Melanie Khareghat

Spotlight editor

235 posts

As editor of Affinity Spotlight Melanie oversees the stories, interviews and tutorials published on the site. Outside of work she enjoys travelling, reading crime thrillers, Pilates and dabbling in a spot of oil painting. Get in touch with Melanie if you would like to contribute or be featured on Affinity Spotlight.

Inspiration

Children’s illustrator Laura Mocelin: ‘touching hearts is my main objective’

Talented children's illustrator Laura Mocelin has illustrated over 90 books using Affinity Photo and Publisher. We chat with her about her process, what a typical working day is like, and more.

News & Updates

Affinity 2.4 introduces support for over 50 new cameras and 32-bit HDR

Affinity Photo now supports over 50 more cameras and a key new HDR standard following our latest free update.

Learning

What’s new in Affinity 2.4?

Here are five things you need to know about our latest update, which is free to download for V2 customers.

News & Updates

The Drawing of the Year Awards 2024 are now open!

Affinity has a proud history of supporting up-and-coming professionals and architects, so we are delighted to be partnering with Archisource for this year’s Drawing of the Year Awards.

Inspiration

Photographer Gianni Saccardo: ‘contact with nature makes me feel alive’

Italian photographer Gianni Saccardo chats with us about his love for the outdoors, what he tries to communicate with his photography and how using Affinity has helped him reinvent his practice.

Behind the Scenes

14 tips for photographing fireworks

With New Year celebrations on the horizon, six professional photographers reveal their secrets for capturing awe-inspiring creative shots of fireworks. Read on for their top tips!

Learning

Level up your skills with top tips and tricks from Affinity pro users

A look back at this year's Creative Sessions, which are free to watch on-demand on the official Affinity YouTube channel.

News & Updates

Affinity 2.3 is here!

Version 2.3 introduces the highly requested Spiral Tool as well as some great new capabilities and improvements.

Behind the Scenes

How to create a successful photography blog

A photographer’s blog can be their greatest asset. Here are eight tips for getting started.

Behind the Scenes

13 tips for mind-blowing skyline photography

Take your cityscape photography to the next level with tips on camera settings, lenses, composition, light, scouting locations, and more!

Learning

What’s new in Affinity 2.2?

Affinity 2.2 is our second free major update for V2, and it introduces some exciting new features and improvements across all apps and platforms. Here's an overview of what has been added.

News & Updates

Say hello to Affinity 2.2!

The Affinity creative suite has just received another free update, introducing exciting new features and useful improvements across all apps and platforms.

Inspiration

Illustrator Marc Keeley: ‘The longer it takes someone to realise it’s drawing, the better you have done’

Self-taught illustrator Marc Keeley creates phenomenal photorealistic artworks in Affinity Designer. He chats with us about his process, the rules he follows when creating and more.

Behind the Scenes

12 tips for outstanding composite imagery

We asked six talented art photographers to share their best tips for making convincing composites.

Learning

How to achieve perfect repeat patterns every time in Affinity Designer

Pattern designer, illustrator and online educator Weronika Salach reveals her automated pattern process for creating seamless repeats—with no manual calculations required!

Behind the Scenes

12 tips to take your travel photography to the next level

Up your travel photography game with tips on research and planning, what gear to take, how to prepare for bad light and weather conditions and more.

Learning

5 things you need to know about Affinity 2.1

Our first free update to V2 introduces some highly requested new features, plus hundreds of usability improvements to Affinity’s most-loved tools. Let's take a look at the most significant changes.

News & Updates

Affinity 2.1 is available now!

The Affinity suite has just received a major update introducing hundreds of improvements across all apps and platforms.

Behind the Scenes

10 things to do before becoming a full-time photographer

The road to becoming a full-time photographer is rarely linear, and that course changes from artist to artist. Still, there are some things everyone can do to set themselves up for success.

Behind the Scenes

‘The straight story of Slug’: a beautiful children’s picture book created using Affinity

Eleni Debo, the illustrator behind the Dutch picture book 'De lange weg van Slak'—‘The straight story of Slug,' talks us through her process for creating the artwork and layout in the Affinity suite.

Inspiration

Julia Altermann: ‘photography is a way to make fleeting moments last forever’

Talented amateur photographer and Affinity Photo user Julia Altermann chats to us about the benefits of using macros, how she switches between Mac and iPad for specific tasks, and more.

Behind the Scenes

Affinity V2: The talented artists behind our biggest ever launch

We had the pleasure of working with some incredible artists for the release of Affinity V2. Here's a look at who was involved, the amazing work they created and their thoughts on the Version 2 apps.

Inspiration

Corina Plamada: ‘the beauty of the little things around me always amazes me’

We reached out to UI/UX designer and illustrator Corina Pladmada to learn more about her bright botanical illustrations and why Affinity Designer is a perfect tool for creating them.

Inspiration

Gianluca Gianferrari: ‘I try to convey a concept of beauty mediated by my eyes and feelings’

We chatted with award-winning amateur photographer Gianluca Gianferrari about his journey so far, the evolution of his process and the direction he would like to take his photography in the future.

Behind the Scenes

11 tips for getting out of a photography rut

Eleven photographers of different genres reveal how they navigate moments of artistic blocks and get their creative juices flowing once more.

Inspiration

Livery designer Joshua Stedford: ‘cars are my canvas with a turbocharger attached’

Having spent 15 years designing liveries as a hobby, in 2020, Joshua Stedford decided it was time to take the plunge and focus on turning his lifelong passion into a career.

Inspiration

Our top 20 most-read articles in 2022

We look back at the most popular articles on Affinity Spotlight in 2022.

Inspiration

The atmospheric character-centric illustrations of Petr Kocourek

Graphic designer, animator and video editor Petr Kocourek talks to us about the intriguing stylised character illustrations he creates in Affinity Photo.

Behind the Scenes

How to shoot (and edit) photos with magical bokeh

Follow these tips and tricks to create the perfect bokeh blur.

