty powerful edge-selection, liquify and warp options.
You don’t get Photoshop’s 3D or video tools, and the software is resolutely Mac-only, but at just $49.99 for a perpetual licence, discounted to $39.99 until 23 July, it’s hard to argue with the price.
