Poll: Switching to Affinity?

Started by jwheeler, May 13, 2022, 09:47:49 AM

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What is your level of experience and/or use of Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher?

I (or the company I work for) have switched from Adobe products to Affinity
0 (0%)
I (or the company I work for) is in the process of transitioning from Adobe to Affinity
0 (0%)
Tried Affinity products but didn't like them
1 (12.5%)
I'm seeing more clients using Affinity, but I don't use the software
1 (12.5%)
I don't use Adobe or Affinity. I use Corel Draw or other software (please specify in comments).
0 (0%)
I (or the company I work for) have no interest in switching from Adobe to Affinity
2 (25%)
Other: Comment below
4 (50%)

Total Members Voted: 8

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jwheeler

May 13, 2022, 09:47:49 AM
I'm looking for some feedback on how popular the Affinity design software suite is. (I don't work for Adobe or Affinity. I work at a county inplant). Thank you in advance!

Tracy

#1
May 13, 2022, 10:29:55 AM
I have not tried it

born2print

#2
May 13, 2022, 11:04:05 AM
No clue about Affinity, no files from clients as far as I know
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but...

johnny_jay

#3
May 13, 2022, 11:34:52 AM
I downloaded and played with a beta version just to see what it was like. I believe we have had a customer or two send in a few ads that were created with it but the ads were placed onto InDesign and new pdfs were exported. The software seemed ok and test pdfs seemed to work OK in our Prinergy workflow but not sure how well a complex file would process.
Kodak Prinergy and InSite
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Screen R36000ZX
3 web presses, 1 sheetfed press
G7 Expert

David

#4
May 13, 2022, 11:45:55 AM
never tried it, not even curious (not a choice in the poll).
Been an Adobe user for years, not looking to change anytime soon.
Prepress guy - Retired - Working from home
Livin' la Vida Loca

Joe

#5
May 13, 2022, 12:24:27 PM
Before I retired we bought a copy to test out. When you placed a PDF into Publisher and if you didn't have copies of the embedded fonts open all of the text would reflow all over the place. That was where the trial ended at work. They are still using Adobe CC and have no plans to switch.

At home I bought the 3 apps for half price during Covid @ $25 for each and I use them at home but I don't do prepress. Mainly Publisher is my word processor and Photo is my photo editor. Rarely open either of those and I never open Designer.
Mac OS Sonoma 14.2.1 (c) | (retired)

The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.

madbugger

#6
May 13, 2022, 02:08:08 PM
Until 5 minutes ago, I hadn't even heard of it 
If you don't like my comment, ignore it. If you don't know how to ignore it, message me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate how.
— Madbugger

Some people say you gotta die some day, I got news, you never gotta go
— Ted Nugent

bornrd

#7
May 16, 2022, 12:01:53 AM
We had them at work.

Opening PSDs with Photo works fine most of the time.

Opening AIs with Designer works fine since it's an open vctor format embedded in there.

what doesn't work is opening INDD files, making it useles for most people looking to switch withou having to employ both programs over something like a 5 year period, "weeding out" the indesign jobs.



The reason we don't use it at work is the aforementioned PDF slip-ups.


But for starting out.. man 50$ is hard to beat. Also I really like the "persona" feature, where you can load the complete fucntionality of one program in the same window, e.g. for quickly editing photos while layouting withou having to switch to photoshop.
macOS Catalina 10.15.7/Windows 10 - Adobe CC - Fuji XMF 6.13 - Luxel T9000 CTP E - KBA Rapida 105 universal - Heidelberg GTO - Heidelberg Windmill - Heidelberg Cylinder - Heidelberg Speedmaster 52 - Schelter & Giesecke PHOENIX A - Rockstroh VICTORIA - Lenpoligrafmash NEOTYPE N-7F - Konica Minolta C3080 - HP DesignJet ZP6810 - Epson Stylus Pro 4900 - Heidelberg Stahlfolder - Müller-Martini APOLLO - Müller-Martini PRESTO II - PERFECTA Cutting System

I have no idea what the f*ck I'm doing in prepress but here we are

www.ruegen-druck.de | @ruegendruck

––––––––––––––––––––––
They will chop you down just to count your rings

bornrd

#8
May 16, 2022, 12:02:49 AM
Quote from: bornrd on May 16, 2022, 12:01:53 AMwithou
I might need a new keyboard
macOS Catalina 10.15.7/Windows 10 - Adobe CC - Fuji XMF 6.13 - Luxel T9000 CTP E - KBA Rapida 105 universal - Heidelberg GTO - Heidelberg Windmill - Heidelberg Cylinder - Heidelberg Speedmaster 52 - Schelter & Giesecke PHOENIX A - Rockstroh VICTORIA - Lenpoligrafmash NEOTYPE N-7F - Konica Minolta C3080 - HP DesignJet ZP6810 - Epson Stylus Pro 4900 - Heidelberg Stahlfolder - Müller-Martini APOLLO - Müller-Martini PRESTO II - PERFECTA Cutting System

I have no idea what the f*ck I'm doing in prepress but here we are

www.ruegen-druck.de | @ruegendruck

––––––––––––––––––––––
They will chop you down just to count your rings

Joe

#9
May 16, 2022, 09:02:35 AM
So it seems Affinity is have a 50% off sale right now. Each app is now $26.99 which is a GREAT price if someone wants to test it out.

