Affinity 2.6 is here

[Cassel]

Affinity Photo 2.6 is now available. I checked with my contact (the one who got that 90-day trial for all of you) to see if those of you still using the trial version COULD upgrade to 2.6 and here is her response:

I’ve checked with the technical team and yes they can update and use 2.6.

If they have ‘automatic check for updates’ when they next go into the app it will give them a pop up to install the new update.

If they don’t have automatic updates they will go to the Affinity Name (Affinity Designer) at the top left of the app and in the drop down they will see ‘check for updates’, click this and it will automatically download the update and install it.

One great new feature of that version is the Object selection tool, which allows you to select any object on your image or even a section of the object (like the hair, the face, the hand, the sweater, etc.).

Check this video for an illustration of what is new in 2.6: 

 

[Rene Marker]

I watched the video from Affinity Revolution about the changes yesterday. She did an excellent job of covering them and I could understand her (can't understand this guy because of his accent).

I downloaded it today after I finished today's lesson but haven't played with it yet.

[Julie Magerka]

I just saw this news too on YT. It seems the "object selector" is the big new feature that's getting attention. Like "select subject" in PS & PSE which works so well.

[Corrie Kinkel]

I got an email from Affinity with the announcement of the update and have installed it immediately. I read about the object selection tool but hadn't time to follow a video. First I wanted to finish day 4. This will make Affinity even more attractive for me and it is fantastic that Carol got us the 90 days trial which gives us a real chance to get to know it,

[Rene Marker]

I played with the object selection tool a little since I posted earlier. Did a decent job on the couple of photos I tried. One was a photo of Pepper from 2009 and it did a nice job on the hair which is usually a problem.

I can see that tweaking the selection will probably be needed for some photos. I tried one of me with a camera in front of my face (again from 2009). Once I got it to select both me and the camera and applied a mask to see what it looked like, there were "holes" where the 2 areas met since it only selected me and not the camera. I had to try to get the camera as well so it was 2 selections. I haven't played enough to figure out how to combine them into one big selection.

[Corrie Kinkel]

Besides the main updates for object selection I 'm very happy with the update for the color picker. After choosing a color with the picktool the new color is immediately applied to what you want to color and you no longer have to go to the colorwheel and click on the new color you choose. Some clicks less! 

[Julie Magerka]

Well, I downloaded v. 2.6 no problem. But the activation process stopped on me. Since they don't send codes by text message, I have to switch to my email to get the code. Then, when I go back to the activation window on their site, it locks up and I have to End Task. So I signed in at Affinity to check my account. My trial has expired! Huh? I got a 90-day trial, so what's up? I have written to their support to find out what's going on. There's just bad juju between me and Affinity!

[Cristina]

  On 2/20/2025 at 11:33 PM, Julie Magerka said:

My trial has expired!

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Oh, Julie, this is not nice, to say the least. 😞 I hope they can give you an extension. 

I can control how many days remain on my Trial Version by clicking MY ACCOUNT on the right side of the toolbar.

I'd love it if they gave us a special offer for the app!

[Cristina]

I also received an email from Affinity Revolution, watched the video, and downloaded the app. 
Yesterday, I played just a bit with the new selection tool. It's very good, but depending on the photo, more tweaks are needed.

On PSE, there are the Select Subject Command and the Select Sky Command.
How good the selection is will also depend on the photo; sometimes you may need to tweak with the Refine Brush or even paint in the Mask.

But all in all, I think both do a great job.
 

[Julie Magerka]

I fiddled around and tried another way to get the download of v. 2.6 activated, and it worked! It says I have 50+ days left in the trial.

[Susan Ewart]

  On 2/20/2025 at 11:33 PM, Julie Magerka said:

Well, I downloaded v. 2.6 no problem. But the activation process stopped on me. Since they don't send codes by text message, I have to switch to my email to get the code. Then, when I go back to the activation window on their site, it locks up and I have to End Task. So I signed in at Affinity to check my account. My trial has expired! Huh? I got a 90-day trial, so what's up? I have written to their support to find out what's going on. There's just bad juju between me and Affinity!

