Affinity Photo: Photoshop next killer
Makradar Technologies / / December 19, 2019
"Photoshop" - 25. Serious term, during which not only expands the functionality, but certain traditions were formed. A tradition for the software is not always good. Often they include flaws that would be worth a long time to root out the root - and are used to them, even the developers themselves. It has become a fertile ground for the creation of alternative applications are largely designed on an "as Photoshop, only better." Affinity Photo - one of these products.
general impression
Affinity Company is quite well known in the design environment: its hybrid vector and bitmap drawing tool in Designer some aspects even more abruptly "Pikselmatora", although it is rather an analog vector editors and Adobe Illustrator CorelDRAW. And here is a direct analogue of "Photoshop" is just Photo.
At this point Photo available in a free beta. Much is still not working, but some idea of the possibilities of applications already possible to make. In general, it will be more complete alternative to "Photoshop" than the same Pixelmator: work with CMYK- and Lab-color, full support of professional pen tablet, a color management system, create a "snapshot", support for 64-bit filters for Photoshop, RAW-file support, much more advanced selection Configuration tool (useful for masking of hair and wool), several algorithms for image conversion scaling, automatic export agent layers in three resolutions - this is just the tip of the iceberg, but it is clear that Affinity toys have decided not to do it. :)
Many specifics: pros and cons
Of course, Photo to "Photoshop" is still very far away, but a lot of things in this program was just reviewed by the designated above principle: in Photoshop, only better. Which of these features can be identified:
- In addition to a universal set of tools, which in many respects very similar to fotoshopovskim, Photo is equipped with additional means for processing RAW-pictures, stylization macro shots, the use of the effect of fluidity and fast preparation of images for screens with different densities pixels. Similar tools, of course, exist in "Photoshop" - but they are more Photo competently organized: in the form of five modes the work program, between which in the future it will be possible to switch from using the five buttons at the top left corner of the window editor. Each Photo mode displays the appropriate interface with the tools that are needed only at the moment.
- It is interesting to Photo resolved and work with masks. Unlike Photoshop, where the mask is the only attribute associated layer mask here - separate layers, working on the principle of "masks all that under me." To bind to a specific mask layer, it is necessary to make a child layer - and then the mask will affect only the parent layer.
- Easier work with layer effects: not through a modal window, blocking the rest of the interface, and a single palette. In addition to the usual shadow effect type, glow, chamfers and other Photo adds another - washes of Gaussian (this fotoshopery tearfully asking Adobe year already).
- Adjustment layers have long been in the "Photoshop", but developers Photo added the ability to save settings of layers of this type in the form of presets that can easily be used in the future. So much clearer and easier.
- Cool implemented navigation action stories. On the one hand, it is the same list as in "Photoshop", but only one slider, which allows you to quickly scroll through the events in one direction or another, much easier to work with the story. In addition - it's very cool - Photo lets you save the whole story in the file! This means that you or someone else, open the document, be able to continue to work on it, as if he did not close it! Adobe did not think of this until now. :(
- Affinity perfectly dealt with the management of color palettes while Photoshop users still been forced to work with one set of color samples (swatches), Photo allows you to create different sets, tethering them to the current document, application, or the entire system. In addition, the selected palette can be assigned to a particular standard color model (RGB, CMYK, Lab, Greyscale).
- When you try to apply to the current layer any inconsistent operation (for example, a Gaussian blur on for vector object, whether it is necessary to convert) Photoshop layer constantly asked to perform the necessary operations. In this Photo irritant eliminated by introducing the so-called assistant: in this window set the default action for a particular case. So if you suddenly on the same vector object stroll eraser, no program will be nothing ask - and immediately impose a mask to an object, for which you and will draw, concealing the required areas Images. If you prefer instead of a mask layer in a raster conversion - just enter it in the assistant window.
- Very graphic (in the style of Adobe Illustrator) gradient control directly on vector objects. Especially drawn to an elliptical gradient for which settings Photo shows two scales along both axes of the ellipse - working with the tuning indicator, the gradient is easy to rotate, move, resize, and adjust the position of the smoothness and color transitions. In the "Photoshop", alas, do not have such opportunities until now, although the "Illustrator" in this regard for a long time moved forward.
- Excellent adhesion is realized setting (snapping) - not through the main menu of the program, but through pop-up panel with a bunch of check boxes and a list of presets, which you can fill up your work as templates.