Inspiration

Freelance illustrator Dumitru Ochievschi: ‘I like to help others express the vision they have’

Freelance illustrator Dumitru Ochievschi specialises in creating meaningful visuals for apps, landing pages, and websites, helping companies express their vision and engage their target audience.

Behind the Scenes

Creating an NHL badge series using Affinity Designer for iPad

Graphic designer Luc Sauve talks to us about his ongoing passion project—to create a badge collection for every team in the NHL (National Hockey League)—which he works on using Affinity Designer.

News & Updates

Tune in to a brand-new Creative Session: Dreamphography brush techniques in Affinity Photo 2

Multiple award-winning photographer and artist Felix Hernandez demonstrates how to use his Dreamphography brushes for Affinity, which are FREE for both V2 and V1 owners.

Learning

Redesigned with you in mind: the all-new Affinity V2 UI

Here’s a run-through of the biggest enhancements we think you’ll want to know about.

Behind the Scenes

The photographer’s guide to shooting delightful miniatures

In this guide, seven miniature photographers share some of their most valuable tools and offer tips for getting started with the magical world of all things tiny.

Learning

5 things we love about Affinity Photo 2

Affinity V2 brings a host of new features to Affinity Photo. Here we take you through some of our favourites, including Non-destructive RAW Develop, Live Mesh Warp and Compound Masks.

Learning

5 things you should know about Affinity Publisher 2

Affinity Publisher 2 contains a raft of new additions, including a Books feature, Notes Tool and Place Auto-flow. In this article, we walk through our top five and what you need to know about them.

Learning

5 game-changing new features in Affinity Designer 2

We run through the top 5 new features in Affinity Designer 2, including the highly requested Vector Warp, Shape Builder Tool and Knife Tool.

News & Updates

Create incredible layouts on the go with Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad!

Pro-level desktop publishing has made its way to iPad for the first time, and there's a lot to talk about! Here are ten things you need to know about Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad.

News & Updates

Affinity Version 2 is here!

We unveil the long-awaited Version 2 of our award-winning creative suite, a new Affinity V2 Universal Licence ownership tier AND Affinity Publisher makes its way to iPad.

Behind the Scenes

9 tips and techniques for creating a cinematic look in your photography

Looking to achieve a cinematic feel in your photography? Here are some tips from the pros for creating a mood and telling a story within a single frame.

Inspiration

The best of Affinitober 2022

Each year we see a slew of talented Affinity users flex their creative muscles for Inktober, so this month, as an alternative we thought it might be fun to host a little drawing challenge of our own.

Behind the Scenes

How to use star trails for magical nightscapes

With “astro-tourism” on the rise, we asked a group of talented stargazers to share the secrets behind their best shots. Read on for their top tips for photographing star trails.

Behind the Scenes

11 ways to find cohesive colour palettes for your designs

Take the guesswork out of choosing colours with eleven tried and tested methods utilised by professional designers and illustrators.

Behind the Scenes

8 tips for mastering TikTok as a photographer

We spoke with six photographers on TikTok about their process. Along the way, they shared some valuable tips for artists new to the platform.

Behind the Scenes

How do artists develop a distinctive creative style?

We asked 14 digital artists and illustrators with wildly different aesthetics to tell us how they developed their creative styles. Here is what they had to say on the subject.

Behind the Scenes

9 tips for spectacular autumn photography

As we head into autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, we asked four professional photographers to share their secrets for making spectacular pictures this time of year.

Inspiration

Pattern designer and online educator Weronika Salach: ‘it’s never too late to learn a valuable skill’

Pattern designer and online educator Weronika Salach talks to us about the process behind her surface pattern work and her new Skillshare course about illustrating with Affinity Designer for iPad.

Behind the Scenes

11 easy tips for (much) better natural light portraits

Ten talented photographers share their insights for harnessing the power of natural light.

Inspiration

Heather Zhou: ‘art is an essential part of my life’

Self-taught artist Heather Zhou chats to us about her bright and joyous style, how she chooses colour palettes and what she loves most about illustrating in Affinity Designer.

Behind the Scenes

8 product photography tips your commercial clients will love

We asked four professional product photographers to share their secrets for the perfect photoshoot. Read on for their best tips.

Inspiration

The photorealistic vector art of Kirk Moffatt, aka Vector Von Doodle

Self-confessed sci-fi and fantasy addict Kirk Moffatt, aka Vector Von Doodle, is a Northern Irish creative who creates incredibly complex vector art in Affinity Designer for iPad in his spare time.

Inspiration

Irina Sidorowicz: ‘I love to work with concepts such as psychedelia, cyberpunk and surrealism’

We caught up with talented UX designer and illustrator Irina Sidorowicz to learn more about her inspirations, creative process and favourite features in Affinity Designer.

Behind the Scenes

Creating a memorable stage design with artist Martijn Somhorst

Multidisciplinary artist Martijn Somhorst turned to Affinity Designer to create the artwork for the main stage at Stereo Sunday, an annual dance festival held in Venlo, the Netherlands.

Behind the Scenes

17 ways to make your photography practice more environmentally friendly

We asked a group of talented photographers spanning all genres, from wedding to still life, to tell us about some of the ways they are reducing their impact on the environment.

Inspiration

Jon Busby: ‘ultimately a camera is a means to an end; for me, that end is to create an emotional connection’

Talented portrait and hat photographer Jon Busby of The Portrait Kitchen chats to us about what happens behind the scenes on a typical shoot and shares his thoughts on Affinity Photo for iPad.

Inspiration

Digital artist Youssef Farhi: ‘there are landscapes that I would love to escape to’

Digital artist and collage creator Youssef Farhi talks to us about the surreal, composite landscapes he creates in Affinity Photo.

Behind the Scenes

How to shoot breathtaking aerial landscapes

Three inspiring aerial photographers tell us more about their craft and share some tips for those looking to get into drone photography along the way.

Inspiration

Melinda Magyar: ‘illustration is the purest form of self-expression for me’

Melinda Magyar is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator whose vibrant pop art-esque style combines bold lines and contrasting colours with a touch of humour.