AFFINITY SPRING SALE 50% OFF EVERYTHING
Mac OS Sonoma 14.2.1 (c) | (retired)

The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.

DigiCorn

#10
May 16, 2022, 12:16:15 PM
I demo'd Affinity, but wasn't super sold on it. The company I worked for would never go for it anyway, unless we got a shit-ton of files in using it.
"There's been a lot of research recently on how hard it is to dislodge an impression once it's been implanted in someone's mind. (This is why political attack ads don't have to be true to be effective. The other side can point out their inaccuracies, but the voter's mind privileges the memory of the original accusation, which was juicier than any counterargument ever could be.)"
― Johnny Carson

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"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
― Ernest Hemingway

madbugger

#11
May 16, 2022, 03:12:20 PM
Quote from: bornrd on May 16, 2022, 12:01:53 AMwhat doesn't work is opening INDD files, making it useles for most people looking to switch withou having to employ both programs over something like a 5 year period, "weeding out" the indesign jobs.

We did the swap from quark to Indd about 14 yrs ago. Took about 8 yrs before we were 99% Indd. Still get the odd job every year that finally needs an update from quark. 

Initially we used Markwares Q2ID plugin, but it was a Q4.1/Indd4 plugin, (we have an old G5 Mac with both available on it, not even sure if it would start up nowadays). We now just recreate the job in Indd and copy paste from pdf if we have one of those available. A lot less messy than trying to convert and usually quicker as well.

Not sure I would want to introduce another change of software, regardless of the price, it would need a greater than 75% industry take-up before I would even suggest it to the powers that be
If you don't like my comment, ignore it. If you don't know how to ignore it, message me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate how.
— Madbugger

Some people say you gotta die some day, I got news, you never gotta go
— Ted Nugent

bornrd

#12
May 17, 2022, 01:42:16 AM
I actually get Macromedia FreeHand files from time to time, which Illustrator CAN open, but only up until CS4 (????)

So, I have to go to the olden golden (silven?) iMac of chunkiness and open AN OLDER VERSION OF THE SAME PIECE OF SOFTWARE to open a vector file. Because, of course, I have to be on Mojave or older to even open CS4.


Like, why would you cut that feature? I'm sure it doesn't clog the code or whatever.

It's just... a supported File Format. WHY WHY WHY?

AND WHY WOULD YOU DO TABLE CALC IN FREEHAND



Affinity Designer at least TRIES to open FreeHand files. It's not perfect, but at least it's giving it a shot
macOS Catalina 10.15.7/Windows 10 - Adobe CC - Fuji XMF 6.13 - Luxel T9000 CTP E - KBA Rapida 105 universal - Heidelberg GTO - Heidelberg Windmill - Heidelberg Cylinder - Heidelberg Speedmaster 52 - Schelter & Giesecke PHOENIX A - Rockstroh VICTORIA - Lenpoligrafmash NEOTYPE N-7F - Konica Minolta C3080 - HP DesignJet ZP6810 - Epson Stylus Pro 4900 - Heidelberg Stahlfolder - Müller-Martini APOLLO - Müller-Martini PRESTO II - PERFECTA Cutting System

I have no idea what the f*ck I'm doing in prepress but here we are

www.ruegen-druck.de | @ruegendruck

––––––––––––––––––––––
They will chop you down just to count your rings

bornrd

#13
May 17, 2022, 01:47:33 AM
This quote perfectly sums up my frustration with the computational part of this Industry.

"FreeHand still works under Windows? That is great. Unfortunately I am too much bound to Mac OS X. Shame on Apple for being intentionally incompatible. That is not the Apple I signed up to 35 years ago! "

I switched to OSX from Windows a year ago because I had to. I love it. Most of the time. Like, the UX itself. But Windows is great too. You can learn. you don't have to endlessly suffer at the mercy of a Tech Giant
macOS Catalina 10.15.7/Windows 10 - Adobe CC - Fuji XMF 6.13 - Luxel T9000 CTP E - KBA Rapida 105 universal - Heidelberg GTO - Heidelberg Windmill - Heidelberg Cylinder - Heidelberg Speedmaster 52 - Schelter & Giesecke PHOENIX A - Rockstroh VICTORIA - Lenpoligrafmash NEOTYPE N-7F - Konica Minolta C3080 - HP DesignJet ZP6810 - Epson Stylus Pro 4900 - Heidelberg Stahlfolder - Müller-Martini APOLLO - Müller-Martini PRESTO II - PERFECTA Cutting System

I have no idea what the f*ck I'm doing in prepress but here we are

www.ruegen-druck.de | @ruegendruck

––––––––––––––––––––––
They will chop you down just to count your rings

Foozball

#14
May 17, 2022, 07:59:35 AM
I'd run with the idea of an "alternative", I think we all would if it's beneficial.

BUT, if they ever get a notable market share, watch Adobe CRUSH them by enforcing their rights to protect their Patents ... they're douche-bags who would start with the RIP software, leaving us all "up the river".
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