Artistic software program firm Affinity’s web site has been quickly paused, together with the flexibility to buy the software program and submit on its official boards – resulting in intense hypothesis from designers on-line.Affinity was bought by Canva (an internet artistic publishing instrument) in Could 2024, and to this point there have not been any main modifications to the software program’s mannequin. Up till this week, you could possibly nonetheless purchase a one-off subscription, and the instruments stay as highly effective as ever. Does this transfer imply that the acquisition has led to one thing totally different altogether for one among our prime graphic design software program picks?
(Picture credit score: Affinity)A message has appeared Affinity.com declaring “Artistic Freedom is Coming. Signal as much as be the primary to know. True artistic freedom is simply across the nook. October 30”. Artistic freedom sounds good, proper? However dialogue on-line appears to concern the worst, as all the things from a subscription mannequin to AI credit is recommended as being a doable future enterprise mannequin.
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The identical message was posted on X, with Affinity explaining the disabled retailer with the next assertion: “We’re making area for what’s subsequent. This quick pause lets us transition cleanly with out confusion between variations. Present prospects preserve full entry to their apps. This solely impacts new purchases and trials.” See the submit under:True artistic freedom is simply across the nook.Be there when it occurs: https://t.co/LYvbNzO2yw pic.twitter.com/NevIXd96a7October 1, 2025Designers over on the r/graphic_design subreddit usually are not feeling hopeful.”No bulletins, no migration plan appears to exist.. simply buy possibility(s) gone, assist scattered, and the cellular app lacking if you go to seek for it,” one person says.”I actually, REALLY hope it is simply us considering the worst, however the truth that in addition they shut down the official boards says rather a lot…there was a decade of software program and design assist in there,” provides one other frightened artistic.Day by day design information, evaluations, how-tos and extra, as picked by the editors.”I knew the Canva acquisition can be dangerous and once more, till they are saying one thing I will preserve my fingers crossed, however I’ve the terrible feeling I will need to abandon yet one more software program and firm I beloved, which I already began to like much less as quickly as they determined to promote.”
(Picture credit score: Affinity)With {many professional} creatives feeling that Adobe has left them behind of their new AI-based enterprise mannequin, customers are involved that the Canva acquisition means a brand new Affinity mannequin will go the identical means. If Affinity leans into the AI functionality supplied in Canva, will the software program be offering the proper of product for skilled designers? After our glowing evaluation for Affinity 2, we hope any modifications are dealt with sensitively.”As an alternative of constant to construct really viable opponents to illustrator and InDesign for precise skilled use they are going to add AI? I might very a lot love for actual opponents to exist,” somebody speculates.
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There are additionally discussions over what the phrase ‘artistic freedom’ means on this occasion, and a few are frightened that the ‘future ahead’ language additional factors to a rise of AI.Nevertheless it’s not all gloom – some would embrace a transfer to extra AI inclusion.”Optimistic POV right here,” one other remark begins. “Affinity 2 was launched in 2022. It appears clear to me that that is asserting the discharge of Affinity 3, which is able to seemingly embody Canva’s AI instruments to rival Adobe’s Gen AI. I am trying ahead to seeing this massive replace! They in all probability pulled the flexibility to buy the software program so that folks do not get screwed shopping for Affinity 2 proper earlier than the brand new one is launched.”
(Picture credit score: Serif)Whether or not that is going to be excellent news or not, this message technique is not the easiest way to enact a significant replace or change. The mysterious strategy has made their person base nervy, and promoted a variety of destructive on-line chatter. A steer on the kind of replace creatives can count on would have been higher than this imprecise, supposedly suspense-building assertion that apparently goes to have customers ready for nearly a month with out solutions.Need to discover your choices? See our decide of one of the best Illustrator options.
