Move Adobe Projects to Affinity: What to Know

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes, you can move most Adobe projects to Affinity, but the ease of the move depends heavily on which Adobe app you used and how complex your files are. Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher can open many Adobe file formats, but you will likely need to rebuild some elements, especially if your projects rely on Adobe-specific features like smart objects, adjustment layers, or certain effects.

Why People Switch From Adobe to Affinity

The main reason people consider moving from Adobe to Affinity is cost. Adobe Creative Cloud requires a monthly or annual subscription, while Affinity apps are sold as one-time purchases. For a freelancer or small business, that difference can be significant over time. Another reason is that Affinity apps are designed to be fast and lightweight, and they handle large files well. Some users also prefer Affinity’s more streamlined interface, which can feel less cluttered than Adobe’s. However, switching means learning new tools and workflows, and not every feature you rely on in Adobe will have a direct equivalent.

Which Adobe File Formats Can Affinity Open?

Affinity apps can open a range of Adobe formats, but support is not always complete. Here is a quick breakdown:

Photoshop (PSD): Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer can open PSD files. Most layer types, masks, blend modes, and adjustment layers are supported. However, smart objects are flattened, and some layer styles may not transfer perfectly.
Illustrator (AI): Affinity Designer can open AI files, but only if they were saved with PDF compatibility enabled (which is the default in Illustrator). If the AI file is not PDF-compatible, you will need to export it as SVG or EPS first.
InDesign (INDD): Affinity Publisher does not open INDD files directly. You must export your InDesign document as IDML or PDF and then import that into Affinity Publisher.
PDF: All three Affinity apps can open PDF files, which is often the most reliable way to transfer layouts and vector artwork.
Other formats: Affinity also supports EPS, SVG, and common image formats like TIFF, JPEG, and PNG.

How to Move Your Projects Step by Step

The process depends on the app you are coming from. Here is a general workflow for each:

From Photoshop to Affinity Photo: Open the PSD directly in Affinity Photo. Check the layer stack for any dropped features. If you used smart objects, you will need to re-apply the filters or effects manually. Save your work as an .afphoto file.
From Illustrator to Affinity Designer: In Illustrator, ensure the file is saved with PDF compatibility enabled. Then open the .ai file in Affinity Designer. Alternatively, export as SVG from Illustrator and open that in Affinity Designer. Check for missing gradients, patterns, or effects.
From InDesign to Affinity Publisher: In InDesign, export your document as IDML (File > Export > IDML). Then in Affinity Publisher, choose File > Open and select the IDML file. Text will reflow, but you may need to adjust fonts and spacing. Alternatively, export as PDF and open that in Affinity Publisher, but then text and images become less editable.

What Gets Lost in the Move

Even when files open successfully, some things may not survive the transition. Here are the most common issues:

Smart Objects: In Photoshop, smart objects are flattened to regular layers in Affinity. You lose the ability to edit the embedded content non-destructively.
Adjustment Layers: Most adjustment layers (curves, levels, hue/saturation) transfer, but some like Color Lookup and Black & White may not have direct equivalents.
Layer Styles: Basic effects like drop shadow and stroke usually transfer, but complex styles with multiple layers may look different.
Illustrator Effects: Effects like Roughen, Scribble, and Transform may be simplified or removed.
InDesign Master Pages: IDML import in Affinity Publisher often requires manual re-creation of master pages and text styles.
Plugins and Scripts: Any Adobe plugins you rely on will not work in Affinity. Affinity has its own plugin support (for example, some Photoshop plugins work via the Plugin Support feature in Affinity Photo), but not all.

How to Choose Between Adobe and Affinity

Your choice should depend on your specific needs. Consider these factors:

Budget: If you prefer a one-time purchase and no subscription, Affinity is likely better.
Collaboration: If you work in a team that uses Adobe, staying with Adobe avoids file compatibility issues.
Feature Needs: If you rely heavily on Photoshop’s advanced features like Camera Raw, smart objects, or extensive plugin ecosystem, Adobe is more robust. Affinity is catching up but still lacks some high-end features.
Learning Curve: Affinity apps have a similar but not identical interface. Expect a short adjustment period.
File Exchange: If you regularly receive PSD or AI files from clients, Affinity can open them, but you may need to do cleanup.

Cost Comparison: Adobe vs Affinity

Adobe Creative Cloud offers individual app subscriptions (e.g., Photoshop alone) or the full suite. Pricing can change, but as a general guide, a single app subscription is around $20-$30 per month, and the full suite is around $50-$60 per month. Affinity apps are each around $70 (sometimes less during sales), and you buy them once. There are no recurring fees, and updates are free for the current version. For a long-term user, Affinity can be significantly cheaper.

Common Problems and Solutions

When moving files, you might encounter these issues:

Fonts not matching: If you don’t have the same fonts installed, Affinity will substitute them. Install the missing fonts or adjust the text manually.
Colors looking different: Color profiles may differ. Check the document color profile in Affinity and adjust if needed.
Text reflowing: In Publisher, text boxes may have different sizes. Adjust the frame dimensions and text flow.
Effects disappearing: If an effect doesn’t appear, try re-applying it using Affinity’s effects panel.
File is huge: Affinity files can be large, but you can compress them by embedding resources or rasterizing some layers.

Alternatives to Affinity

If Affinity doesn’t meet your needs, other alternatives exist. For photo editing, you could try GIMP (free and open-source) or Pixelmator Pro (Mac only). For vector design, Inkscape is a free option. For layout, Scribus is a free desktop publishing tool. These have different learning curves and feature sets, so you may need to test them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Affinity open Adobe Illustrator files?

Yes, Affinity Designer can open AI files if they are saved with PDF compatibility. If not, export as SVG or EPS first.

Will my Photoshop smart objects work in Affinity?

No, smart objects are flattened into regular layers. You will need to re-apply any effects or filters manually.

Can I edit InDesign files in Affinity Publisher?

Not directly. You must export from InDesign as IDML or PDF, then open that in Affinity Publisher. Expect some layout adjustments.

Is Affinity really a one-time purchase?

Yes, each Affinity app is a one-time purchase. You get updates for the current version, but major future versions may require a paid upgrade.

Do Affinity apps support Adobe plugins?

Affinity Photo supports some Photoshop plugins (like those for filters) through its Plugin Support feature, but not all plugins work. Affinity Designer and Publisher do not support Adobe plugins.

Which is better for professional work: Adobe or Affinity?

Both can produce professional results. Adobe has more advanced features and industry standard file compatibility, but Affinity is faster and more affordable. The best choice depends on your specific workflow and budget.

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