Affinity 3.3 shows that Canva is serious about taking on Adobe

It has been five months since the author completely abandoned Adobe Photoshop and switched to Affinity Photo, after using Photoshop for around 15 years. The author has absolutely no desire to return to Adobe. This is a genuine compliment for Affinity, as it has never presented the author with any issues that made them wish to use Adobe again.

The author has used Affinity to edit JPEGs, TIFFs, and DNG RAW files from multiple camera systems, and it has performed every task that they would have handed to Photoshop. The author has found the transition to be much easier than expected. One caveat is that to use Affinity's generative AI tools, such as Generative Fill and Generative Expand, a premium subscription on Canva is required.

However, the author never used those features when paying for Photoshop, so it has had no impact on their work. Affinity offers a full range of tools, including layers, masks, curves, selections, adjustments, retouching, resizing, sharpening, color work, and RAW development. The interface becomes familiar once it is arranged to suit the user's workflow.

The author believes Affinity has effectively replaced Photoshop for their photography work. Affinity has released version 3.3, which is described as the biggest photography update yet, with improvements to RAW development, sharper detail, wider lens and camera support, Wavelet Denoise, and updates to HDR workflows. These updates demonstrate a focus on improving the fundamentals that photographers use every day.

The author is particularly excited about the new RAW presets feature, as it allows for the creation of a look that can be carried across a series of photographs, making it more practical for larger shoots. The author believes Affinity's free updates and new features distinguish it from the subscription model that they had become accustomed to.

The author also expresses excitement about the potential for Affinity on iPadOS, which could make it an even more disruptive proposition for photographers. With free updates and no recurring costs, Affinity could become an attractive option for both beginners and experienced photographers.