Inspiration

The mystical, surreal, imaginary worlds of Lukas Hoefer

Lukas Hoefer, aka inoubli4ble, is a self-taught digital artist from Cologne, Germany, who creates intriguing and surreal worlds by combining multiple images in Affinity Photo.

Inspiration

Vincent Jacquin: ‘my work has always been shaped by the way I use colour’

We were delighted to catch up with French freelance artist Vincent Jacquin to learn more about his career, creative inspirations and how Affinity Designer has streamlined his illustration process.

Inspiration

Duarte Carolino: ‘I have so many interests that my ideas seem like a cocktail of them all’

We chatted to graphic designer and illustrator Duarte Carolino about his creative background, how he developed his style and what he likes most about working in Affinity Designer.

Behind the Scenes

10 incredible macro shots edited in Affinity Photo

We learn about the processes behind 10 of our favourite macro shots tagged #madeinaffinity and #affinityphoto on Instagram.

Behind the Scenes

10 cool DIY photography techniques that anyone can do

We asked ten professional photographers and filmmakers to tell us about some of their favourite DIY techniques, effects, hacks, and tools. Read on for some cool ideas to try out at home.

Behind the Scenes

Must-have advice for the aspiring music photographer

In honour of the return of live music, we interviewed four pro photographers to get their tips for capturing the beauty and joy of concerts.

Inspiration

Photographer Nelson Olivo: ‘you want to imagine the end result before it exists’

Having spent almost ten years working in the construction industry, Nelson swapped his tools for photography equipment and gradually began shooting architecture professionally. He reveals how...

Inspiration

Illustrator Sergio Saucedo: ‘don’t feel afraid to try every style out there at least once’

Mexican artist Sergio Saucedo speaks to us about his surreal character illustrations created in Affinity Designer for iPad.

Behind the Scenes

How to build your web presence as a photographer

Five established photographers share their evergreen advice for growing and maintaining a meaningful online presence. Trends might come and go, but these tips will remain relevant for years to come.

Inspiration

Photographer Ben Wulf: ‘I have always liked people, they are endlessly fascinating’

Ben Wulf is a talented headshot and portrait photographer based in London. Between shoots, he kindly spoke to us about his work and his ethos when it comes to retouching.

Inspiration

Illustrator Eduard Broekhuijsen: ‘In your imagination, everything is possible’

Eduard Broekhuijsen is a freelance illustrator from the Netherlands. His vibrant travel-inspired illustrations caught our eye on Instagram, so we reached out to him to find out more.

Inspiration

Drone photographer Drew Aris: ‘making something uniquely yours is an amazing feeling’

Full-time paramedic and passionate photographer Drew Aris creates beautiful aerial images of Australia’s varied landscape using his drone piloting, photography and image editing skills.

Inspiration

Sergio Villaschi: ‘my photos reflect the idea and emotions I have in my mind’

Sergio Villaschi creates the kind of still life photography that, at first glance, looks like a classic painting. We learn more about his process and what drew him to this style of photography.

Inspiration

Illustrator Nicolai Hansen: ‘I have a vivid imagination’

Nicolai Hansen is a self-taught freelance artist who creates under the pseudonym Koggi Studio, making all kinds of surreal, gritty and comic-looking illustrations.

Inspiration

15 Follow-worthy YouTube channels for Affinity tutorials, tips and tricks

There are countless YouTube channels to teach you the ins and outs of Affinity. But with so much choice, it's hard to know where to start. So to help you out, we've collated 15 of our favourites.

Behind the Scenes

11 tips for landing your dream photography job

Nine professional photographers share their must-have advice for building a photography career and ultimately landing a job with your dream client.

Behind the Scenes

8 simple tips for elevating your landscape photography

We asked four outstanding photographers from around the world to share their secrets for capturing timeless and compelling landscapes. Read on for their best tips.

Inspiration

Freelance illustrator Maciek Łazowski: ‘I find a lot of joy in basic shapes’

Maciek Łazowski is a freelance illustrator based in Warsaw, Poland. After working as an art director for several years, Maciek decided to quit his job to pursue his dream of illustrating full-time.

Inspiration

The talented Affinity users bringing children’s books to life

To mark the 25th anniversary of World Book Day on Thursday 3 March, we bring you our pick of talented children’s illustrators who use Affinity to bring children’s books to life.

Learning

10 easy ways to take your lettering to the next level

Lettering artist and asset creator Snooze One shares his top tips for adding the finishing touches to your lettering to make it stand out from the crowd.

Behind the Scenes

Photography challenges to inspire you in 2022

We asked eight photographers about the challenges they’ve found most valuable. This list includes some familiar ideas and some brand-new ones, all designed by photographers for photographers.

Inspiration

RUBY LDN: ‘We live in a world where people come from different cultures—photography should reflect exactly that!’

RUBY LDN is a multi-genre photographer and a champion of black female photographers in the UK. We chatted to her about her work and the changes she would like to see in the industry.

Learning

Affinity Publisher for photographers: tips and tricks for professional presentation

Professional photographer, designer and teacher Niall Benvie explains how photographers can use Affinity Publisher to get their work noticed and extend their creative practice.

Learning

7 tips for natural-looking beauty retouching

Beauty and fashion photographer Kayleigh June shares her top tips for achieving a natural-looking beauty retouch in Affinity Photo.

Inspiration

Bryant Paul Johnson: ‘I try to emphasise the humour and levity of a situation’

We spoke to the talented designer, illustrator and cartoonist Bryant Paul Johnson about his engaging and often humorous cartoons and illustrations created in Affinity Designer for iPad.

Inspiration

Simo Saarinen: creating cheerful illustrations with a Scandinavian twist

Simo Saarinen is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer living and working in Finland. His work is often inspired by fairy tales and fables and the changing seasons of Finnish nature.

Inspiration

Digital artist Juan Castaño: ‘I love the power of shapes and their ability to communicate’

Inspired by Art Deco and the Russian avant-garde, Juan Castaño's style has naturally evolved into an exciting mix of minimalist geometry and bold colours with the clever use of negative space.