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Ya, I downloaded when it said there was an update.  Tried to install.  but wouldn't activate(tried about 5-6 times) and keeps saying my trial expired even though I am logged in.  I thought maybe I was supposed to uninstall the first one because there was two of them in the start up but the second one didn't go on the desktop or even overwrite the first one like I thought it would. What I did was obviously wrong and now the first one I uninstalled is gone.  I'm less patient than I used to be.  The juju is real for me too.  I'm taking a pass on it.  If I ever need to learn it I'll always have the campus to get lessons.  If I tried and re-download it says I already have it.  It sure wants to me to buy it, I get that message every time.  

[Cristina]

  On 2/22/2025 at 1:12 PM, Julie Magerka said:

I fiddled around and tried another way to get the download of v. 2.6 activated, and it worked! It says I have 50+ days left in the trial.

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Oh, that's great, Julie!

[Cristina]

  On 2/23/2025 at 6:35 AM, Susan Ewart said:

Ya, I downloaded when it said there was an update.  Tried to install.  but wouldn't activate(tried about 5-6 times) and keeps saying my trial expired even though I am logged in.  I thought maybe I was supposed to uninstall the first one because there was two of them in the start up but the second one didn't go on the desktop or even overwrite the first one like I thought it would. What I did was obviously wrong and now the first one I uninstalled is gone.  I'm less patient than I used to be.  The juju is real for me too.  I'm taking a pass on it.  If I ever need to learn it I'll always have the campus to get lessons.  If I tried and re-download it says I already have it.  It sure wants to me to buy it, I get that message every time.  

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Oh, that's a pity, Susan. 😞 

You could try to contact their support and explain what happened. They might have a fast solution.

[Julie Magerka]

  On 2/23/2025 at 6:35 AM, Susan Ewart said:

Ya, I downloaded when it said there was an update.  Tried to install.  but wouldn't activate(tried about 5-6 times) and keeps saying my trial expired even though I am logged in.  I thought maybe I was supposed to uninstall the first one because there was two of them in the start up but the second one didn't go on the desktop or even overwrite the first one like I thought it would. What I did was obviously wrong and now the first one I uninstalled is gone.  I'm less patient than I used to be.  The juju is real for me too.  I'm taking a pass on it.  If I ever need to learn it I'll always have the campus to get lessons.  If I tried and re-download it says I already have it.  It sure wants to me to buy it, I get that message every time.  

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For me, the issue seemed to be that I was using my own Affinity account password to activate, and what they wanted was the long activation code they gave us initially. When I used that, it activated and told me I had 50+ days left. I emailed their support, got a standard reply to wait, and then tried my own solution. Whew. It worked.

[Corrie Kinkel]

I consider myself lucky when I read about both your problems. I got an email saying there was an update and I had to open Affinity and there was a popup asking me if I wanted to install 2.6. I said yes and I was taken to the download page and after using my Affinity password was able to install it. The program closed after installation and when I reopened it, it was in 2.6. 

[Susan Ewart]

  On 2/23/2025 at 10:03 AM, Cristina said:

Oh, that's a pity, Susan. 😞 

You could try to contact their support and explain what happened. They might have a fast solution.

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I could but the time and energy can be put to better use, I really need to get back to the Labs instead of learning a new program.  It's a hard decision to make because I like going along with the group in learning.  I'm so far behind so i had to make a hard choice.  

[Susan Ewart]

  On 2/23/2025 at 3:45 PM, Corrie Kinkel said:

I consider myself lucky when I read about both your problems. I got an email saying there was an update and I had to open Affinity and there was a popup asking me if I wanted to install 2.6. I said yes and I was taken to the download page and after using my Affinity password was able to install it. The program closed after installation and when I reopened it, it was in 2.6. 

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I thought that would happen too.  As it was, there was two versions in my start up menu, yet not on my desktop.  And the dominos fell from there.  It's a sign I was taking on too much, and I have to learn to let go. 

[Susan Ewart]

  On 2/23/2025 at 1:47 PM, Julie Magerka said:

For me, the issue seemed to be that I was using my own Affinity account password to activate, and what they wanted was the long activation code they gave us initially. When I used that, it activated and told me I had 50+ days left. I emailed their support, got a standard reply to wait, and then tried my own solution. Whew. It worked.

