Affinity Photo vs Photoshop - Cross-Platform Comparison Guide

What is Photoshop

Photoshop originated as a retouching program with darkroom-style functionality that helps you to improve the results of a digital image. Gradually, it became a powerful tool for professional photography, media, advertising, and design. You can control, edit, and design images with unparalleled accuracy. Photoshop is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud platform, which lets you work with it, helping you build complex projects effectively.

What is Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is Serif's professional photo editing software, part of the Affinity Suite. You receive Affinity Designer for graphics and Affinity Publisher for layouts. It is built as a robust, non-subscription alternative to conventional editors. You can also enjoy high-performance editing without paying recurring fees. Affinity Photo is cross-platform, meaning you can create without interruptions across Windows, Mac, and iPad, and enjoy the same tools and features.

Affinity Photo vs Photoshop - Comparison

Interface & user experience

• Layout similarities

Both Affinity Photo and Photoshop organize tools to the left and layers to the right. In the right panel, you have adjustments, and there are contextual options in the top. Editing in layers works similarly, and most keyboard shortcuts transfer easily. Without picking up the simple commands, you can structure your working process, and the transition between programs becomes easier.

• Where Photoshop differs

Photoshop lets you zoom and view files in full-screen mode across multiple windows. Workspaces can be customized to a great degree.

• Where Affinity Photo differs

Affinity Photo features colorful UI elements and more clearly displays adjustment previews. You alternate identities to minimize interface clutter.

Winner: Affinity has a more straightforward interface, while Photoshop offers more workspace flexibility for advanced users.

Features & editing capabilities

• Major features shared

Both Photoshop and Affinity Photo offer essential tools like selections, masking, brushes, layer effects, and blend modes. You can perform RAW editing and apply non-destructive adjustments. Both support panorama stitching, HDR merges, and batch processing for faster workflows. These shared features make it easy for you to handle standard photo editing tasks efficiently without switching software.

• Features where Photoshop leads

Photoshop gives you Adobe Camera RAW for precise pre-processing. Neural Filters enable AI-powered portrait retouching and sky replacement. You gain access to a wider filter gallery, automation, content-aware tools, and pro-level retouching. Its third-party brush and texture support ensures limitless creative flexibility for advanced users.

• Features where Affinity Photo leads

Affinity Photo uses a Persona-based workflow to focus on editing tasks efficiently. Adjustment thumbnails provide live visual previews. You enjoy real-time brush feedback, a strong Liquify Persona, and HDR/Tone Mapping tools for creative looks. Its UI clarity makes layer adjustments easier and faster for both beginners and pros.

Winner: Photoshop excels in professional automation and AI-powered editing, while Affinity offers intuitive, task-focused control for creative users.

Workflow, productivity & automation

• Workflow similarities

Photoshop and Affinity Photo share fundamental features such as selections, masking, brushes, layer effects, and blend modes. You can also do RAW editing and make non-destructive changes. They both enable panorama stitch, merge HDR, and run workflows in batches. All these standard features will allow you to easily perform photo editing tasks with different software.

• Photoshop workflow advantages

Photoshop provides Adobe Camera RAW for accurate pre-processing. Neural Filters allow AI-powered portrait retouching and sky replacement. You get a broader set of filters, automation, and pro-grade content-aware retouching. It supports three-party brushes and textures, providing unlimited creative versatility for high-end users.

• Affinity Photo workflow advantages

The Persona-centered workflow in Affinity Photo prioritizes editing. Live visual previews are shown on adjustment thumbnails. You have real-time brush feedback, a powerful Liquify Persona, and HDR/Tone Mapping effects to create appearances. Its UI allows quick, easy layer adjustments by both amateurs and professionals.

Winner: Photoshop is more professional in automation and AI-based editing, and Affinity is more approachable with a more task-oriented interface among creative users.

AI tools

• Photoshop AI

Photoshop provides generative fill, neural filters, and AI masking to help with efficient, rapid, complex editing. Faster compositing can be done by using AI-assisted object detection and auto-blend tools. The subscription model provides you with frequent feature updates to keep your tools up to date. You can access state-of-the-art AI functionality in real time, without having to wait until big releases. These allow you to automate repetitive processes while retaining control over creativity.

• Affinity Photo AI

Affinity Photo specializes in performance and minimal AI automation when performing editing. You get fewer feature releases, and big ones, such as V2, are even rarer. You never need to worry about updating subscriptions that are unstable and unreliable. The rate of development is geared towards reliability more than state-of-the-art AI innovation. Manual control becomes more accurate, and complex edits are more predictable and smooth. Although Affinity does not have many AI tools, its consistent advancement makes its use long-term usable.