Behind the Scenes

Creating a dreamlike winter scene with Felix Hernandez

The incredibly talented Felix Hernandez puts Affinity Photo through its paces while creating an atmospheric winter scene in his renowned dreamlike style.

Inspiration

Flex your creative muscles in 2022 with our top challenges for designers

Whatever your creative goal in 2022, here are ten design challenges that could help you achieve it.

Inspiration

Ian Mitchell: creatively reducing the British landscape to minimalist shapes and forms

Digital artist Ian Mitchell talks to us about his creative background, his daily life as an artist and the stunning vector landscapes he creates in Affinity Designer.

Inspiration

Victor Cavazzoni: ‘the first phase of my process is mostly about drawing in my mind’

We spoke to freelance illustrator Victor Cavazzoni about his artistic journey, the inspirations behind his work and how he approaches each new illustration.

Behind the Scenes

Improve your still life photography with 10 tricks of the trade

Whether you're working with food, flowers or homemade props, here are 10 top tips for capturing unforgettable still life images.

Inspiration

Illustrator Natália Brondani: ‘anything that gets my attention can become inspiration’

We chatted with freelance illustrator Natália Brondani about the inspirations behind her work and how she got to where she is today.

Behind the Scenes

16 famous photographers everyone should know

We asked a group of international photographers spanning all genres, from street to landscape, to tell us about some of the legends and icons who inspired them. Here are their responses.

Inspiration

Alison Pinto: capturing an entire story in a single frame—52 weeks of the year

Affinity user Alison Pinto has taken part in the 52Frames weekly photo challenge for the last three years, using it as an opportunity to up her photography game. We chatted with her to find out more.

Inspiration

Kate Beauchamp: ‘there is always something new to learn with photography’

New Zealand based photographer Kate Beauchamp talks to us about her photographic journey so far and how Affinity Photo has helped her grow as a photographer.

Behind the Scenes

8 photography mistakes you might be making

Eight pro photographers reveal the most common mistakes they see among beginners and give us their best tips for avoiding them.

News & Updates

Tune in to the Affinity Creative Sessions: Content Creator Special

Join us on our YouTube channel from Monday, 29 November to Friday, 3 December as five creative professionals showcase how to use their NEW creative content packs now available in the Affinity Store.

Behind the Scenes

Monster Evolution: the hit hyper-casual game created with a little help from Affinity

We speak to Chris Trudeau, game designer and owner of BT Studios, about their new hit game Monster Evolution and how the Affinity apps have become an integral part of his workflow.

News & Updates

Our huge Black Friday Event returns, with 30% off everything in the Affinity Store

Whether you're getting on board or getting them all, now is the perfect time to top up your Affinity collection!

Inspiration

Illustrator Ksenia Shokorova: ‘every detail tells a story’

Drawing on her classical art education, freelance illustrator Ksenia Shokorova is a master at using the interplay between light and shadows to set the mood of a scene.

Learning

How to create long exposure light photography using a lensball

Here is a quick guide to creating impressive lensball shots at home using a fingertip light and some simple editing techniques in Affinity Photo.

Behind the Scenes

9 alternative processes every photographer should try at least once

Nine extraordinary artists reveal the alternative processes closest to their hearts, ranging from carbon prints to chemigrams, and share their top tips for getting started.

Learning

Creating a Halloween illustration with Rubens Scarelli

In the spirit of Halloween, Brazilian illustrator Rubens Scarelli is here to show you how to create an impressive bat-themed illustration in Affinity Designer using just a few key vector tools.

Inspiration

Inktober and Vectober round up 2021

We have scoured Instagram for the best Inktober and Vectober posts tagged with #madeinaffinity. Here are 15 artists who stood out from the crowd and the illustrations they created.

Inspiration

Another dimension: inspiring isometric art created in Affinity Designer

Whether you’ve been creating isometric illustrations for quite some time or just fancy giving the style a try, these stunning examples are sure to provide the inspiration you need.

Behind the Scenes

How to create unforgettable photos of pets

We asked five leading pet photographers from around the world to divulge their secrets for creating unforgettable images, whether you’re working with a client or your own four-legged friend.

Inspiration

Tanya Korniichuk: ‘If you love to draw, the only thing you should do is start drawing!’

Tanya Korniichuk is a multi-talented designer from Ukraine, who’s skills encompass technical drawing, web design, UX/UI design and now illustration.

Inspiration

Take part in Vectober 2021 with Jhonatan Silva

Join vector aficionado Jhonatan Silva on YouTube as he shows you how to create 31 themed illustrations for Vectober 2021 using Affinity Designer.

Behind the Scenes

infohackit: helping scientists to communicate important messages through design

infohackit co-founder Peter Moore Fuller talks to us about their recent workshops with the British Antarctic Survey and why they include Affinity Designer training in all of their programmes.

Behind the Scenes

Documentary photographer Ed Gold takes Affinity off-grid

Armed with his camera equipment and an 11 inch MacBook loaded with Affinity Photo and Publisher, social documentary photographer Ed Gold captures the lives of people and communities living off-grid.

Behind the Scenes

Creating stunning panoramic images in Affinity Photo

Fay and Matt Doyle of This Expansive Adventure take us behind the scenes on a commissioned trip to Snowdonia, Wales, where they create a series of stunning panoramic images using Affinity Photo.

Inspiration

Keeping it real: the photorealistic automotive art of Richard Kelly

Retired graphic designer Richard Kelly talks us through his process for creating photorealistic automotive art in Affinity Photo and Designer.

Inspiration

Macro photographer Doris Berlenbach-Schulz: ‘I just transform what nature shows me’

We had the pleasure of chatting with Doris Berlenbach-Schulz, an Affinity Photo user and nature macro photographer based in the biodiverse region of the Rhine Valley in Germany.

News & Updates

Affinity 1.10 updates available now

Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher have received another free update—superpowering their performance and making some tasks up to 10 times quicker.

Inspiration

3D artist Yurii Suhov: ‘I love the thrill of the unknown that pushes my growth forward’

Yurii Suhov is an Arch-Viz artist with more than 15 years of experience in the world of architecture. He talks us through the software he uses and his process for creating 3D visualisations.

