Bhikkhu Pesala

For those wondering, a bhikkhu — pronounced BIK-koo — is an ordained male Buddhist monastic (i.e. a monk). A female Buddhist monastic (i.e. a nun) is a bhikkhuni  — pronounced bik-KOO-nee.

Pesala — pronounced pay-SAH-lah — is the name that was given to him by his preceptor at his ordination.

Bhikkhu Pesala - no idea. I stopped posting on the old Affinity forums until he disappeared from there, so I don't know what made him stop in the end. I don't know that he ever switched to Affinity as he was a big book producer, and probably found PagePlus X9 more feature-rich (Layout in Affinity Studio is still not on par, although it's getting there).

I’m pretty sure he posted something to the effect that Affinity Publisher lacked the features he needed, and that PagePlus would continue to serve his needs for the foreseeable future.

I don't think V3 is written from ground up, so there is still a chance that it will make it soon. As to why omit such features is beyond me.

Whilst affinity. Studio by Canva is NOT Affinity V3 (Serif have stated this in writing)  the V3-something build in the studio splash screen and the similarity of many parts of studio with Affinity V2 suggest s to me (because I have done this with large software projects myself)  Canva has probably branched all the Affinity code to Studio and base-lined it in the version control system.  Of course, the V3*** build in the splash screen could just be marketing and window dressing, but it makes sense to reuse the code you can.

Then as you build the new app you reuse, or modify, parts of the modules from the previous system. This saves reinventing the wheel and most of the code is "proven in use"  It also helps with white box unit testing. The design of Affinity V2 was that the three apps shared a lot of code for common functionality, both visible and hidden,   

Now the Studio app is completely new in design and structure, as it is a single UI That said: underneath It will use a lot of the V2 code.  The thing is the light/dark mode that is in V2 is in the UI code they are not reusing. 

If they have designed the new UI to have now (or later) a changeable light/dark/custom UI then it might turn up in 3.1 etc On the other hand, as there are comments that "sources in Serif" have it will be difficult to do it suggests the new UI has not been designed with this in mind. So you are very unlikely to get it unless you can get millions of users asking for it.

Some are saying studio is "free" so you have no leverage. This is true to some extent, but Canva want to sell subscriptions. So, if they calculate they will sell more subscriptions with a light mode or changeable UI, then one will appear, but probably only in the subscription version.

Some cynics might say "this was the plan all along" but I have no idea on that. I don't know Canva well enough to speculate.

On the subject of light and dark UI's we both remember the rise and scramble with a dark UI being implemented  in a lot of programs at one time. Not sure which we prefer.

As regards the new studio it seems Ok on the face of it.
I think its future is going to be like it or lump it. 
We both still use PagePlusX9 with no problem on Win 11 (25H2)

Just by the by does anybody know what became of Bikala Pesulu (not sure if I have at right) he used to be a prolific poster in the old Serif Forums.

Cheers Vicki

I was very disappointed that only a dark mode is available in v3 as I find it difficult to work with and much prefer the light mode.

I did query this and was told that it would require a lot of work to provide a light mode (so no idea if it will ever be provided or not!). Basically I get the impression that users are expected be so grateful to get the software for free, that they shouldn't complain if they find it difficult to work with due to the lack of available customisation!

I don't think V3 is written from ground up so there is still a chance that it will make it soon. As to why omit such features is beyond me.

I did query this and was told that it would require a lot of work to provide a light mode ...

Who gave you that response?

I did query this and was told that it would require a lot of work to provide a light mode (so no idea if it will ever be provided or not!). Basically I get the impression that users are expected be so grateful to get the software for free, that they shouldn't complain if they find it difficult to work with due to the lack of available customisation!

jeffers wrote:

I find it impossible to use with the dark mode however much or little I try to tweak the UI greys etc plus the few other "lack of" and changes mentioned by others.

I’m disappointed that a light mode was never added to the version 1 or version 2 iPad apps, but I’m clinging to the hope that Affinity Studio for iPad will be equipped with a light mode (preferably on release).

I agree with both of you as I find it very hard to work in Dark Mode so have tried to "lighten up" as much as I can:

I find it impossible to use with the dark mode however much or little I try to tweak the UI greys etc plus the few other "lack of" and changes mentioned by others.

I’m disappointed that a light mode was never added to the version 1 or version 2 iPad apps, but I’m clinging to the hope that Affinity Studio for iPad will be equipped with a light mode (preferably on release).

I only open it to see if there is an update. I find it impossible to use with the dark mode however much or little I try to tweak the UI greys etc plus the few other "lack of" and changes mentioned by others. Happy to continue with the last Affinity Photo prog until (hopefully) it alters to suit my way of working.

Pretty Much what I am doing.

I do use it for some light duty but nothing major.

Version 3.0.1 is already out. It was released about one week after launch.

I am expecting there to be a significant update early next year, but don't know if there'll be anything else in the meantime.

I am using 3.0.1 - I am waiting for 3.1.0 (When it reaches)