Affinity Photo Closing Forums for Discord

[Ruby Rod]

On October 6, 2025 Affinity is making their forums read-only, and having people use Discord instead. AFAICT, exactly zero users are happy with this change. IMO, since the buyout by Canva, actual program fixes/updates have dwindled to nothing. I think the forum move is just so people will give up on complaining about things that haven't been fixed. I haven't looked at Discord, but it doesn't seem like the right platform for a forum.

I really like Affinity because it handles several things I do very easily, like focus stacking, HDR and RAW processing. It handles color management well. It's an OK editor, though the UI isn't how I would have set it up. They've avoided subscription, though I'm wondering how long that will last.

I'm a bit depressed right now because the changes at Topaz will cause me to drop the program and Affinity's future doesn't look promising. Based on the lack of development, they seem to be going down the Paint Shop Pro path of the last decade. I still run an old copy of Luminar AI, from before the change to subscription NEO. It's great for certain types of color correction. IMO, NEO went in a direction of too much AI and turning images into something with little resemblance to the original shot. If the world continues this way, I'll end up with Photoshop!

 

[grsnovi]

I didn't open it or visit their site. I suspect it will be something about all of their various modules and/or other changes that I will or won't be interested in.

--
Gary
https://www.flickr.com/photos/193735606@N03/

 

[Ruby Rod]

That's interesting, hadn't seen it before. Affinity still has their four promises on the site, one of which is that perpetual licenses will always be available, so we'll see what happens.

 

[Digital Nigel]

On October 6, 2025 Affinity is making their forums read-only, and having people use Discord instead. AFAICT, exactly zero users are happy with this change. IMO, since the buyout by Canva, actual program fixes/updates have dwindled to nothing.

Do you regard the AI masking as nothing? That was a free upgrade to v2.

 

[Ruby Rod]

Certainly not nothing, but it was a while back and dozens of real-world problems have gone unaddressed, seemingly forever. On my personal list this includes the white-balance picker not working with jpeg images and the measurement tool not allowing arbitrary unit entry. Part of the problem is photographers (me) mostly care about the photo app, but the code is common with the publisher and designer tools. That means the photo app gets less attention than it (IMO) should have. My guess is that the other apps have trouble getting traction in commercial environments due to lack of compatibility. I'd think the photo app has the most potential, but maybe decent photo editors aren't a thing anymore. I know AI is making huge inroads, but that's not the direction I want to go for routine processing.

 

[Guy Parsons]

I didn't open it or visit their site. I suspect it will be something about all of their various modules and/or other changes that I will or won't be interested in.

Just for curiosity I logged into my account and it pointed me to this page https://hello.affinity.serif.com/future to sign up if I wanted to get the news about what's coming.

As with most other software it probably means a change were we get less for more $ paid.

I expect that all software companies are suffering with drop-away of new customers and general reluctance to pay for upgrades, so all this downloadable software does seem to have a very limited future.

 

[Digital Nigel]

Certainly not nothing, but it was a while back and dozens of real-world problems have gone unaddressed, seemingly forever. On my personal list this includes the white-balance picker not working with jpeg images and the measurement tool not allowing arbitrary unit entry. Part of the problem is photographers (me) mostly care about the photo app, but the code is common with the publisher and designer tools. That means the photo app gets less attention than it (IMO) should have. My guess is that the other apps have trouble getting traction in commercial environments due to lack of compatibility. I'd think the photo app has the most potential, but maybe decent photo editors aren't a thing anymore. I know AI is making huge inroads, but that's not the direction I want to go for routine processing.

I think the Affinity suite started out with Designer, and that remains the lead app. It also seems to get the most enhancements.

Photo is in a slightly curious position: it’s a distinctly second-rate raw developer, unable to compete with the three leaders. It’s also very weak on AI. In effect, it can only compete with old, pre-AI versions of Photoshop. But most professional photographers already have newer versions of Photoshop, and probably shoot raw, so Affinity Photo’s market is non-professionals who mainly shoot JPEGs.

But AP is as hard to use as PS, so it’s too difficult for many unskilled amateurs, who might instead prefer Luminar Neo. I can’t imagine many smartphone users using AP to edit their photos, given that much simpler tools are available on their phones. That puts AP into a pretty narrow niche.

 

[Ken53]

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1nvb6sk/affinity_a_graphics_editing_software_company_has

 

[Ken53]

On the positive side.

It could just be Version 3, with additional completive AI tools.

Is this just me being naive?

 

[Digital Nigel]

On the positive side.

It could just be Version 3, with additional completive AI tools.

Is this just me being naive?

