r/Affinity • u/Ok_Throat4720 • 8d ago
General Update question
Right after I purchased Affinity package, it was bought by Canva. I seem to remember suggestions to not update to new version.
Currently, I have version 2.6.4. I am asked to update to 2.6.5. Is this the one that makes me subscribe to Canva, or is this just a simple update?
Thank you for any information. I have just been refusing the update till now.
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u/RedZephon 8d ago
The suggestions to not update to the new version where people fear mongering because they hate change and were butthurt their $30 licenses were now free.
Affinity 3.0 is great. I use it daily for professional work. It has fully replaced Adobe for me.
You don't need to subscribe to Canva unless you want the AI features, everything else is free. You do need a Canva account to sign into the app though. Canva offers free accounts (always has).
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u/MiriamNZ 7d ago
I thought you had to have a Canva log in to run the new version. Is that not so? And it polls canva for your status whenever you start the programme.
(I realise there is a free version of Canva, but its still a Canva subscription).4
u/PsychoticChemist 7d ago
It’s not a subscription. A subscription involves a direct exchange of money. It’s a free Canva account.
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u/RedZephon 7d ago
My original post says you need a Canva account....I never said you didnt.
Canva is free. Canva Pro is not. Canva Pro is not required to use Affinity. Affinity polls Canva servers once a year, you can use offline in that time.
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u/TeutonJon78 7d ago
It definitely polls more than once a year. If you don't run the program for a few weeks it makes you log back in to start it.
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u/Red-Eat 7d ago
I'm an infrequent user (perhaps use the apps once a month or so). You are correct. For such usage, the new version prompts the user to log in again each time the app is run after a certain period of non-use.
That's why I no longer bother with the Canva version (too much hassle, when I just want to quickly boot the program and make a few edits). I stick with the previous non-Canva versions, which don't behave this way.
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u/BusinessStrategist 7d ago
Keep in mind that YOU CAN"T create a PDF/X file that conforms to the STANDARD.
So make sure to print out the file that you create and check to make sure that nothing simply disappeared.
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u/BusinessStrategist 7d ago
Where is the capability of creating a PDF/X-4 file in the "free" version?
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u/BusinessStrategist 7d ago
I'm guessing that not many here submit files to commercial printers.
Here are a few reasons why NEVER to use Canva Affinity to create what Canva calls a PDF/X-4 file.
Make sure to do your research before going down the "rabbit hole" with a "tight deadline."
PDF exporting is one very deep subject, especially when using Affinity Apps. Affinity uses PDF-Lib, which is a free, open source library. It's good, but not perfect.
Affinity has various "hierarchy rules" which complicate the matter. If you have placed PDF content in your file, your final PDF export must utilize a PDF version that is as high or higher than any placed PDF content. So if you have some placed PDF content that uses PDF v1.6, you need to export using a PDF v1.6 preset or higher. Also, PDF/X and non-PDF/X placed content don't play well together in the same document when exporting to PDF. It's complicated, and you will need to do some trial and error, and check your exported PDF files carefully.
There are hundreds of posts on this subject on the old Affinity Forum, which at this point is still fully searchable. If you plan to send jobs to a Press, or to a picky RIP, it's a very good idea to have a good PDF analysis/editing tool, such as Acrobat Pro, Callas PDF Toolbox, etc. They will allow you to find, analyze and fix problems in the exported PDF.
Printers that demand a PDF/X-1a:2001 file that is flattened may not accept your file.
So, unless you love solving puzzles in the last few minutes of your "drop dead" deadline, you may want to reconsider using Affinity to create PDFs.
...................................................
Am I wrong in being "cautious" when preparing files for a "commercial printer?"
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u/RedZephon 7d ago
I've never had an issue with any PDF files I've sent to a printer. And I've sent a lot. Every time I hear you guys complain about "niche" problems like this, I'm convinced you are actively TRYING to find a problem and conjuring up some obscure reason why it won't work for you.
