Affinity Photo v2

[DannH]

Hi,

I currently use Capture One as my main raw photo editing software, with Affinity photo sometimes used for it's improved cloning tool or the occasional photo manipulation with blending more than 1 image.

I've downloaded the trial version of the new release, which i'll experiment with over the next couple of weeks. I can see there are lots of updated features from the website, but i'd be interested to know what people are finding the biggest improvements with the new version compared to the original?

Thanks

 

[mangurian]

hue masking and luminosity masking

 

[Marcin 3M]

Is it to expensive to add more specific title to thread? Why not add "-v1 VS v2 opinions"? Your title does not tell, if You want to ask, or want to tell something.

 

[jfriend00]

hue masking and luminosity masking

Yep, for most people, these are probably the most impactful additions. Lots and lots of other changes, particularly in the UI.

And, depending upon your workflow, non-destructive RAW editing may be a biggie too. But, if you use something else for your RAW editing and only use Affinity for final tweaks, then the RAW editing is not relevant.

 

[gmcooper]

His title is fine.

 

[nwdiver]

I bought the new version of photo for iPad from the Apple Store, can’t open the app, they put an app in the store you can buy but not use…… I bought the new version because the old version doesn’t play well with Apple Photos….

i really don’t get this company…

 

[DannH]

hue masking and luminosity masking

Yep, for most people, these are probably the most impactful additions. Lots and lots of other changes, particularly in the UI.

And, depending upon your workflow, non-destructive RAW editing may be a biggie too. But, if you use something else for your RAW editing and only use Affinity for final tweaks, then the RAW editing is not relevant.

 

[DannH]

I bought the new version of photo for iPad from the Apple Store, can’t open the app, they put an app in the store you can buy but not use…… I bought the new version because the old version doesn’t play well with Apple Photos….

i really don’t get this company…

Sorry to hear that, are you able to get a refund or any fixes?

I've only ever used the original windows version, which I've been very impressed with. Especially when you consider how cheap it is to the software of other leading brands.

 

[Ergo607]

Hi,

I currently use Capture One as my main raw photo editing software, with Affinity photo sometimes used for it's improved cloning tool or the occasional photo manipulation with blending more than 1 image.

I've downloaded the trial version of the new release, which i'll experiment with over the next couple of weeks. I can see there are lots of updated features from the website, but i'd be interested to know what people are finding the biggest improvements with the new version compared to the original?

Thanks

A bunch of new features which I am currently trying to decipher.

I'd be most interested in hearing how the non-destructive RAW handles performance-wise (especially IQ, since v1 was a bit lacklustre...)

 

[James Ritson]

Hi,

I currently use Capture One as my main raw photo editing software, with Affinity photo sometimes used for it's improved cloning tool or the occasional photo manipulation with blending more than 1 image.

I've downloaded the trial version of the new release, which i'll experiment with over the next couple of weeks. I can see there are lots of updated features from the website, but i'd be interested to know what people are finding the biggest improvements with the new version compared to the original?

Thanks

A bunch of new features which I am currently trying to decipher.

I'd be most interested in hearing how the non-destructive RAW handles performance-wise (especially IQ, since v1 was a bit lacklustre...)

Hi, non-destructive RAW doesn't have any impact on performance: instead of creating a pixel layer named Background when you develop, you instead get a "RAW Layer" that you can use to re-enter the Develop Persona and re-develop the image. This video explains it and shows some useful workflow ideas:

If you choose to embed the RAW data, that will increase your document file size, but you can set it to linked to mitigate this.

Hope that helps,
James

 

[Night Pixel]

I bought the new version of photo for iPad from the Apple Store, can’t open the app, they put an app in the store you can buy but not use…… I bought the new version because the old version doesn’t play well with Apple Photos….

i really don’t get this company…

Here is a screenshot of the Affinity Photo 2 app running on my M1 iPad Pro:



Downloaded from iPad store.

Have you tried deleting the app and re-downloading?



--
**** REDACTED ****

 

[Ergo607]

Hi,

I currently use Capture One as my main raw photo editing software, with Affinity photo sometimes used for it's improved cloning tool or the occasional photo manipulation with blending more than 1 image.

