@JAmedia;

Experience always adds a valuable perspective.

I’m well aware of how these transitions can unfold behind the scenes. Still, I tend to judge by how the tools perform in real-world use, not just in financial filings or boardroom plans.

Either way, I think we both agree it’ll be interesting to watch how this plays out for the creative community itself.

At the moment, I am using Affinity Studio to create my new book, and I have to say, I like what I see so far.

As I wrote earlier: forward, ever forward!

@JAmedia;

I appreciate your take. I wouldn’t quite call the two subscription models identical, though — their structure, audience, and purpose differ once you look a little deeper.

My view comes from hands-on use of both systems over time, not just theory, so I’ve seen where each one shines and where it doesn’t. But you’re right, the next 12 months will reveal a lot about how creators adapt. It should be interesting to watch.

Thank you Alfred,

I find the splash screen of Affinity Studio takes a long time to disappear. I checked in Jutoh and indeed, you can prevent the splash screen from showing at startup.

@Ali;

You are correct, it is Affinity and not Canva which is shown in the opening screen.

For those who don't believe it, I added a screencapture of the about screen.

I regret the negativity of many replies in this thread. I like your positive attitude and hope that, over time, people will be more positive too. Many people are afraid or do not like change; they prefer to stick with what they know. That is perfectly human and ok. However, people have to realize that change is unavoidable.

The Plus days are long gone, and now the Affinity Suite steps up to a new level. We don't know what the future will bring, but I am sure it will be good for those who can adapt.

AI Is Not the Villain

I don’t really get all the doom and gloom around the new Affinity Studio. Honestly, my first reaction last night wasn’t great either — but I gave it some time, tested things properly, and now I actually like what I’m seeing.

Let’s be real: the whole world is moving toward subscriptions. Affinity isn’t breaking tradition here. The good news is, you still have a choice. If you don’t need the AI tools, the apps are free — forever. Only if you want the AI features do you need a Canva Pro plan.

And about Canva’s AI… don’t forget it’s low-resolution. That can mess you up if you’re not careful. I’ve got a Pro subscription myself — affordable enough and useful — but I mostly redraw or refine whatever it gives me. It’s a tool for ideas, not a shortcut to finished work.

Now, the new integration? That’s a win. Having the three apps in one space with a unified file format feels clean and efficient. Worth the upgrade on its own.

The image tracing though… yeah, it’s rough. Too many extra objects and nodes — same story as most other apps, to be fair. I’ll just use it for base shapes and then add what I need manually.

Whoever hid the margin settings inside “Guides…” under “View” deserves a gentle roast. That belongs in “Document Setup.”

As for the AI debate: I get the anger. A lot of people feel their art’s being exploited. But AI isn’t the enemy — misuse is. Fair use should mean consent, transparency, and proper credit. Still, if all the artists who care about ethics walk away from AI, then only the careless ones will shape how it’s used.

I work with AI daily — stories, layouts, concepts — but it never replaces me. I let it build a structure or spark an idea, then I rewrite, redraw, reshape. It’s collaboration, not theft.

Affinity and Canva need income to stay alive — just like any creative business. This model at least gives everyone access. Sure, it’ll attract the “make money fast” crowd who churn out junk, but let’s be honest — Adobe has the same problem. The quality of the work still depends on the person behind the screen.

I watched the keynote. It wasn’t perfect, but it was about creativity and choice — and that matters.

For €12 a month, Canva Pro is fine by me. You can get decent starting points and build your own designs from there. I get that some people don’t like AI — fair enough — but maybe ask yourself: has it really stolen your work? Or are we just scared of change?

My take: respect artists, demand ethical AI, and keep evolving. Progress isn’t the enemy.

To end on a good note:
We’re all here because we love creating. You don’t have to like every update, but let’s stay curious, keep testing, and help each other find what works. The tools will keep changing — our creativity doesn’t have to.

Kind regards,

Chris

Hello Alfred,

The Affinity Revolution reply is somewhat in the middle. What led me to believe there is no subscription coming is that Ally told us that it is good news and not to worry. If it were a subscription, she would not say that because she knows how users feel.

Anyway, it is only 12 days from now, and I expect a kind of teaser coming from Serif.

What is your favorite feature for Affinity? Mine is exporting more smoother SVG (not a circle with 16 nodes if 4 is enough for example).

Kind regards,

Chris

Hello LoveDesign,

Thank you for your reply and viewpoint. However, I do not fully understand the information you wrote. I am not a native English speaker, so probably that is the reason why I do not understand.

Chris