That's quite likely. One way or another, they're trying to sell us something, such as an upgraded version with AI tools, a separate new product or a subscription option.

 

[francisw19]

I suspect there may be some kind of subscription/tiers coming. Maybe they are rolling Canva/Affinity into one bundle or something?

Edit: The fact that they pulled the ability to buy the current V2 apps is concerning. As if they don't want everyone rushing to buy V2 apps; instead steering us towards what's coming at the end of the month? :-|

 

[SHood]

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1nvb6sk/affinity_a_graphics_editing_software_company_has

That does seem ominous. The below comment regarding the reason for pulling the existing software from their site, does look like something is changing to how you would need to acquire future software updates.

Rumours fly as Affinity pauses its website

Is a major change coming to one of our favourite software options?

www.creativebloq.com

The same message was posted on X, with Affinity explaining the disabled store with the following statement: "We’re making space for what’s next. This short pause lets us transition cleanly without confusion between versions. Existing customers keep full access to their apps. This only affects new purchases and trials."

 

[Digital Nigel]

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1nvb6sk/affinity_a_graphics_editing_software_company_has

That does seem ominous. The below comment regarding the reason for pulling the existing software from their site, does look like something is changing to how you would need to acquire future software updates.

https://www.creativebloq.com/design...fear-the-worst-as-affinitys-website-is-paused

The same message was posted on X, with Affinity explaining the disabled store with the following statement: "We’re making space for what’s next. This short pause lets us transition cleanly without confusion between versions. Existing customers keep full access to their apps. This only affects new purchases and trials."

One way or another, it does seem likely that v3 is coming at the end of the month. Presumably, it'll have a strong influence from Canva, and may include some tools/technology from Canva? Perhaps it'll add a subscription option, or perhaps that'll be the only way of accessing v3?

One good sign is that the Serif senior management team seems intact.

 

[kitjephoto]

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1nvb6sk/affinity_a_graphics_editing_software_company_has

That does seem ominous. The below comment regarding the reason for pulling the existing software from their site, does look like something is changing to how you would need to acquire future software updates.

https://www.creativebloq.com/design...fear-the-worst-as-affinitys-website-is-paused

The same message was posted on X, with Affinity explaining the disabled store with the following statement: "We’re making space for what’s next. This short pause lets us transition cleanly without confusion between versions. Existing customers keep full access to their apps. This only affects new purchases and trials."

One way or another, it does seem likely that v3 is coming at the end of the month. Presumably, it'll have a strong influence from Canva, and may include some tools/technology from Canva? Perhaps it'll add a subscription option, or perhaps that'll be the only way of accessing v3?

One good sign is that the Serif senior management team seems intact.

Just as I was going to buy V2 I was actually cut off. Bane of my existence is subscription model, but for some reason no matter what I want to go for there's no way to avoid it.

At least I still have my V1.

 

[Night Pixel]

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1nvb6sk/affinity_a_graphics_editing_software_company_has

That does seem ominous. The below comment regarding the reason for pulling the existing software from their site, does look like something is changing to how you would need to acquire future software updates.

https://www.creativebloq.com/design...fear-the-worst-as-affinitys-website-is-paused

The same message was posted on X, with Affinity explaining the disabled store with the following statement: "We’re making space for what’s next. This short pause lets us transition cleanly without confusion between versions. Existing customers keep full access to their apps. This only affects new purchases and trials."

My prediction (which is a good as any at this point):

If it is true that V3 is coming it will most likely be a subscription model.

Serif promised a perpetual license for V2 and they will keep that promise. But it also will means V2 is deprecated and frozen in time. Maybe they will issue some bug fixes but feature wise what you see is what you get. I doubt V2 will get new camera support after V3 is released.

Affinity V3 will function like Adobe's suite. You pay monthly/annually and get a stream of new features whenever they decide to release them but do not have to wait years for a new perpetual license release.

This marketing change will anger many users but they are betting on most coming along and with a low enough monthly fee hope to get many new users.

We will see in a few weeks...

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know." - Diane Arbus

 

[Digital Nigel]

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1nvb6sk/affinity_a_graphics_editing_software_company_has

That does seem ominous. The below comment regarding the reason for pulling the existing software from their site, does look like something is changing to how you would need to acquire future software updates.

https://www.creativebloq.com/design...fear-the-worst-as-affinitys-website-is-paused

The same message was posted on X, with Affinity explaining the disabled store with the following statement: "We’re making space for what’s next. This short pause lets us transition cleanly without confusion between versions. Existing customers keep full access to their apps. This only affects new purchases and trials."

My prediction (which is a good as any at this point):

If it is true that V3 is coming it will most likely be a subscription model.