Behind the Scenes

Jarek Majewski: creating art for Unity’s latest 2D sample game using Affinity

Game developer Jarek Majewski talks us through the creation of Unity’s latest 2D sample project—Dragon Crashers—and how he used Affinity Designer and Photo to make the 2D art.

News & Updates

Tune in to a new series of 2021 Affinity Creative Sessions

Throughout August and September, we're airing another incredible programme of Affinity Creative Sessions. Join us on our YouTube channel Friday’s at 4pm BST for more insights from Affinity pro users.

Inspiration

Illustrator Ariadne: ‘my job as a graphic designer has had a great influence on my style’

French illustrator and graphic designer Ariadne talks to us about developing her style and how Affinity Designer for iPad gives her the freedom to illustrate wherever she chooses.

Inspiration

Pierre Belenfant: ‘working with darkness and light allows me to explore the mystery of a place’

We chat with French photographer and Affinity Photo user Pierre Belenfant about discovering his love of architecture and what appeals to him most about working in black and white.

Inspiration

Illustrator Erica Bortoloso: ‘my characters are always linked to an emotion or a feeling’

Erica Bortoloso, also known as Ekira, is a freelance children's illustrator based in Italy. She talks to us about developing her cute characters and why she made the switch to Affinity.

Behind the Scenes

How to find a photography mentor

Eight professional photographers share their best tips for finding and approaching a potential mentor and for fostering a meaningful long-term relationship.

Behind the Scenes

10 post-processing mistakes everybody makes (and how to avoid them)

We asked six professional photographers to tell us about the most common mistakes they see among beginners, and they shared their best tips for boosting your editing game.

Learning

Creating a bold numerical design with Mario De Meyer

In this tutorial, graphic designer Mario de Meyer walks us through the process behind one of his slick numerical designs created in Affinity Designer.

Behind the Scenes

Tracey Capone: ‘I want to help others see Affinity Designer for the powerhouse that it is’

Tracey Capone is a talented illustrator and teacher who shares her knowledge to help others get the most out of Affinity Designer. We learn more about her Skillshare courses and YouTube channel.

News & Updates

Online Help for Affinity iPad apps now available

Affinity Documentation has just launched online Help for both Affinity Designer for iPad and Affinity Photo for iPad.

Behind the Scenes

How to get your work noticed as a photographer

In photography, everything can change when the right person takes notice. Here are eight valuable tips to help you get your work in front of the right people.

Inspiration

Paco Barruguer: ‘It is the post-production that gives the image the life and magic it needs’

3D artist Paco Barruguer creates photorealistic renderings for a host of different clients. He talks us through creating architectural visualisations and how Affinity Photo aids his post-production.

Behind the Scenes

How to get better photos, no matter what camera you’re using

Fancy cameras are nice, but it’s the photographer—not the gear—that makes or breaks an image. We look at eight ways to improve your photography, regardless of the camera you're using.

Inspiration

Self-taught illustrator Summerizze: ‘I love that I can express my feelings through drawing’

We talk to Indonesian-based illustrator Rani, aka Summerizze, about her love for drawing women, why she takes part in creative challenges and her favourite features in Affinity Designer.

News & Updates

Tune in to the May 2021 Affinity Creative Sessions

Affinity Creative Sessions are back! Join us on the Affinity YouTube channel as we premiere a brand-new inspirational video every Friday at 4pm BST throughout May.

Behind the Scenes

10 lighting tips to improve your photography

We asked ten photographers from around the world to tell us the secret to great lighting. Read on for their best tips.

Inspiration

Lejla Kurić: ‘I love to translate creative thinking into beautiful and compelling visuals’

By day Lejla Kurić works for an award-winning international design agency, and by night, she illustrates under her personal brand name, Tigerlily Ink, using Affinity Designer for iPad.

Inspiration

Illustrator Sabine König: ‘the creative path is what I find really exciting about art’

Talented illustrator and Affinity Designer user, Sabine König, talks about her life-long passion for art and how her creative style is continuously evolving.

Behind the Scenes

The photographer’s guide to at-home macro photography

Whether you’re shooting ordinary items from your kitchen or venturing into your backyard for some macro wildlife images, here are some key tips to keep in mind.

Behind the Scenes

Inside the incredible worlds of award-winning 3D artist Phil Derbyshire

Phil Derbyshire is a talented 3D artist based in South Florida whose passion for storytelling is evident in the astonishingly detailed 3D worlds he creates.

Behind the Scenes

Peter J Walsh: digitising iconic images of the UK’s rave scene using Affinity Photo

Photographer Peter J Walsh immersed himself in Manchester’s rave scene in the late 80s and early 90s, documenting some of its most iconic moments for the music press, as well as his own photo archive.

Behind the Scenes

Creating a high-quality travel guide in Affinity Publisher

Seasoned designer, writer and photographer, Andrew Revitt talks us through the creation of his latest print project—The Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Travel Guide—which he made using Affinity Publisher.

Behind the Scenes

14 tips for improving your wildlife photography

Six wildlife photographers share their tips for creating stirring, unforgettable pictures of animals without exploiting the natural world.

Inspiration

Creative duo Uran: ‘we like to create interesting and beautiful things’

Creative husband and wife team Uran speak to us about their bright and playful flat style illustrations created in Affinity Designer.

Behind the Scenes

‘Melted’: a fine art series by Simone Betz, created using Affinity Photo

Affinity user Simone Betz takes us behind the scenes on her latest fine art series Melted, a project she hopes will help highlight the effects of endless consumerism on the planet.

Behind the Scenes

12 tips for making money from stock photography

Stock photography is a competitive market, but it can also be a rewarding one. If you're new to the industry, check out these top tips for making the most of your stock imagery portfolio.

Behind the Scenes

12 DIY photography hacks to try at home

In the last year, DIY culture skyrocketed in popularity, and the photography community was no exception. Here are a few quick hacks that caught our attention, plus some tips for trying them at home.

