The Affinity graphics suite is now free: A breakthrough for self-publishers, designers and creatives?

The Affinity suite has been one of the most popular tools for design, layout and professional image editing for years. With the takeover by Canva, a remarkable change has now taken place: "Affinity by Canva" has recently become available free of charge. For many creative professionals, this represents a paradigm shift, as a powerful DTP tool of this class has never been available free of charge before.

In a new in-depth article, Markus Schall, author and publisher, sheds light on the background, effects and opportunities that this step opens up for the creative industry.

A new chapter: Why Affinity is now free for all

The article explains how this strategic move came about: The original Serif suite, which positioned itself as a strong alternative to Adobe, has been fully integrated into Canva. Canva is thus relying on a two-pronged model: an easily accessible online platform and a fully-fledged desktop suite that was previously available for a fee and is now open to everyone. The article provides background information on this development and describes how Canva is massively expanding its creative toolbox by releasing the Affinity programs - and at the same time sending a significant signal to the market.

From Calamus to QuarkXPress to Affinity Publisher

In his article, Markus Schall also describes his personal journey and his practical use of Affinity in publishing. His experience goes back a long way - to the days of CorelDraw!, Calamus SL on the Atari ST and later QuarkXPress and iCalamus. This long tradition of layout work enables him to make a clear classification: in recent years, Affinity has developed into a reliable, modern and at the same time resource-saving tool that is convincing in everyday publishing work. He has been using Affinity Publisher for all his book projects for several years - from novel-like manuscripts to complex specialist books.

Practical benefits for authors and self-publishers

One focus of the article is on the question of what specific benefits authors now derive from the release of the Affinity suite. As modern desktop publishing software is not only used for traditional printed works, but also for e-books, templates and corporate design materials, the new pricing structure opens up the opportunity to produce high-quality publications without high software costs. The article looks at how Affinity Publisher can be used in a practical workflow and how the suite positions itself against alternatives such as Adobe InDesign or browser-based layout tools.

Opportunities and limitations of "Affinity by Canva"

The article also sheds light on the question of how Canva could take the suite forward in the long term and what development steps are conceivable. The focus is particularly on the desire of many creatives for a reliable, standard-compliant ePub export. Markus Schall explains why this point would be crucial for professional book production and how much a stable export would simplify workflows. It remains to be seen if and when Canva will expand this area further - but the article shows why this area is currently generating such great expectations.

Practical recommendation: Why Affinity Publisher is part of your own author's guide

One section of the article refers to Schall's book "_B?cher schreiben 2.0 - Praxisleitfaden f?r Autoren im KI-Zeitalter"_, in which the Affinity suite plays a central role. The layout templates for Affinity Publisher contained in the book already serve many authors as the basis for their own projects. The fact that the software is now available free of charge will make it much easier for many aspiring authors to get started. The article highlights how modern AI-supported writing processes and classic DTP tools work together and how Affinity proves to be a solid technical basis.

Read the full article on the web site of Markus Schall.

Conclusion for the industry: A historic step for creatives

The article concludes with a sober assessment: the decision to make a professional DTP system free for everyone is a milestone. In times when software costs are a real obstacle for many creatives, Canva is sending out a strong signal with "Affinity by Canva". The full article by Markus Schall puts this step in context, shows the opportunities and pitfalls and provides a practical perspective for anyone who wants to create books, layouts, covers or graphic work.

Frequently asked questions

* Why is the release of the Affinity Suite by Canva so significant?
The Affinity Suite was previously a professional tool that offered high quality layout, image editing and vector graphics without a subscription model. The fact that it is now available for free lowers the barrier to entry for creative professionals to zero. This step makes professional design accessible to everyone for the first time - from hobby authors to small publishers. At the same time, Canva is changing the price structure in the market and sending a clear signal against expensive subscriptions. For many, this is a historic opportunity to realize their projects at a professional level without additional software costs.

