Affinity Designer

[gravit]

Hi,

I'm sorry to have to jump into this but I couldn't resist so please bear with me. Before saying anything, I'd like to show my honor to any new designer applications that are non-Adobe.

However, seeing all the feedback and people here supporting Affinity Designer and reporting bugs over there makes me really disappointed to be honest. Gravit has been in beta since roughly 4 weeks now and all we've received so far considering bugs are 17 reports, none of which seem to be freehand users but mostly from former fireworks users.

So, Gravit implements most of Freehands innovative tools and behaviors, we're improving each and every day and best of all -- Gravit will be completely free, no charge at all.

Yet, I've seen no one from here either testing it nor reporting any feedback so far.

We've always tried to support former Freehand and Fireworks users since years and we've done our best so far and no matter what has had happened us so far, we've finally delivered as promised doing our best. Yet, as said, people throw their time and feedback on Affinity Designer and I'm struggling here with Gravit not gaining any feedback at all on the beta.

So, as said, please bear with me. This is not any vote against Affinity Designer or anything, it more over might be a final point of personal disappointment after having worked hard to deliver all those years.

This btw is just my *personal* opinion and *not* that of my company at all.

Allright, and now I am going to run before people here are gonna kill me

Have a great day guys
Alex

[Bertrude]

How does one go about testing the Gravit beta? I can't find a link anywhere on your website.

[koehler]

I am also interested in gravit beta.
I think this ist the most interesting tool that could be Freehand 12 we all dream of.

Where can i find the beta?

[gravit]

hi,

Gravit is currently in private beta 2:

— snip —
We’re currently in Beta 2. To subscribe, go here:

http://quasado.us8.list-manage.com/subs ... 01af30f7a0

And here’s a copy of the last mail for Beta 2 instructions:

http://t.co/3UyvpCF0YR
— snip —

Beta 3, coming in approx. 7-14 days will be made public. I'll post an update here then.

Alex

[Matthias]

Good news for Mark: Selecting a single point (in Affinity speak: a node) and pressing delete works as one would expect. Also paste inside works quite clever. The only thing I don’t like and keep on nagging about is the boundary box that shows up by selecting a bezier shape instead of the highlighted path plus its point in FreeHand. Selecting a path in Affinity Designerfeels air like selecting a grouped path in FreeHand. But I really give them a hard time trying to convince them to change this.

Good thing is that these guys react very quickly and are very open minded in general. Plus, I sent them lots of different FreeHand files including imported and embedded graphics, multipage layouts etc. They claim it all works. Today they want to show me a movie of it. Very curious.

If this all works out you guys can finally trade up to Yosemite, get a shiny new Mac and happily start importing your FreeHand files in Affinity Designer (with a very promising Publisher and Photo coming as well, all using one document format).

[Matthias]

However, seeing all the feedback and people here supporting Affinity Designer and reporting bugs over there makes me really disappointed to be honest.

Hey Alex,
just read your comment and I think among others you are referring to my enthusiasm. So a few words here.

Firstly I was not aware of a gravit beta. Now I am and I will gladly check it out. The pen tool looks fantastic! Two years ago, when Gravit still had a different name and a slightly different goal I was just as enthusiastic as I am now with Affinity Designer, even donating some money, I think it was 20 €.

Then after a seemingly long time of slow advancements the stagestack project seemed to be gone (together with my petty amount of money). That dampened my enthusiasm a bit. And now, comparing the Gravit web app to Affinity Designer (and the whole architecture behind it with Publisher and Photo sharing the same file structure) I must say that Gravit still looks more like a concept to me than like a product on the verge of shipping. I see no FreeHand import, no PDF export, still rudimentarily functioning tools. This isn’t meant too criticize you, it is just that I am waiting for so long now and I am desperately looking for a practical solution.

On the bright side, your pen tool is the best implementation I have see so far and there are many other nice things as well. So I will gladly check it out and provide you with feedback from a real FreeHand user.

[Matthias]

Just received a video from Affinity showing Affinity Designer’s FreeHand import of some of the documents i sent them. Please have a look:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/361 ... import.mov

The last document shown in the video contains graphic elements pasted inside compound paths and imported images. Text import does not work yet but will be finished soon. Also, multipage documents open as one big page (which will probably be fixed once Publisher is ready).

[graphixgeek]

After 10 years...a ray of hope.

[Pixero]

@alex: You could see this in two ways.
1. Private Beta may be the cause for less bug reports.
2. You are better programmers so there are not as many bugs to report.

Really looking forward to try Gravit out...

[FH Addict]

Glad to discover Affinity Designer. The intention to import Freehand files is a big +
Maybe Affinity should work with http://www.tensai.co.uk/ai/index.php