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It wouldn't even let me get to the activation part, except only to click Activate and just got pop ups to buy the program.  If it's this many steps I think I can pass on it in good conscience.  I spent an hour trying to get it to work.  If I was supposed to use the other activation codes and they are a company with programmers they should make it seamless, or at the least make sure I know which codes to use.  When ON1 has updates it just updates over itself, I just click once on the .exe file and done. I know all programs have their issues, I'm just not ready to deal with more right now.  I wont say never because I might choose it in a year or two, who knows.  Onto finishing the Magazine workshop.  It didn't help that I really hated what I photographed for the double page lesson and need to reshoot (something different) and no time today.  Sorry, I just made you a unwilling participant in my pity party.  Thanks for coming. ☺️

[Rene Marker]

  On 2/23/2025 at 6:11 PM, Susan Ewart said:

When ON1 has updates it just updates over itself, I just click once on the .exe file and done.

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That is exactly what the paid version of Affinity does. I had the update for all 3 (Photo, Designer and Publisher) installed in about 15 to 20 minutes.

I'm sorry you had so many issues. Even though I've had some issues with some things in Affinity, I still think it is a very good program and I'm glad I got it. My issues are definitely user error!

[Julie Magerka]

  On 2/23/2025 at 6:11 PM, Susan Ewart said:

It wouldn't even let me get to the activation part, except only to click Activate and just got pop ups to buy the program.  If it's this many steps I think I can pass on it in good conscience.  I spent an hour trying to get it to work.  If I was supposed to use the other activation codes and they are a company with programmers they should make it seamless, or at the least make sure I know which codes to use.  When ON1 has updates it just updates over itself, I just click once on the .exe file and done. I know all programs have their issues, I'm just not ready to deal with more right now.  I wont say never because I might choose it in a year or two, who knows.  Onto finishing the Magazine workshop.  It didn't help that I really hated what I photographed for the double page lesson and need to reshoot (something different) and no time today.  Sorry, I just made you a unwilling participant in my pity party.  Thanks for coming. ☺️

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I don't blame you at all. That's a lot of work, and for what? You make beautiful layouts with PSP. Glad to be at the party!!!!! 😀

[Susan Ewart]

  On 2/23/2025 at 8:39 PM, Rene Marker said:

That is exactly what the paid version of Affinity does. I had the update for all 3 (Photo, Designer and Publisher) installed in about 15 to 20 minutes.

I'm sorry you had so many issues. Even though I've had some issues with some things in Affinity, I still think it is a very good program and I'm glad I got it. My issues are definitely user error!

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For sure mine are user error.  They forgot to make their process so easy even the lowest common denominator...ME!...can do it.  🤣  I can see it is a good program and will get better because they are keen to make it so.  I know it will be there if I decide to go for it.  And seeing in the Campus, I can see it is pretty cool and would just buy it outright and not have struggles. 

[Cristina]

  On 2/23/2025 at 6:00 PM, Susan Ewart said:

I could but the time and energy can be put to better use, I really need to get back to the Labs instead of learning a new program.  It's a hard decision to make because I like going along with the group in learning.  I'm so far behind so i had to make a hard choice.  

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Susan, I understand you need to set priorities and dedicate your time to what is important to you, especially if you have a full-time job.

Don't be discouraged because we are "so far advanced."   We are all starting to learn Affinity (or PSE), and the best way to learn anything is not to put too much pressure on ourselves or compare ourselves with others.

You are not here to see my frustration because things are not working, and I still have to learn how to do it. 🥴😄 But it's one day at a time.

Chinese proverb:  "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". 🙂 

 

[Susan Ewart]

  On 2/26/2025 at 7:49 AM, Cristina said:

Susan, I understand you need to set priorities and dedicate your time to what is important to you, especially if you have a full-time job.

Don't be discouraged because we are "so far advanced."   We are all starting to learn Affinity (or PSE), and the best way to learn anything is not to put too much pressure on ourselves or compare ourselves with others.

You are not here to see my frustration because things are not working, and I still have to learn how to do it. 🥴😄 But it's one day at a time.

Chinese proverb:  "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". 🙂 

 

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Thank you Cristina.  I needed to hear this.