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Sketch, Figma or Adobe XD?

6 years ago from Spencer Bittle, Designer

  • Marc EdwardsMarc Edwards, 6 years ago

    Serif seem pretty intent on replicating Adobe’s tools. That works in a positive way (lots of good features!) and in a negative way (blatent clone of things that are bad in Adobe’s tools, very little innovation).

    They vaguely map like this:

    • Affinity Designer = Adobe Illustrator
    • Affinity Photo = Adobe Photoshop
    • Affinity Publisher = Adobe InDesign

    Having said that, Affinity Designer covers a lot of Photoshop’s features well, to the point where it can open most PSDs successfully (covering all but some more esoteric adjustment layers and masking abilities).

    I would absolutey recommend Affinity Designer, especially to those looking to not be tied to an expensive subscription. It’s fast, has tons of good features, and the engineering is extremely solid. However, for me, Affinity Designer feels a bit like a Photoshop cover band — it’s good, but not the real deal. I like it for some things though. Given I do this full time, and given the cost of Affinity Designer, I have no problem using both!

    3 points
    • Filip Basara, 6 years ago

      I'd like to point out that Affinity Designer is geared towards DESIGN. You can do both pixel and vector work with it but it mostly is made to design things. Whether that be an illustration, icons, webdesign or print design it's tailored towards a specific group of people. Where as particularly Photoshop is a jack of all trades, atleast IMO.

      1 point
    • Sean LesterSean Lester, 6 years ago

      Yeah I think the thing that's great about them being clones is the price difference. If you're looking to go the Sketch route but still need photoshop or illustrator from time to time, then just replacing them with Affinity is much more cost effective than subbing to CC.

      Still, I'm glad to have CC at work because no one has really made the Sketch/Affinity of After Effects.

      1 point