- The Photo is much more diverse set of "smart" figures than in the "photoshop": in addition to quadrilateral with adjustable angles, here additional 18 different types of primitives setting markers characteristic properties such as the number of teeth or rounding radius angles.
Now for the drawbacks. It hardly makes sense to list, some tools from the Photoshop is not in Photo. As I wrote earlier, the program may still not be a full replacement for Adobe products, even because of the difference in age. But those expectations are not met, should tell:
- In contrast to "Photoshop", which is still many mechanisms built on cross-platform software modules (Obviously slower solution that simplifies the life of the developer, not the user), Photo specially designed for OS X. However, for some reason, visualization program runs noticeably slower than adobovskom heavyweights. The picture is divided into square blocks whenever it apply any filters or gradients. Perhaps it should be attributed to the beta version, but since the work with images - the main task of the application, it could hone to shine in the first place, so as not to embarrass those who are seriously considering switching from "Photoshop" to be acceptable replacement.
- Extremely inconvenient implemented to work with the guides. If the "Photoshop" to create a guide just pull the one of the lines (and in the latest version even has a generator nets), you need to open in the Photo Manager window guides - and manually by typing only numbers (), to create each line! separately.
- Also, poorly thought working with text. The text tools Photo banal uncomfortable, many important parameters are accustomed to "Photoshop", there is simply no. In addition, the advanced settings of typography (eg, installation of alternative characters or include ligatures width) for some reason, made into a separate bulky box. Also completely lacks support for character styles and paragraph arrangement possibilities of text along the curve. Separately perplexed what layouts to print the font size is set in millimeters rather than in points. In short, the work with the text - is another weak spot Photo.
- Another program is absolutely no means of automation. Photoshop in this regard is very good (though for him there is a serious pretezii): actions, scripts, batch processing of files and even their programmable palette - very important tools for the modern designer, which is a little more and understand programming (very important skill). It is a pity that so far seems Photo tool only for manual labor.
- At first, a second and even a third glance, it may seem that you can not work in a Photo with patterns (patterns). However, this possibility is - but for some reason the corresponding command is part of a set of gradient types. Fortunately, this type of fill can also be saved as a sample in one of the color palettes, or set of styles for layers.
- Another important tool for the designer, which is particularly advanced in the latest version of "Photoshop" - a Smart Objects. Now they let you split any graphical layout into modules, each of which is a separate file with its own settings display layers, and other matters. Alas, in the Photo Smart Objects are completely absent - only primitive function of placing external files without any additional options.
Verdict
Both lists can be continued, but the overall picture is already so clear. It is obvious that the developers want Affinity interested in your product and users "Photoshop", which tried to recreate the most similar work media up to the general structure of the program interface and "fotoshopovskih" shortcut keys - simultaneously offering much more successful implementation friends instruments. And the price of $ 50, you will need to pay for the Photo only once, is only five months of the cheapest subscription for Photoshop - for many it is also an important factor.
But the most important thing - to clearly define the scope of tasks that can be entrusted with Photo. If the program is seen solely as a tool for working with photographs and paint - I would strongly I advised to pay attention to this project and follow its development, since until the final version is still much to be added and change. But as a tool for graphic design, web design, development, programming interfaces and other applications of a similar nature Photo practically unusable. However, I can not claim that the developers planned this functionality - it is, in case, if someone suddenly dreaming about her. :)
Subscribe to the beta version of Affinity Photo
Who needs an alternative to "Photoshop"?
Photoshop - this tool for professionals. It offers a lot of tools, but not all of us need them. Probably everyone in the house have a hammer, but not all drill or a soldering iron. Ordinary users to useful programs that are simple and intuitive - and to function properly in Photoshop, it takes a long time to learn. Not for nothing are now in the App Store have many applications with one or two functions, and each user chooses for himself only the necessary. In addition, Photoshop is now on paid subscription, and the program is easier buy only once - and you can safely live.
Elena Kalinina
Pixelmator and Photo - killer "Photoshop"?
I do not like the term "killer", and are not the killer application Photoshop. This is a great option for a "semi-professionals", for which a simple editor is not enough functional, and Photoshop, on the contrary, is redundant. I, for example, "Photoshop" enjoyed through force, but then discovered Pixelmator and graphics for me was happy. I think a direct comparison of Photoshop and semi-professional graphic editors is not quite correct: it is still different weight categories.
Artem Kozoriz