Winner: Photoshop is more powerful in terms of AI-based features and regular updates, whereas Affinity is more stable and manual.

Plugin support, compatibility & file ecosystem

• Plugin & extension support in Photoshop

Most commercial filters, such as Topaz, Nik, and Retouch4Me, can be used in Photoshop to make quick adjustments. AI integrations and automation can be a part of your workflow. This is best when you regularly rely on external effects and specialized filters.

• Plugin support in Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo supports numerous Photoshop brushes and certain types of plug-ins. It, however, provides minimal assistance to intensely linked plug-in suites. Advanced effects that rely on various plugins might require workarounds, but overall improvements can be made without significant trade-offs.

• File format support

Affinity can read PSD files and open them in full, retaining layers. Photoshop cannot read the Affinity AFPHOTO format. Working with Designer and Publisher is also possible with Affinity cross-format.

Winner: Photoshop is the victor in the depth of the plugins, Affinity in the cross-format flexibility.

Pricing & value comparison

Which tool should you choose for photo editing? This is a comparison table about Photoshop vs Affinity Photo to help you decide.

Affinity Photo and Photoshop have robust editing capabilities, but they may seem complicated and expensive to novices. The costly upgrades, the extravagant system requirements, and the constraints of the plug-in usually delay your labor. CapCut, on the other hand, is an easy-to-use AI-driven workspace that lets you edit images quickly, making it a quicker, more accessible option regardless of skill level.

CapCut – The premier free choice for personalized photo editing

CapCut is the best tool for editing your photos and videos without any hassles. Its AI design tool is an AI-powered image editor for you to edit photos easily. There are some advanced photo editing tools, including inpaint, remove, upscale, expand, and background remover. You will explore diverse useful tools in CapCut. Now, try it to polish your photos without any limitations!

Key features

• AI design tool: The AI design tool quickly generates layouts and suggests color, font, and grid adjustments. You save time and achieve balanced, polished designs effortlessly.
• Visual elements: Access stickers, icons, shapes, and illustrations to enhance your collage. You can resize, rotate, and layer each element creatively for strong storytelling.
• AI tools: AI tools enhance images, reduce noise, and upscale photos. You also get smart color correction and layout suggestions for professional results.
• Remove BG: The background remover instantly detects and removes the photo background. You can upload a new photo to replace the background.
• Image inspiration templates: Browse curated image templates for travel, events, business, or aesthetic collages. You can tweak colors, fonts, and photos to personalize each design.

Steps to designing fast and tailored photos with CapCut

STEP 1
1. Access the AI design tool

Firstly, you need to open CapCut and then locate the "AI design" option that is present on the extreme left vertical bar. Now, enter the text prompt about the image you want to generate and click the "Send" tab.

STEP 2
1. Edit the photo

Then, you get complete control to customize your photo. Add text, shapes, frames, or stickers to the image with the "+" option.

Next, you can use the "AI tools" tab from the top menu to either expand, upscale, inpaint, or remove anything from your image.

STEP 3
1. Export your photo

Finally, head to the "Download" option at the top. You can save the photo design in your preferred format, resolution, and quality, or simply copy it as a PNG.

Select the platform for customized photo editing: Comparative insights

Choosing the right photo editing platform depends on your skill level, creative needs, and desired output. Here is a comparison table for you to pick the best editor.

To sum up, both Affinity Photo and Photoshop are powerful photo editing tools, though they shine in different areas as well. Photoshop dominates AI capabilities, automation, and professional processes, while Affinity Photo boasts an easy-to-use interface, task-centric controls, and a single-purchase price. But to create personalized photos quickly without spending a lot of time and effort, CapCut is the most suitable choice. It offers an AI design tool, visual features, and simple export options that let you create distinctive images with minimal effort.

FAQs

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1. Does Affinity Photo or Photoshop handle large files better?

Photoshop handles very large files with smoother performance and advanced memory management. You can work on huge layered projects without frequent slowdowns. Affinity Photo also manages big files well, but Photoshop remains slightly more reliable for extreme sizes. For quick edits to any file, you can use CapCut's intuitive tools too.

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1. Photoshop or Affinity Photo, which do people like on Reddit?

Reddit users often debate preference, but many choose Photoshop for its extensive features and long-standing community support. Affinity Photo earns praise for its one-time purchase and responsive interface. You can explore both to see which suits your style. If you want an easy and free alternative, CapCut provides a simple alternative for fast creative edits.

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1. Which photo editor is the best for beginners?

Affinity Photo is beginner-friendly with a clear interface and essential editing tools ready to use immediately. Photoshop can feel complex at first. You can learn either gradually, depending on your needs. For fast learning and casual edits, CapCut offers beginner-friendly AI tools and templates for smooth results.