Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a powerful, professional-grade vector graphic design software for Windows developed by Serif. Originally launched as a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Illustrator, it has gained a strong reputation among designers, illustrators, and digital artists.

With a focus on performance, precision, and affordability, Affinity Designer is tailored for professionals working on branding, UI/UX design, typography, concept art, and more.



The software offers a seamless design experience for Windows PC users with robust tools and an intuitive interface.

Main Features

• Dual environment: Vector and raster workspaces in one program
• Real-time performance: Zoom at 60fps and pan/scroll effortlessly
• Advanced grids, guides, and snapping tools
• Non-destructive operations
• Full support for CMYK, RGB, LAB color spaces
• PSD, AI, PDF, SVG, JPG, TIFF, EXR file support
• Symbol creation and reuse
• Boolean operations for advanced shape building
• Artboard support for multi-page projects

User Interface

The user interface is clean, modern, and highly customizable.



Affinity Designer uses a persona-based UI structure, where users can switch between Designer Persona (vector editing), Pixel Persona (raster editing), and Export Persona (for asset export).

Toolbars and panels are logically arranged, and the dark mode provides a professional design environment that reduces eye strain.

Installation and Setup

Installing Affinity Designer on a Windows PC is straightforward. The installer is available from Serif’s official website or the Microsoft Store.

Once downloaded, setup takes only a few minutes. There’s no bloatware or unnecessary dependencies, making the installation process smooth and efficient.

How to Use

After launching the software, users can choose to start a new document or open an existing one. Switching between personas allows you to toggle between vector and raster tools.



Tools like pen, shape, and text work similarly to those in Adobe Illustrator, while the pixel tools offer capabilities like brush painting and pixel editing.

Exporting assets is simplified via the Export Persona, where users can select file formats, resolutions, and export slices or layers.

FAQ

Is Affinity Designer a subscription-based software?
No, it is a one-time purchase without any subscription fees.

Can I open Illustrator (.ai) files in Affinity Designer?
Yes, Affinity Designer supports importing .ai files, though some features may not fully translate.

Does it support custom brushes?
Yes, users can create and import custom vector and raster brushes.

Is it good for UI/UX design?
Yes, its support for artboards, symbols, grids, and export tools makes it suitable for UI/UX work.

Can it be used offline?
Yes, once installed, Affinity Designer does not require an internet connection.

Alternatives

Adobe Illustrator

CorelDRAW

Inkscape (free, open-source)

Figma (browser-based, collaborative)

Pricing

Affinity Designer is available for a one-time purchase of $69.99 (often discounted during sales).

There are no ongoing subscription fees, making it a budget-friendly option for professionals and hobbyists alike.

System Requirements

Windows 11 or Windows 10 (64-bit)

2GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)

DirectX 10-compatible GPU

1.5GB available hard drive space

PROS

• One-time purchase, no subscription
• Fast and responsive interface
• Excellent vector and raster integration
• Broad file format support
• Regular updates with new features

CONS

• Lacks some advanced Illustrator features
• Learning curve for new users unfamiliar with vector software

Conclusion

Affinity Designer is a standout alternative to subscription-heavy design tools. With its powerful feature set, high performance, and affordable pricing, it is well-suited for freelance designers, digital artists, and small teams.

Its ability to handle both vector and raster tasks makes it a versatile addition to any creative toolkit, especially for Windows users looking for a reliable, professional-grade solution.

Note: 10 days trial version.

Also Available: Download Affinity Designer for Mac