Alternatively, V3 may still have a perpetual licence option, but with optional cloud-based AI capabilities, for which you have to pay a monthly fee or buy credits. That would explain the ‘freedom’ word.

Serif promised a perpetual license for V2 and they will keep that promise. But it also will means V2 is deprecated and frozen in time. Maybe they will issue some bug fixes but feature wise what you see is what you get. I doubt V2 will get new camera support after V3 is released.

Affinity V3 will function like Adobe's suite. You pay monthly/annually and get a stream of new features whenever they decide to release them but do not have to wait years for a new perpetual license release.

You didn’t anyway with Affinity. Serif delivered years of significant enhancements to V1 at no charge. Similarly, V2 recently got AI masking, long after its first release.

This marketing change will anger many users but they are betting on most coming along and with a low enough monthly fee hope to get many new users.

We will see in a few weeks...

 

[Toermalijn]

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1nvb6sk/affinity_a_graphics_editing_software_company_has

That does seem ominous. The below comment regarding the reason for pulling the existing software from their site, does look like something is changing to how you would need to acquire future software updates.

https://www.creativebloq.com/design...fear-the-worst-as-affinitys-website-is-paused

The same message was posted on X, with Affinity explaining the disabled store with the following statement: "We’re making space for what’s next. This short pause lets us transition cleanly without confusion between versions. Existing customers keep full access to their apps. This only affects new purchases and trials."

My prediction (which is a good as any at this point):

If it is true that V3 is coming it will most likely be a subscription model.

Alternatively, V3 may still have a perpetual licence option, but with optional cloud-based AI capabilities, for which you have to pay a monthly fee or buy credits. That would explain the ‘freedom’ word.

Serif promised a perpetual license for V2 and they will keep that promise. But it also will means V2 is deprecated and frozen in time. Maybe they will issue some bug fixes but feature wise what you see is what you get. I doubt V2 will get new camera support after V3 is released.

Affinity V3 will function like Adobe's suite. You pay monthly/annually and get a stream of new features whenever they decide to release them but do not have to wait years for a new perpetual license release.

You didn’t anyway with Affinity. Serif delivered years of significant enhancements to V1 at no charge. Similarly, V2 recently got AI masking, long after its first release.

This marketing change will anger many users but they are betting on most coming along and with a low enough monthly fee hope to get many new users.

We will see in a few weeks...

The word "freedom" means to me no subscription, but we'll see indeed.

 

[mujana]

On the positive side.

It could just be Version 3, with additional completive AI tools.

Is this just me being naive?

I hope you’re not naive. Version 3 with additional tools? I buy. Subscription? I’m out.

 

[Digital Nigel]

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1nvb6sk/affinity_a_graphics_editing_software_company_has

That does seem ominous. The below comment regarding the reason for pulling the existing software from their site, does look like something is changing to how you would need to acquire future software updates.

https://www.creativebloq.com/design...fear-the-worst-as-affinitys-website-is-paused

The same message was posted on X, with Affinity explaining the disabled store with the following statement: "We’re making space for what’s next. This short pause lets us transition cleanly without confusion between versions. Existing customers keep full access to their apps. This only affects new purchases and trials."

My prediction (which is a good as any at this point):

If it is true that V3 is coming it will most likely be a subscription model.

Alternatively, V3 may still have a perpetual licence option, but with optional cloud-based AI capabilities, for which you have to pay a monthly fee or buy credits. That would explain the ‘freedom’ word.

Serif promised a perpetual license for V2 and they will keep that promise. But it also will means V2 is deprecated and frozen in time. Maybe they will issue some bug fixes but feature wise what you see is what you get. I doubt V2 will get new camera support after V3 is released.

Affinity V3 will function like Adobe's suite. You pay monthly/annually and get a stream of new features whenever they decide to release them but do not have to wait years for a new perpetual license release.

You didn’t anyway with Affinity. Serif delivered years of significant enhancements to V1 at no charge. Similarly, V2 recently got AI masking, long after its first release.

This marketing change will anger many users but they are betting on most coming along and with a low enough monthly fee hope to get many new users.

We will see in a few weeks...

The word "freedom" means to me no subscription, but we'll see indeed.

The actual words were, ‘A shift in how creative freedom is defined’. That suggests additional cloud-based features to me, which would presumably require either a subscription or the purchase of credits.

 

[Pi lover]

Affinity is coming out with a new product. I have gotten free upgrades from the previous group supporting this app like no other product. The software is already very good as Affinity but the next product is such a change it's not just a new version. It's a new product !

I'm looking forward to seeing what's coming at the end of the month.

Grant.