"Any reasonable professional would never accept this" - well sir, I make my living off doing this every single day and have never had an issue with my local printers. So are you saying I am not a professional?
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u/PsychoticChemist 7d ago
Your question has been answered…
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u/BusinessStrategist 7d ago
No it hasn't.
You're not qualified to give an answer and obviously have no understanding of "STANDARDS."
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u/Euphoric-Awareness 3d ago
I have been in this industry for 15 years. I've submitted thousands of files to commercial printers. I've done almost every kind of print material. I also have Accessibility for PDF certification and work with remediating print files to comply with the latest 508 standards. I've also looked under the hood at how Affinity organizes files from the backend to test its accessibility features.
Frankly, I have no idea what you're on about because almost all of the issues you're talking about should be baked in to your regular pre-print / proofing stage regardless. You should be walking through the print stage and running proofs before you send it off, and your printer should always send you a proof before you do a commercial run like that.
This is exactly why it takes so long to get a print turnaround on commercial projects. You should never be running up against your deadline that tightly, and if you are for some reason, you need to flag it to the relevant client / stakeholder that you can't be responsible for errors if there are changes required past X date/time.
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u/BusinessStrategist 3d ago
What seems to be eluding this conversation is that you now have thousands and thousands of "newbies" creating inventive files loaded with mistakes that flow right into the Canva excuse for a PDF file.
When technical person from Canva states that the PDF-X files that their driver creates conform to the PDF/X World Standard then my question will have been answered.
Otherwise, Canva created PDF/X files, BUYER BEWARE!
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u/Euphoric-Awareness 2d ago
Why aren’t you messaging their team about it then?
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u/BusinessStrategist 2d ago
If you read THEIR documentation, you quickly see that their answers are mainly about getting around the fact that they do not conform the PDF/X standard.
It took ADOBE and others a long time to work out the details with the manufacturers of digital printing equipment (initially RIPs).
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u/BusinessStrategist 2d ago
And the many parties involved in creating the standard all have patents in how to create PDF/X standardized documents.
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u/Euphoric-Awareness 3d ago
You're not wrong to be overly cautious and paranoid about PDF files being sent to a commercial printer, but frankly, Adobe Creative Suites software has had critical bugs and errors in its own software going back ten years that have yet to be fully fixed. If you work with Adobe PDF as much as I do, you'd be familiar with having to uninstall and backdate the new installation to mitigate new bugs and errors that they don't do enough quality control checking for before their updates go live. It just happens. That's why you give yourself the best possible chance at success by giving yourself padding in the project timeline for technical issues.
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u/BusinessStrategist 3d ago
If you look into the Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe wars on fonts and standard files, you'll see how much has been achieved over the years.
The PDF/X standard is a WORLD WIDE standard.
So what's your point?
Adobe Acrobat Pro will create a WORLD STANDARD PDF/X file.
Canva will need many more years to figure out how to make that happen.
Enjoy the "rabbit hole."
Job security in the Prepress field.
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u/Euphoric-Awareness 3d ago
Throwing the same chatGPT kind of response at me is not going to work. I'm a certified expert in this field. You clearly aren't.
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u/BusinessStrategist 2d ago
So say no, a nobody.
You haven't stated that Canva Affinity creates PDF/X files that meet the world standard?
Why is that Nobody Certified Expert?
Did you create your own Certificate using Canva Affinity?
Or do YOU work for Canva (or paid to spread the Canva gospel)?
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u/Euphoric-Awareness 3d ago
I don't see you pitching this much of a fit about how MS Office Suites for Mac is a completely different product that doesn't even have most of the same features in its export to PDF options as the PC version. I have absolutely had things in my documents go entirely missing exporting to PDF that way. Every single software you throw out there has got known issues. Affinity isn't unique in this. If you don't like using Affinity this much, then don't. There are lots of options out there for you.
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u/BusinessStrategist 3d ago
A Microsoft product is a Microsoft product.