I've downloaded the trial version of the new release, which i'll experiment with over the next couple of weeks. I can see there are lots of updated features from the website, but i'd be interested to know what people are finding the biggest improvements with the new version compared to the original?

Thanks

A bunch of new features which I am currently trying to decipher.

I'd be most interested in hearing how the non-destructive RAW handles performance-wise (especially IQ, since v1 was a bit lacklustre...)

Hi, non-destructive RAW doesn't have any impact on performance: instead of creating a pixel layer named Background when you develop, you instead get a "RAW Layer" that you can use to re-enter the Develop Persona and re-develop the image. This video explains it and shows some useful workflow ideas:

Watched the video. So they didn't change anything to how RAW files are handled? That is a shame, because that is my main gripe with Affinity. I use C1, but sometimes it's handy to be able to develop in Affinity (eg. when a file is not supported by C1.) As it stands, RAW development is so poor in Affinity that it is next to unusable.

If you choose to embed the RAW data, that will increase your document file size, but you can set it to linked to mitigate this.

Are these saved as DNG?

Hope that helps,
James

 

[James Ritson]

Watched the video. So they didn't change anything to how RAW files are handled? That is a shame, because that is my main gripe with Affinity. I use C1, but sometimes it's handy to be able to develop in Affinity (eg. when a file is not supported by C1.) As it stands, RAW development is so poor in Affinity that it is next to unusable.

No, our Develop Persona is still the same with some minor tweaks under the hood. What do you find poor about the development quality? I generally use it to 'shape' an image and then take the editing further non-destructively with layers: it doesn't add any sharpening by default, so images look unsharp, but that is their natural appearance (at least with the demosaicing method we implemented). If you ever look at the basic demosaiced RAW image using something like FastRawViewer, it will corroborate this, especially since you can use the J key to quickly toggle between RAW and JPEG versions and see the difference in sharpness and noise.

There is optional sharpening on the Details panel you can use, but we've chosen to let the user decide exactly how they want to sharpen their final image. I usually do my sharpening as a final step, typically using stacked high pass filters with a Soft Light blend mode, as it produces a really nice fine detail sharpening without looking too exaggerated or overcooked. You can record these operations using macros so it's not a time-consuming process.

If you choose to embed the RAW data, that will increase your document file size, but you can set it to linked to mitigate this.

Are these saved as DNG?

No, a copy of the RAW data will be serialised and stored internally within the document. If the user chooses linked, then it will find and re-load the RAW file from its original file path when re-developing (if the file is not present, the user will be prompted to locate it).

Thanks,
James

 

[nwdiver]

When you downloaded the app from the store, then opened it did it take you to a verification screen, I pressed verify and it takes me to the screen to buy the app at their store……

that didn’t happen with the first version….

 

[EMs1950]

I bought the new version of photo for iPad from the Apple Store, can’t open the app, they put an app in the store you can buy but not use…… I bought the new version because the old version doesn’t play well with Apple Photos….

i really don’t get this company…

I bought the app via Serif. After downloading it from Apples App-Store and starting it I had to fill in my account datas = Email-adress and password of my serif account.

Worked fine.

--
Best Regard
EMs1950

 

[MrCrowley]

James, thanks for your reply here. I took the liberty to check out your www site and bookmarked it. ;-)

 

[nwdiver]

I don’t understand, did buy you buy it from the Apple Store or Affinity’s site?

i opened my Affinity account and only the 1st version is listed, the purchase of the 2nd version does not appear.

 

[Ergo607]

Thanks for taking the time to answer. Seems like I have to give it a second try. Truth be told, I tried it when I purchased v1, but I didn't like it much so I never gave it a second thought...

Watched the video. So they didn't change anything to how RAW files are handled? That is a shame, because that is my main gripe with Affinity. I use C1, but sometimes it's handy to be able to develop in Affinity (eg. when a file is not supported by C1.) As it stands, RAW development is so poor in Affinity that it is next to unusable.