Inspiration

Photographer Tom Wang: ‘something magical happens when it becomes dark, and the lights go on’

Tom Wang is a piano teacher and part-time photographer based in Wiesbaden, Germany. He discovered his passion for photography around ten years ago when he first held a DSLR camera in his hands.

Inspiration

Illustrator and designer Mike Turton: ‘we should all be adding value to the things we do’

Freelance illustrator and graphic designer Mike Turton talks to us about his 30+ year career, his most recent work and shares some top tips for making it in the world of design.

Learning

5 things you should know about Affinity Designer 1.9

The 1.9 update to Affinity Designer packs in a raft of time-saving, workflow improvements. In this article, we run through our top five new features and how to make the most of them.

Learning

5 things you should know about Affinity Publisher 1.9

There are some incredibly useful updates packed into the new Affinity Publisher 1.9 release. Let's run through the top five features...

News & Updates

Affinity 1.9 updates available now

Today we launch version 1.9 of Affinity Designer, Photo and Publisher, bringing a raft of new features and significant workflow improvements across-the-board.

Learning

5 things you should know about Affinity Photo 1.9

Our 1.9 update brings a host of new features to Affinity Photo. Here we take you through some of our favourites and explain how to get the most from them.

Behind the Scenes

15 composition tips for better photos

Create compelling images in 2021 with these top composition tips from more than a dozen talented photographers.

Behind the Scenes

2020 round-up: highlights from an unforgettable year

As this challenging year draws to a close, we take a look back at some of the incredible things we have achieved over the last 12 months, and look forward to the new year ahead.

Behind the Scenes

8 photography exercises to train your eye and mind

If you're stuck in a rut or looking for something new to try in 2021, read on for eight photography exercises guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing.

Inspiration

Photographer Johan Bos: ‘I stay open to anything that catches my eye’

We chat to the multi-award-winning photographer, filmmaker and graphic designer Johan Bos about his latest project ‘People. Places. Things’ and why he made the switch to Affinity Photo.

Inspiration

Illustrator Nastka Drabot: ‘I prefer juicy colours with a decent contrast’

Nastka Drabot is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer from Warsaw, Poland, whose style is heavily influenced by her background as an architect and her love for vibrant, contrasting colours.

Behind the Scenes

Creating the Affinity Publisher Workbook

With the Affinity Publisher Workbook hot off the press, we talk to our Head of Documentation Andy Capstick and Creative Projects Manager Ian Cornwall to learn how it was created.

Inspiration

Erwin Zeemering: colourising the past

Erwin Zeemering is a digital artist and photographer who dedicates his spare time to colourising and restoring historic photographs. He talks to us about his process in Affinity Photo.

Behind the Scenes

Tips for shooting stunning architectural photography

From minimalist compositions to blurred human figures to 'blue hour' photoshoots, the last few years have brought new trends in the time-honoured genre of architectural photography.

News & Updates

Tune in to the Affinity creative sessions: Content Store special

Join us on our YouTube channel from Monday, 30 November to Friday, 4 December as we premiere eight new free video sessions led by top artists whose creative content features on the Affinity Store.

Inspiration

Digital artist Hugo Marques: ‘drawing is my way of escaping reality’

Long-time Affinity user Hugo Marques, aka Fake Face, talks about his unique style of digital art created using Affinity Photo and Designer.

Behind the Scenes

Producing BARDO: The Summer of ‘20 with Affinity Publisher

Documentary photographer Simon King talks about the way he and the members of the British photography collective “New Exit Group” used a unique methodology to produce their debut zine.

Learning

Mastering winter photography with Jo Bradford

From what to look out for when shooting mist and snow, to advice on correcting common problems, and adding quality of light and composition; Jo shares her top tips for mastering winter photography.

Behind the Scenes

11 things they don’t (always) teach you at photography school

From negotiating with clients and editors to working with large teams, nine professional photographers reveal the top things they wish they had learned in school.

Inspiration

2D and 3D artist Alex Ronay: ‘designing for the new generation of gamers is a lot of fun’

We recently caught up with talented 2D and 3D artist Alex Ronay to talk about game design and the vital role Affinity Designer plays in his workflow.

Behind the Scenes

Mastering headshot photography with Ivan Weiss

In this interview, Ivan provides tips for mastering headshot photography—from how to direct clients to get the best shot, to creating the best set up, and capturing shots with personality and depth.

Inspiration

Inktober roundup 2020

This Inktober we've seen a stunning array of digital drawings made using Affinity. Here we share some of our favourite creations and a bit about the talented artists behind them.

Inspiration

Read at your own risk! Your spookiest work of 2020

In the spirit of Halloween, we've conjured up a spine-tingling selection of the kookiest, spookiest work made in Affinity. Read on if you dare!

Behind the Scenes

12 photography ‘mistakes’ that are actually creative tools

From using shallow depth of field to shooting in the midday sun; twelve professional photographers reveal the photography 'mistakes' they love to make.

Inspiration

BAM! creative studio: ‘we are in love with vibrant and super colourful styles’

Co-founders of BAM! creative studio, Tea Shockats and Jimbo Bernaus, chat to us about their colourful approach to design and the fun poster series they created during lockdown.

Behind the Scenes

M62: a magazine dedicated to helping German newcomers to the Affinity suite

Affinity user Georg Walter talks to us about his new online magazine 'M62' dedicated to helping German users of the Affinity suite.

Behind the Scenes

Final Fight: creating a replica arcade cabinet of a beat ‘em up classic

Videogame enthusiast Sergio Gargallo talks us through the process for creating his latest replica arcade cabinet using Affinity Designer on desktop and iPad.

Inspiration

Nick Nortier: ‘A lot of my work is inspired by the natural world and our connection to it’

We talk to illustrator and muralist Nick Nortier about how he got started as an artist, what led him into mural making and why Affinity Designer for iPad fits in perfectly with his creative process.

Behind the Scenes

How to create a signature ‘style’ in your photography

We asked seven photographers with vastly different—but equally identifiable—aesthetics to tell us about how they developed their styles. Here are their tips for creating your own.

