I like that it's all one app.  Honestly, if I had the resources and could develop a software suite, that's what I would have done.  The easiest to combine are page layout and illustration apps.  It's almost a no-brainer to have them in one app.  Adding in photo editing is a bit trickier but doable, obviously.  So, on that, yes, I think that's a good idea.

As I mentioned in another thread though, I don't like the Internet activation.  That means if Canva shuts down their servers or otherwise goes away, you wouldn't be able to re-install and use the app if needed.  Sure, you didn't pay for it, but if you have years of files you might need to access in the future, it's a no-go.  I learned that lesson from Adobe when they shut down their activation servers.  I do not intend to be Adobe'd again.

So, I think I'm going to be sticking with v2 until I find a suitable alternative.

Likewise

I don't. I need white background when assembling elements for page layout, and dark background when retouching photos. As a single app, I'm forced to change it every time.

Paolo

So, it's all about changing the world to make it a better place, with all the people smiling and marching together.

Oh. And I just wanted to complete that brochure to bring some money home at the end of the month…

I agree.  Page layout in light. Photo work in dark. (for most people)
I work in publisher most of the time  but use photo, on a different screen,  If I need to work on one for the main document.

So the new Affinity -Canva website https://www.affinity.studio/      Hmmmm

This is a Canva product with a new logo and you need a Canva a account to be involved. the free fonts for V1/2 users is neither here nor there.  There are more free fonts out there than I can use.

I can't see this new Affinity studio, linked to Canva subscriptions, being aimed at the pro or serious armature market. To me, this is going down to a mass market on subscriptions. Perhaps I am a dinosaur but I think there will be a sigh of relief over at Adobe.  I would make sure you have all downloaded V2.6.4  and 2.6.5 (though I am not sure if I trust 2.6.5)

Just watch the simultaneous Canva video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnqOzxpWHNA
BTW we are all "Canvanoughts" now.....

This is not for pros or going to compete with Adobe,

From the FAQ on affinity.studio/get-affinity

I have just watched the whole live CANVA thing.  It is ALL AI and subscriptions for no professionals who need "AI" to do the work for them.

Affinity was a small part of it with Ash there. Didn't look comfortable, to be honest. but then it was like a down market version of an Apple Launch on bad acid.  What I Can see having looked at both the Affinity video and the Canva one is Affinity studio is just another access point to the Canva subscription system.  After the base affinity, it will all be subscriptions. You need a (free) Canva account anyway.

As noted by Ash they had three tools with three different UIs different tools and different processes.  That is because you are doing different things. As noted above, for Publisher most of us want a light UI for page layout,  For photo work a dark UI.   Also, most of us tend to spend 90% of our time in one all.  In my case, publisher.

One amusing thing was Canva are doing "the world's best video editing tool"....It then shows a bunch of people in a domestic situation with phones with the circular lights... You can see their target market. I can't see Blackmagic Design with Resolve, worrying.  In the same way I think Adobe will be breathing a sigh of releif. The Affinity threat to Adobe has gone.

You can't blame the Serif owners. Selling Serif is their pension, they can probably afford to retire now. So no hard feelings.

As I said at the end of the Affinity Forum:  Goodbye, and thanks for all the fish.....

That could be remedied easy enough if they had a preference setting that let you set the default background preference depending on what mode/tools you are working with.

Welcome, Carl, and thanks for joining us here!

Apologies for the less than catchy URL. I set up this site rather quickly when Serif announced at quite short notice that they would be closing down their support site for the legacy ‘Plus’ software range that they dropped in favour of focusing on the Affinity suite.

Thanks for sharing your initial thoughts about the new direction for Affinity.

We must find out that rogue fella who spoke with them and gave them the wrong inputs!