No, our Develop Persona is still the same with some minor tweaks under the hood. What do you find poor about the development quality? I generally use it to 'shape' an image and then take the editing further non-destructively with layers: it doesn't add any sharpening by default, so images look unsharp, but that is their natural appearance (at least with the demosaicing method we implemented). If you ever look at the basic demosaiced RAW image using something like FastRawViewer, it will corroborate this, especially since you can use the J key to quickly toggle between RAW and JPEG versions and see the difference in sharpness and noise.

There is optional sharpening on the Details panel you can use, but we've chosen to let the user decide exactly how they want to sharpen their final image. I usually do my sharpening as a final step, typically using stacked high pass filters with a Soft Light blend mode, as it produces a really nice fine detail sharpening without looking too exaggerated or overcooked. You can record these operations using macros so it's not a time-consuming process.

If you choose to embed the RAW data, that will increase your document file size, but you can set it to linked to mitigate this.

Are these saved as DNG?

No, a copy of the RAW data will be serialised and stored internally within the document. If the user chooses linked, then it will find and re-load the RAW file from its original file path when re-developing (if the file is not present, the user will be prompted to locate it).

Thanks,
James

 

[Toermalijn]

Hi,

I currently use Capture One as my main raw photo editing software, with Affinity photo sometimes used for it's improved cloning tool or the occasional photo manipulation with blending more than 1 image.

I've downloaded the trial version of the new release, which i'll experiment with over the next couple of weeks. I can see there are lots of updated features from the website, but i'd be interested to know what people are finding the biggest improvements with the new version compared to the original?

Thanks

A bunch of new features which I am currently trying to decipher.

I'd be most interested in hearing how the non-destructive RAW handles performance-wise (especially IQ, since v1 was a bit lacklustre...)

Hi, non-destructive RAW doesn't have any impact on performance: instead of creating a pixel layer named Background when you develop, you instead get a "RAW Layer" that you can use to re-enter the Develop Persona and re-develop the image. This video explains it and shows some useful workflow ideas:

Watched the video. So they didn't change anything to how RAW files are handled? That is a shame, because that is my main gripe with Affinity. I use C1, but sometimes it's handy to be able to develop in Affinity (eg. when a file is not supported by C1.) As it stands, RAW development is so poor in Affinity that it is next to unusable.

If you choose to embed the RAW data, that will increase your document file size, but you can set it to linked to mitigate this.

Are these saved as DNG?

Hope that helps,
James

No, as a Affinity standard file format.

You can choose between sidecar file or file saved within the image.

Export is the way to save the image/file in another format.

 

[Digital Nigel]

Hi,

I currently use Capture One as my main raw photo editing software, with Affinity photo sometimes used for it's improved cloning tool or the occasional photo manipulation with blending more than 1 image.

I've downloaded the trial version of the new release, which i'll experiment with over the next couple of weeks. I can see there are lots of updated features from the website, but i'd be interested to know what people are finding the biggest improvements with the new version compared to the original?

Thanks

A bunch of new features which I am currently trying to decipher.

I'd be most interested in hearing how the non-destructive RAW handles performance-wise (especially IQ, since v1 was a bit lacklustre...)

Hi, non-destructive RAW doesn't have any impact on performance: instead of creating a pixel layer named Background when you develop, you instead get a "RAW Layer" that you can use to re-enter the Develop Persona and re-develop the image. This video explains it and shows some useful workflow ideas:

Watched the video. So they didn't change anything to how RAW files are handled? That is a shame, because that is my main gripe with Affinity. I use C1, but sometimes it's handy to be able to develop in Affinity (eg. when a file is not supported by C1.) As it stands, RAW development is so poor in Affinity that it is next to unusable.

If you choose to embed the RAW data, that will increase your document file size, but you can set it to linked to mitigate this.

Are these saved as DNG?

Hope that helps,
James

No, as a Affinity standard file format.

You can choose between sidecar file or file saved within the image.

It's not a conventional sidecar file. Instead, the raw development steps will be saved within the .afphoto file, not an external sidecar file.

Export is the way to save the image/file in another format.

The key thing is that Export saves the final, processed image, while the .afphoto file saves all the edit steps in a non-destructive way.