Illustrator is a fantastic program and has become the darling of the graphic design world for some time. Due to either cost or the steep learning curve Illustrator may not be the best fit for some students. Let us introduce you to Affinity Designer, a versatile vector graphics editor and Adobe Illustrator alternative.
It’s developed by Serif and first ventured out to the market in 2014 as a Mac OS only program. In 2016 it arrived on Windows machines. It may have been around for awhile, but Affinity Designer still remains a relatively unknown alternative for many graphic designers and artists. While not as premium feature packed as Illustrator, there are many pros to choosing Affinity Designer. It’s become something of a fan favorite among web designers who use it.
Don’t get us wrong, we love Adobe Illustrator but life is about options and alternatives and we have the best interest of the students at heart. So what are the reasons why you would choose Affinity Designer? Read on to find out more!
Affinity Designer is beginner friendly
If you are just starting to get into graphic design and learning the ropes then it makes perfect sense to go for the cheaper alternative. However price isn’t the only factor for beginners to consider, it’s the learning curve as well.
Illustrator has a steep learning curve and can be very intimidating for beginners. Affinity Designer however is very user friendly for graphic design students to start out with. It’s easy to use as a learning tool but also advanced enough for pro graphics designers on a budget.
Cost
Let’s be clear Adobe illustrator is a force to be reckon with. It’s one of those giants of the industry but it’s pricing can be off putting to some. If you want Illustrator you’ll have to fork out $19.99/€17.94 a month. This is all part of Adobes cloud subscription program which was quite controversial at its introduction. You never truly own the program you’re just renting it. This is where Affinity Designer has an ace up its sleeve.
Affinity Designer offers a one off payment of just $49.99/€44.88 where as previously stated Illustrator is $19.99/€17.94 a month. This is a trump card for Serif and a major factor in choosing Affinity Designer over Illustrator. Some think that the lower price tag makes it an inferior tool but that is certainly not the case.
It’s not all win win though you will have to pay for updates but you generally get a grace period of free updates for a year.
Zoom Tool
The zoom tool is really an advantage for Affinity designer. It can magnify your work to 1,000,000 percent and zoom at a velocity of 60fps. This is really helpful for precision works, its like fine design with a high powered microscope! It trumps Illustrators zoom equivalent in terms of magnification by a long shot. Illustrator’s zoom tool can only magnify up to 64000 vs Designers 1,000,000!
Affinity Designer on mobile devices
Although touted for use with laptops & desktop devices it has a handy mobile version for the iPad. It comes with almost all the same tools as its big brother the desktop app. Having said that Adobe does have a mobile option too, the Illustrator Draw app. It’s certainly not a mobile replica of Illustrator though, missing many of the important tools. The only bad news is that the app requires an additional purchase of $19.99. We feel its money well spent as you can work on your projects on the go and don’t always have to tied to your less portable devices.
File compatibility
Many people stick with one program to have compatibility within a brand’s eco system. It’s important to be able to open file formats of what’s considered the industry standard program and start editing right away. We are in luck, Serif’s Illustrator alternative can open adobe file formats so you can pick up on a project where someone else left off. You can open and edit PSD, AI and EPS file types with no problems.
What’s Next
Whatever you choose the most important thing to remember is that the experience is enjoyable and productive. There are many great tools out there that you can create stunning work with. There’s a saying that goes ‘a bad craftsman blames his tools’ this can be true, but the tools must be fit for purpose! Affinity Designer is more than fit for purpose, it’s a powerhouse and a worthy contender to illustrator’s throne. Check out our Master Web Design In Affinity Designer course in the link below to get you started on your design journey. Get 80% off the course as part of our summer promo!
Master Web Design In Affinity Designer Course
