Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a professional vector graphics editor designed for creating illustrations, logos, icons, UI/UX designs, and print layouts, offering tools for both vector and raster work in a single application. Developed by Serif, it was first released on October 2, 2014, for macOS as the inaugural product in the Affinity suite of creative software.[1] Originally praised for its one-time purchase model—contrasting with subscription-based competitors like Adobe Illustrator—Affinity Designer provided non-destructive editing, precise curve tools, advanced typography, and seamless switching between vector and pixel personas for hybrid workflows.[2] It expanded to Windows in November 2016 following a public beta, and to iPadOS in July 2018, earning the Apple Design Award in 2015 for its performance and integration with Apple hardware.[3] The software supported imports of PSD, AI, PDF, and SVG files while preserving layers, and featured GPU acceleration for smooth real-time rendering on both macOS (native Apple silicon support) and Windows.[4] In March 2024, Serif and its Affinity suite were acquired by Canva, accelerating development with enhanced AI integrations and broader accessibility.[5] On October 29, 2025, Affinity Designer evolved into the unified Affinity app—a free, all-in-one platform combining vector design, photo editing, and page layout tools—available for macOS and Windows with an iPad version forthcoming, while maintaining core Designer functionalities like expressive brushes, shape warps, and symbol libraries.[6] This shift to a freemium model eliminates costs for professional features, with optional Canva Premium unlocks for AI tools such as generative fill via integration, positioning it as a high-performance alternative for designers seeking precision without subscriptions.[6]History and Development
Origins and Initial Release
Serif (Europe) Ltd, a British software developer based in Nottingham, UK, had established itself over nearly three decades as a provider of affordable graphics software primarily for Windows, including the vector drawing program DrawPlus, which reached its final version, X8, in 2014.[7][8] In 2017, Serif discontinued the entire "Plus" range, including DrawPlus X8, to redirect resources toward its emerging Affinity suite of professional creative tools.[9] This shift marked a strategic pivot from legacy consumer-oriented products to a new line aimed at competing in the professional design market. In July 2014, Serif announced Affinity Designer, its first venture into macOS software after 25 years focused on Windows, positioning it as a high-performance vector graphics editor and a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Illustrator, with a one-time purchase price of $49.99 instead of a subscription model.[7] The company immediately opened a free public beta program to gather feedback from designers, emphasizing its development by a dedicated team at Serif Europe in Nottingham to ensure compatibility with native macOS technologies like OpenGL and Core Graphics.[7] Early plans outlined Affinity Designer as the foundation of a broader suite, with companion apps for photo editing and publishing slated for release within the next 12 months.[7] Affinity Designer launched for macOS on October 1, 2014, exclusively via the Mac App Store, introducing key features such as 60 frames-per-second (fps) pan and zoom for smooth real-time performance and non-destructive editing across unlimited layers.[10][7] These capabilities, optimized for 64-bit multi-core processors, allowed professionals to work with complex vector documents, effects previews, and file formats like PSD, AI, PDF, EPS, and SVG without performance lag.[7] The release was led by Serif Europe's development team in Nottingham, which focused on delivering a tool that bridged the gap between affordable legacy software and industry-standard professional workflows.[11]Version History
Affinity Designer has undergone several major version updates since its initial release, with Serif emphasizing iterative improvements through free content updates for licensed users. The software's development focused on enhancing core vector and raster capabilities while prioritizing performance and stability across platforms. Version 1 series spanned from 2014 to 2022, introducing key features like symbols, constraints, and isometric tools, before the major overhaul in version 2. The following table summarizes the major releases and key milestones in Affinity Designer's version history up to version 2.6.5:| Version | Release Date | Key Updates and Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | October 1, 2014 | Initial release for macOS, introducing professional vector design tools as a one-time purchase alternative to subscription models.[12] |
| 1.2 | April 2, 2015 | First major update with improved EPS export, enhanced UI for macOS Yosemite, and new corner editing tool for precise vector adjustments.[13] |
| 1.5 | October 6, 2016 | Added symbols for reusable design elements, constraints for responsive layouts, and asset management for organizing custom libraries.[14][15] |
| 1.7 | June 5, 2019 | Introduced isometric drawing tools, including plane modes and grid snapping, alongside node transformation enhancements; coincided with iPadOS support expansion.[16][17] |
| 1.10.5 | March 8, 2022 | Stability-focused patch addressing crashes, export issues, and platform-specific bugs for Windows and macOS users.[18] |
| 2.0 | November 9, 2022 | Major redesign with expanded raster editing integration, performance optimizations via Metal and DirectX support, and continued one-time purchase model.[19] |
| 2.2 | September 19, 2023 | Typography advancements including baseline grids, optical margin alignment, and hanging punctuation for precise text handling.[20] |
| 2.6 | February 12, 2025 | Minor feature additions like improved layer effects and UI refinements, with subsequent patches focusing on bug fixes.[21] |
| 2.6.5 | September 22, 2025 | Final stability update resolving export errors, compatibility issues, and performance tweaks across platforms.[22] |