Affinity

Affinity is photo editing, design, and layout software developed by the team behind Canva, allowing you to have all the tools traditionally offered by programs like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or Adobe InDesign, all within a single interface and completely free of charge. This Windows version is also perfectly optimized for Microsoft's OS and consumes very few resources.

Log in with your Canva account

In order to use Affinity, you will need to have a Canva account. Fortunately, you can register for free. All you need to provide in order to do so is an email address. After logging in with your account, you can access all the app's free features, including the Vector, Pixel, and Layout modules. The only parts that are not available free of charge, in fact, are the Canva AI tools.

Upgrade your Canva subscription to enjoy the AI tools

To make use of all the tools in the Canva AI module, including generative editing and generative expansion tools, you will need a Canva Pro subscription. You can follow a link from within the app itself that will allow you to try it out for free for 30 days, although you will then have to pay a monthly fee to continue using it.

Integrated tutorials within the app

Although Affinity has a much simpler and more intuitive interface than other similar programs, like Canva, there are a number of tutorials integrated within the app itself. In the Home section, you will find more than half a dozen tutorials that can help you learn how to make the most of some of the app's features. There are also dozens of video tutorials on the official website, where you can learn plenty of neat tricks.

Professional photo editing

Affinity has all the tools you need to edit photos and get professional results. You can edit any RAW image without a hitch and undo any step from the first until the final export. You can also create macros and work with batches of images to automate your workflow, saving a lot of time when it comes to less creative tasks. Ultimately, almost anything you can do in Gimp or Photoshop can also be done here.

Advanced vector design

Affinity also offers an absolutely outstanding range of features in terms of vector design. Thanks to Vector Studio, you will have everything you need for graphic design and illustration, all within a single interface. The app is also completely scalable and adapts to your needs and requirements. This means that, if all you want to do is sketch a small logo, you can do this in no time. On the other hand, if what you need is to draw a colossal illustration in a great amount of detail over the course of several weeks, you will also have everything you need at your disposal.

Powerful layout design tool

Whether you want a single-page brochure or a three-hundred-page book, Affinity has you covered. In the Layout Studio, you can design and set the layout for any type of publication: posters, digital magazines, brochures, books, event passes, accreditations, and much more. As it is integrated within Canva's other modules, you won't have to switch between apps to edit and insert an image.

Compatible with a host of formats

All these features and tools wouldn't make much sense if Affinity didn't allow you to work with other formats. Fortunately, the program is compatible with most common image editing and layout formats. You can import PSD, AI, IDML, or DWG files and rest assured that the structure, layers, and creative intent remain intact. And, of course, when you're done working on a document, you can export it to more than a dozen different formats.

The ultimate graphic editing suite

Download Affinity if you need a graphic editing tool to draw, edit, and retouch photos, or simply to unleash your creativity. Thanks to this app, all the features that have traditionally been separated into three or more different programs are now found within a single, fully customizable interface. The app is also completely free and can be perfectly integrated with Canva.