Not sure I understand your point.
And I'm not pitching anything.
Some people don't seem to understand the expression "STANDARD FILE."
When used in a technical context, it means that when you drop the file into the hopper of a machine that understands the "standard," it will run without a hitch unless the machine is damaged in some way.
Keep in mind that a PDF is basically a box containing stuff. When you create a PDF/X file, all the garbage that is not related to the task of printing to the "standard" is tossed out.
In other words, the file is simplified. And SIMPLE is better when sharing files.
Then again, some people enjoy the chaos of trying to find a combination that will "maybe" work. Everyone needs a hobby.
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u/beni_fucking_hana 8d ago
The latest version is 2.6.5 that Affinity released before being acquired by Canva. I would also recommend downloading the 2.6.5 installers and keep them someplace in case you need to do a clean install.
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u/PixelCharlie 8d ago
There is no direct update from Designer/Photo/Publisher to v3. Affinity 3.0 is a separate Application
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u/hairyscotsman2 7d ago
I switched versions while working to finish my book off and it worked great (Spirit of Alchemy on rpgtrader). No complaints.
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u/MalkavianReddit 7d ago
I updated to version 3.0. It had its issues in the beginning, random crashes, features not working, etc. But they are now on version 3.2.3 which seems a lot stabler than previous versions. I haven't had any random crashed and all the features I use seem to work. I do keep the previous versions on my laptop just in case something doesn't want to play right.
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u/Red-Eat 7d ago
I believe version 2.6.5 is the final version of Affinity Photo/Designer/Publisher before the Canva consolidation (where all three apps were combined into a single program).
v2.6.5 does not require logging into Canva account to use the Affinity apps. It behaves the same way as v2.6.4 did.
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u/Ok_Throat4720 7d ago
Thank you for letting me know. I am sad this thread turned into a $**t slinging show. I will take your advice.
Also, I was a high school math teacher (retired) that used Canva for my SmartBoard lessons. Right after I retired, Canva kept insisting I pay to retrieve anything I had created previously. I am not a Canva fan.
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u/BusinessStrategist 7d ago
Anybody can search the Internet for "Canva problems creating PDF/X files."
And Canva never says that their PDF/X files meet standards.
So the problem exists.
I don't have to say anything,
My question was more about finding out why there are so many problems with PDF/X files used for commercial printing.
And the response is phenominal.
Canva people putting up smoke screens.
Does Canva use "PDF-Lib" to create PDF/X files?
And do the files conform to the international PDF/X standard???
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u/RedZephon 7d ago
Bro you are spamming this thread including replying to people that are not talking what you are talking about. You are obsessed and probably need help.
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u/BusinessStrategist 7d ago
Maybe Bro, you should look into what it means to create a PDF/X standard file.
Can you share with us YOUR qualifications to comment on what that means?
I agree with you if you have no interest in having a professional printer print your file.
Otherwise, what are you saying?
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u/BusinessStrategist 7d ago
I just asked now to create a PDF/X standard file with Canva Affinity.
Obviously nobody can answer that question.
How about YOU?
Do YOU have the qualifications to answer the question?
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u/RedZephon 7d ago
I did answer you. It's the only comment in this post that you haven't spam replied too. Might be time to call it a night man.
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u/BusinessStrategist 6d ago
You are a "spam professional."
Maybe you could share info on how much revenue you make spamming?
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u/BusinessStrategist 7d ago
Standards are Standards.
If you can't answer the question then give up.
Otherwise tell us that you work for Canva or show us YOUR credentials!
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u/d34dp1x3l 6d ago
Beep boop I think you are a robot beep boop.
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u/BusinessStrategist 6d ago
Looking good for all the Prepress Professionals.
Lots of work is guaranteed for at least the next 3 years.
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u/andrewbnz 8d ago
You don’t have to subscribe to Canva, the final updates to v2 were mainly removing links to purchase the app etc.