Inspiration

Illustrator Ollie Brown: reigniting our passion for travel

Ollie Brown is a freelance illustrator who loves to depict two of his greatest passions—aviation and travel—in this work.

Learning

How to create a dynamic sports photo composition in Affinity Photo for iPad

Digital artist Tinashe Rusike demonstrates how to create a dynamic sports photo composition featuring Rugby League legend Jason Taumalolo in Affinity Photo for iPad.

Inspiration

Photographer Jonathan Pearce: ‘I love to make my images dark and moody’

Automotive photographer Jonathan Pearce talks to us about his life-long passion for cars, how his photography career first began and what he loves most about shooting at night.

Behind the Scenes

Essential tips for getting started with light trails

Set up your light trail shoot for success with these handy tips.

Inspiration

Photographer Dylan Van Graan: ‘I’ve loved aircraft all my life’

Photographer and Affinity Photo user Dylan Van Graan talks to us about his life-long fascination with aircraft and reveals how he captures his exhilarating aviation images.

Behind the Scenes

Mixing vector and raster: Andrew Salfinger’s year-long illustration challenge

At the beginning of 2020, Andrew Salfinger set himself a challenge: to create a hybrid vector and raster illustration during each month of the year and post it on social media.

News & Updates

Tune in to a new series of Affinity creative sessions

Throughout September and October, we'll be premiering a brand-new free video session each Thursday at 4pm BST on the official Affinity YouTube channel.

Inspiration

Artist and animator Spartaco Margioni: ‘It’s always been about art and what I can make today’

Spartaco Margioni is an artist, animator and illustrator who has worked for some of the world’s biggest brands. He joins us to speak about his work, his inspirations and what led him to go freelance.

Behind the Scenes

How to create a dynamic flower photo composition

Photographer Dina Belenko shows us how to add dynamism to a static flower photo using some simple but highly effective techniques.

Inspiration

Multi-disciplined designer Benjamin Broschinski: ‘I always try to tell a story with my designs’

Freelance illustrator, graphic designer and 3D artist Benjamin Broschinski talks to us about his creative background, how he became skilled in multiple disciplines and his love of screen printing.

News & Updates

Affinity 1.8.4 updates available now

A new update has arrived! Check out the latest improvements and fixes we’ve made to Affinity Designer, Photo and Publisher.

Behind the Scenes

12 business tips every photographer should know

With more people than ever viewing freelancing as a long-term career path, we ask the experts how they combine creative skills and business expertise to cultivate a successful photography practice.

Inspiration

Photographer Marcelo Goulart: ‘I always try to make a visual impact’

Brazilian photographer Marcelo Goulart talks candidly about the way photography has enhanced his life, finding inspiration in his dreams and what his creative aspirations are for the future.

Learning

How to create a magazine cover in Affinity Publisher

In this step-by-step tutorial from Envato Tuts+, you'll learn how to create a cool and colourful cover design for a digital magazine using Affinity Publisher.

Behind the Scenes

11 tips for connecting with the clients you want

Six freelance photographers divulge their secrets for connecting with clients and forging long-term partnerships.

Behind the Scenes

How to make money from your photography

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the income of almost 97% of photographers and as a result, many are finding fresh and creative ways to earn money from their work.

Behind the Scenes

Publisher magic: creating a roleplaying game based on Jack Vance’s Lyonesse novels

We speak to Lawrence Whitaker, co-founder of The Design Mechanism, to learn how the Affinity suite played a starring role in the creation of the company’s latest fantasy roleplaying game 'Lyonesse'.

Behind the Scenes

Understanding golden hour, blue hour, and twilight photography

We asked eight golden hour, blue hour, and twilight photographers to divulge their secrets for making the most of these enchanting times of the day.

Learning

Get inspired with 31 creative video sessions for Affinity

If you missed our Lockdown 2020: Affinity Creative Sessions, all 31 sessions are available to watch on our YouTube channel.

Behind the Scenes

Summer vibes: how to create a refreshing water splash photo composition

Talented photographer Dina Belenko shows us how to create a refreshing water splash photo composition with flying fruit.

Inspiration

Reasons to print your photos in this digital age

In the transition from analogue to digital, a smaller and smaller percentage of photos transition to print. However, we should not ignore the power of holding something tangible.

Inspiration

20 top-class templates for Affinity Publisher

Create print and digital publications in less time with our pick of stylish, professionally designed templates for Affinity Publisher.

Behind the Scenes

8 tips for better indoor photography

Learning to work indoors is an important part of any photographer’s toolkit. Here are eight pro tips to help you achieve the best results.

News & Updates

Tune into Lockdown 2020: Affinity creative sessions

Throughout May 2020, as a way to stay connected while so many of us are still in lockdown, we’ll be bringing you inspirational, free video sessions led by top creative talent.

Behind the Scenes

Creative photoshoot ideas you can try at home

From portraits to still lifes and everything in between, here are our top ideas for what to shoot when you’re working from home.

Inspiration

Dr Axes: ‘my passion for lettering comes directly from graffiti’

In this interview, Przemyslaw Zyra, aka Dr Axes, reveals how he first got into lettering and what he thinks of Affinity Designer as a tool for vectorising his hand-drawn letter designs.

Behind the Scenes

How to make the most of your time being at home

We interviewed twelve photographers about how they are spending their time during the coronavirus 'lockdown'. Here are some of their best ideas for staying productive while remaining at home.

Learning

David Daniels: visually spreading the message about COVID-19

We talk to seasoned designer and animation director David Daniels about his latest project--a series of short graphical videos aimed at clarifying some of the issues we face around COVID-19.

News & Updates

Introducing ‘100 Days. 100 Commissions.’

We're pledging to buy work from 100 freelance contributors as part of our efforts to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the creative industry.

Inspiration

Axel Azni: ‘photographing nature is my way of reconnecting people to it’

Landscape photographer Axel Azni talks to us about raising awareness on environmental protection, his life-long passion for nature and how his photography career first began.