* What is the difference between "Affinity by Canva" and the previous Serif version?
In essence, the Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher programs remain technically identical. What is new is the integration into the Canva ecosystem: the Affinity suite remains locally installable and independent of the browser, while Canva continues to strengthen its online platform in parallel. For users, this means that they get the desktop power they are used to, but with a modern, long-term, well-funded infrastructure in the background. The article explains why Canva is pursuing this dual strategy and how both worlds - online and desktop - benefit from each other.

* What are the biggest advantages for authors, bloggers and publishers?
There are enormous advantages, especially in the area of book production. Authors can create high-quality covers, layouts and infographics without having to invest in expensive software. Publishers and self-publishers benefit from stable exports and a professional typography engine. As Markus Schall himself uses Affinity Publisher for his books, he shows in the article how complete book projects - from non-fiction books to specialist works - can be efficiently implemented with the Affinity suite. The free availability of these tools makes them accessible to a much broader group.

* What role does ePub export play in professional book production?
The article emphasizes that a clean, standards-compliant ePub export would be crucial in the future. Currently, the ePub workflow in Affinity still has room for improvement, which is why many professional publishers continue to rely on separate tools. Markus Schall explains why ePub export is one of the biggest opportunities that "Affinity by Canva" could develop in the future. With a stable ePub export, Affinity Publisher could become one of the most powerful all-in-one tools for authors - without additional software or workarounds.

* How does this move affect the competition with Adobe?
The article shows that Canva is not competing with Adobe in the traditional sense with this move, but is opening up a new axis: professional designers continue to work with Adobe products, but millions of creatives are looking for alternatives without subscription costs. Here Canva occupies a position that hardly anyone has filled so far. The free Affinity suite offers Adobe level for zero euros - a step that could change the market permanently and represents an enormous advantage for many freelancers.

* Why is Markus Schall's personal experience relevant?
Because it shows how the craft of layout has changed over decades. His path leads from Calamus SL on the Atari ST through QuarkXPress and iCalamus to Affinity Publisher. This long background of experience provides a perspective that is not based on marketing promises, but on practice. The article combines tradition and modernity: classic DTP craftsmanship meets current software development. The result is a well-founded view of the opportunities and limitations of the Affinity suite.

* How do beginners benefit from the free graphics suite?
Since there is no longer a cost barrier, beginners can experiment without risk. Anyone who previously had to choose between InDesign, Scribus or Affinity now has a clear advantage: Affinity offers professionalism without the price. The article explains that young authors, photographers and designers in particular now have the opportunity to create professional layouts for the first time without having to take out a subscription. This opens up a market that was previously out of reach for many.

* What is the long-term significance of this decision for the creative industry?
The article argues that Canva's decision is more than just a marketing stunt. It could have a lasting impact on how creatives work, how publishers organize their workflows and how software manufacturers respond to price and feature pressures. A free professional DTP system was previously unthinkable. Now it is a reality. The article summarizes why this moment could be as significant as the introduction of modern layout systems in the 90s - a turning point with far-reaching consequences.

M. Schall Verlag
Hackenweg 97
26127 Oldenburg
Germany

https://markus-schall.com
Herr Markus Schall
info@schall-verlag.de

Schall-Verlag was founded in 2025 by Markus Schall - out of a desire to publish books that provide clarity, stimulate reflection and consciously avoid the hectic flow of the zeitgeist. The publishing house does not see itself as a mass marketplace, but as a curated platform for content with attitude, depth and substance.

The focus is on topics such as personal development, crisis management, social dynamics, technological transformation and critical thinking. All books are created out of genuine conviction, not market analysis - and are aimed at readers who are looking for guidance, insight and new perspectives.

The publishing house is deliberately designed to be compact, independent and with high standards in terms of language, content and design. Schall-Verlag is based in Oldenburg (Lower Saxony) and plans multilingual publications in German and English.

This release was published on openPR.