Affinity Photo 2.6 Update: A More Detailed Look at the Functionalities You’ll Use
If you use Affinity Photo, you’ve probably noticed the excitement surrounding the most recent 2.6 upgrade. Even if the release notes may seem overwhelming, let’s sort through the clutter and concentrate on the key updates that will improve the efficiency, speed, and intuitiveness of your editing process. Just the highlights, no filler.
Object Selection Tool: At Last Getting Up to Speed
Let’s start with the Object Selection Tool, which is the highlight of this release. Photoshop users have long benefited from AI-powered options, and now Affinity is taking over. Even while it doesn’t quite match Adobe’s skill, it’s a positive step.
How It Works: This tool uses a local AI model to detect objects. Privacy fans, rejoice Affinity confirms no data is shared externally.
In Practice: Click the owl-shaped icon (yes, an owl!) in the toolbar. Select a pixel/image layer, drag a rough outline around your subject, and let the tool highlight detected areas. Modifiers let you split larger selections into smaller chunks.
Room for Growth: On some systems, highlights vanish after a few seconds, and masks still need manual tweaking. But for quick selections especially in cluttered scenes it’s surprisingly accurate.
Select Subject: One-Click Magic
Tucked under the Select menu, Select Subject is your new best friend for instant masking. It saves valuable time by automatically identifying the primary topic in a layer. Although the results aren’t perfect, it’s invaluable for last-minute tasks or social media tweaks. For finished results, use it in conjunction with the refine mask tool.
Upgrades to the Note Tool: Minor Adjustments, Major Effects
Subtle but significant changes were made to the Note Tool: To change the kind of notes (from rectangle to circle, for example), double-click on them. Double-clicking or pressing Alt + click will remove Bézier notes. Easy? Indeed. Revolutionary for regular users? Of course.
Color Picker: Simplified Process
The days of requiring additional clicks to apply colors are long gone. Selected layers are now instantly filled by the new Color Picker. Prefer the old method (sampling first)? Hold Alt while clicking. A tiny change that cuts down on frustration.
Image Layers: No More Headaches
Affinity’s handling of image layers has long confused newcomers. Previously, deleting a selection nuked the entire layer. Presently: Remove a choice? Instead, it covers the area. Make the same choice twice? A new pixel layer is produced. Instead of adding pixel layers by hand, paint or erase directly on image layers. Workflows become more natural with these adjustments, especially for novices.
Life Quality: The Small Things Count Brush Search: At Last!
Hunt for brushes in the active category (though a global search would’ve been nicer).
Mask Management: Right-click a mask to reset or invert it instantly.
Persistent Settings: The healing/inpainting brush now remembers your “current layer” preference between sessions.
Text Tool Escape: Ditch the mouse! For keyboard warriors, the key to quit text mode is Ctrl + Enter (or Escape).
Fans of Macro Celebrate!
This is for you, content producers. Now supported by macros: Layers are given tag colors. Using layers as clipping or masking layers. Small additions can have a big impact on simplifying repetitious activities.
Adjusting Curves: Fixing Grey Mode
Changing the Curves adjustment to Grey mode now applies instantaneously without requiring you to alter the curve first, which is a specialized but welcome fix. Concluding Remarks Although Affinity Photo 2.6 isn’t revolutionary, it is full of well-considered enhancements that improve the user experience. The Object Selection Tool and Select Subject bridge the gap with competitors, while workflow tweaks make daily tasks less tedious. For longtime users, these changes feel like overdue fixes. For newcomers, they lower the learning curve. And with similar upgrades in Designer and Publisher, Serif’s ecosystem keeps getting stronger.
Affinity Photo 2.6 Update: Revolutionizing Creative Processes
Finally, Affinity Photo 2.6 has arrived the moment that many creatives have been anticipating! With long-awaited features that will make editing easier, this version is powerful whether you’re using a Mac, Windows computer, or the Serif website. Let’s examine what’s new and why you should pay attention to this release.
Object Selection Tool: AI Meets Precision
The Object Selection Tool, identified by its owl-shaped icon, is a notable addition to the tool panel. This feature uses machine learning not your personal information to easily identify and separate objects in photos. Before diving in, you’ll need to install the pre-trained AI model via the new Machine Learning Models tab in settings a thoughtful move for transparency.
How it works:
Hover over your image, and the tool highlights potential objects. Click to generate an initial selection, then refine edges using sliders for smoothness, feathering, or border adjustments. Output masks as new layers for non-destructive editing. Tested on portraits with complex elements like hair, the tool delivers impressive results. Pair it with a bold background color, and you’ll see just how clean those selections are.
Subject Selection: One-Click Magic
Already know your image’s focal point? Head to Select > Subject for instant AI-driven selections. Even in challenging scenes (think a dog in grassy fields), the tool identifies subjects quickly. If the auto-selection isn’t perfect, refine it using foreground/background markers or edge-smoothing sliders. This feature mirrors the Object Selection Tool’s power but skips the manual tool selection ideal for fast workflows.
Color Picker: Redefining Speed
Minor adjustments can have a significant impact. Instead of requiring manual color wheel selection, the new Color Picker now applies sampled colors directly to active objects. No additional steps are needed; just use the P key to select a hue, click your target, and see it populate instantly.
Increased RAW Capability: More Cameras, Less Restrictions
Happy days, RAW shooters! More users will be able to edit native files without conversion thanks to version 2.6’s compatibility for more cameras and lenses. The whole list of compatible gear can be seen on Serif’s official forum, which is linked here. Even while not all cameras are included now, with constant updates, yours might be.
UX Improvements: RAW Layers Become the Main Focus The emphasis on non-destructive RAW processing is heightened in Photo 2.6. In the past, rasterizing RAW layers was necessary for programs like Liquify and Tone Mapping. Apply changes straight to RAW files now to extend versatility. Similar to how normal picture layers are easier to use, brush tools and modifications likewise act more naturally. Smoother layer handling and interface optimizations are two more little but significant changes that make the experience more refined.
Conclusions Affinity Photo 2.6 is a significant advancement rather than merely an update. Serif has listened to user feedback and produced solutions that save time without compromising control, ranging from AI-powered selections to improvements to the RAW workflow. This edition enables producers to operate more efficiently, whether they are pushing RAW data further, separating topics, or sampling colors on the fly.
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