Behind the Scenes

The Affinity team’s top tips for working from home

After several weeks working from home amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, here are 14 things we’ve learned to help boost productivity, ensure household harmony and keep your spirits up.

News & Updates

What we’re doing to support the creative community

In response to COVID-19, we’ve put three new measures in place which we hope will help the creative community during this difficult time.

Behind the Scenes

Simple tips to make your black and white photos memorable

Thanks to today’s digital technology we can transform any image into black and white during post-processing, though it requires some knowledge and skill to achieve the best results.

Behind the Scenes

Vital tips for selling your photography prints online

Selling photography prints online is a great way to generate more income for your business, and it has never been easier.

Inspiration

Juan Manuel Tastzian: ‘I can even guess a car’s make and model by only seeing a headlight, a bumper or a side mirror’

Software engineer and car enthusiast Juan Manuel Tastzian began to take vector illustration seriously after purchasing a copy of Affinity Designer in 2018. Here's a glimpse into his creative journey.

Behind the Scenes

Tips for building a strong photography portfolio

Here are some simple but essential things to consider when putting your photography portfolio together.

Behind the Scenes

Post-processing 3D renders with visualisation artist Piotr Kasprzak

Piotr Kasprzak is a visualisation artist who creates 3D graphics for architectural visualisations, product advertising and 3D animations. Learn how he adds mood, lighting and detail to his 3D renders.

Inspiration

How to be more creative with your photography practice

Whether you feel you’re in a rut, or simply want to keep pushing yourself to grow as a photographer, here are some helpful tips on how to be more creative with your photography practice.

Behind the Scenes

Animator Neil Whitman: ‘The only limit to what you can do on screen is your imagination’

Neil Whitman has produced lyric videos for some of the world’s biggest artists including Robbie Williams, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra–and recently he joined the ranks of Affinity Photo users.

Behind the Scenes

Getting the most out of your night photography shoot

In this guide, you’ll learn about managing your equipment during a night shoot, balancing your exposure settings and techniques to use both in-camera and during post-processing.

Inspiration

Amy Osborne: ‘You are epic. Your headshot should be epic’

Amy Osborne is an American headshot photographer and retouching artist based in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is an associate photographer of Peter Hurley and a proud fan of Affinity Photo.

Inspiration

Handwritten Font Bundle by Ian Barnard

We are thrilled to bring the signature style of lettering guru Ian Barnard to the Affinity store with this specially curated Handwritten Font Bundle.

Behind the Scenes

Wing Chun Illustrated makes the switch to Affinity Publisher

We spoke to Chris Patmore, designer of the magazine, to find out why he made the switch to Affinity Publisher for its milestone 50th issue.

Inspiration

How to shoot incredible winter photography

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere the season for winter photography is on its way and this is your year to finally get those dramatic ice and snow photos you’ve been dreaming of.

Inspiration

Up close and personal: what you need to know about macro photography

We delve into macro photography; how it works, the challenges you may face and how you can achieve beautiful macro shots of your own.

Inspiration

10 tips for long exposure photography

Long exposure photography can take ordinary images and make them feel otherworldly. Here are our top 10 tips to help you achieve the best results.

Inspiration

How to thrive as a freelance photographer

Thinking about going freelance with your photography? Here are some tips to help you succeed.

Behind the Scenes

Film photography workflow with Simon King

Documentary and street photographer Simon King talks about the merits of analogue photography and reveals his workflow for post-processing images captured on film.

Inspiration

Behind the scenes with award-winning illustrator Eleni Debo

World Illustration Award winner, Eleni Debo, talks to us about her submission piece, how she first got into editorial illustration and what she loves most about Affinity Photo.

News & Updates

Affinity 1.7.2 updates available now

We list all the fixes and improvements implemented in the 1.7.2 versions of Affinity Designer, Photo and Publisher.

Inspiration

Author and illustrator Allan Thompson: ‘I’ve never taken the traditional route and never will’

Allan Thompson, creator of the “Ohhh, My Strawberry Monkey” children’s book series talks to us about his creative journey and building a brand from scratch.

Inspiration

Tim Frost: ‘Peppa Pig has opened a lot of doors for me’

Animator and artist Tim Frost has worked on an array of award winning series including Peppa Pig and Hey Duggee! Here we find out more about his work and why he has adopted Affinity.

Behind the Scenes

12 tips for pitching a project to photo editors

We interviewed a select group of esteemed photographers and editors to get their insight on how to successfully pitch a project.

Behind the Scenes

7 easy money-saving tips for photographers

We asked a diverse set of photographers to let us in on some of their best money-saving tips. Read on to hear how they cut costs without cutting corners.

Behind the Scenes

14 tips for better street photography

We interviewed street photographers from around the world to get their advice for shooting captivating images. Here are 14 of their best tips...

Behind the Scenes

The redesign of popular city-building board game, Suburbia

Tasked with illustrating 176 individual tiles for the game, Brett Stebbins talks us through this mammoth project and why his tool of choice was Affinity Designer.

Behind the Scenes

Highlights from our biggest-ever live event

It was no secret that the launch of Affinity Publisher was to top the bill at Affinity Live 2019, but we still had a few big surprises in store!

Inspiration

From geology to photography: the creative journey of Kuswadi Hedeir

Still life master Kuswadi Hedeir transforms everyday objects into stunning images that look like exquisite works of art. Here we find out about his process and how his photography career first began.

Behind the Scenes

Affinity Live: Our very first live event

Months of planning, development and building renovations all came together for our very first Affinity Live event, held on the 11th July 2018. Here's a look at how it was done...

Behind the Scenes

From great families, come great pets

We go behind the scenes with Jordan Gaunce and his amazing Etsy shop Portrait Your Pet.

Inspiration

Designer Ale Urrutia: ‘I’ve always been an observer’

Multi-talented designer Ale Urrutia talks to us about his ‘FORMA’ card deck commission which he created in Affinity Designer.

Behind the Scenes

Developing Affinity Spotlight

We talk to the web developers behind the cutting edge Affinity Spotlight platform to find out how it was done.