Serif launches Affinity Publisher with stunning new StudioLink technology

Affinity suite owners can access the full range of image editing and vector design tools without leaving Affinity Publisher

Affinity Publisher has launched today on macOS and Windows

Serif has today launched Affinity Publisher and revealed a unique new way of working which is set to revolutionise how creative professionals work.

In a world-first, Serif’s brand new StudioLink technology means owners of its vector design app Affinity Designer and image editor Affinity Photo can use them right there in an Affinity Publisher layout, simply by clicking the relevant product icon.

While Affinity Publisher has its own impressive selection of built-in vector and photo editing tools, StudioLink means for the first time, graphics and images in a layout can be edited using a full array of professional tools, without the need to switch to a different app. The result is a massive streamlining of the creative workflow.

In a further bold announcement, the company revealed it has updated the pioneering iPad versions of Affinity Designer and Photo to handle Affinity Publisher documents. While Publisher itself will come to iPad later, owners of Affinity Designer and Photo on iPad will be able to open, edit and export Publisher documents, on the move, from today.

The core functionality of Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo is available by simply clicking the persona icons at the top of the app

The announcements came in a keynote address during an event at Serif’s Nottingham, UK, headquarters today (19 June).

Managing Director Ashley Hewson said: “For too long, millions of creative professionals have found their workflow hindered by incompatible file types, apps which don’t work properly together, and awkward workarounds which cost valuable time.

“Affinity Publisher with StudioLink takes all that pain away by allowing you to instantly switch to the advanced photo editing features of Affinity Photo and precise vector tools of Affinity Designer without ever leaving the app. It’s the most fluid workflow ever conceived in a creative suite of applications, and we think it’s a game changer.”

From creating simple text-based documents to posters and flyers, or complex brochures and books combining words, images and graphics, the meticulously-engineered features of Affinity Publisher means it runs like a dream, even on the most content-heavy documents.

With essentials like Master Pages, facing-page spreads, grids, tables, advanced typography, text flow and full professional print output, Affinity Publisher delivers all the requirements for a modern-day layout app, tailored to exploit the power of the very latest hardware.

Other key features include:

OpenType support and glyph browser
Text decorations and drop capitals
Linked text frames with advanced flow options
Text wrapping with fine padding control
Artistic text including text on a path
Baseline grid and text frame rulers
Place PSD, AI, PDF, JPG, TIFF, PNG or Affinity files
Correct and enhance images with non-destructive adjustment layers
Incredibly smooth gradient and transparency controls
Auto generated indexes and table of contents
RegEx search and replace
Customisable keyboard shortcuts
Saveable undo history
Super smooth pan and zoom at 60fps
End-to-end CMYK and spot colour support
PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4 output for professional print

Affinity Publisher’s enormous flexibility means it can import and export all major raster and vector files, including layered PSD, PDF, EPS formats. And it can output print-ready documents in the latest PDF/X formats, including hyperlink support for documents shared online.

“Affinity Publisher with StudioLink is the realisation of the initial vision we had for our apps nine years ago and I could not be more thrilled to finally reveal that vision today,” says Ashley Hewson. “This is the reason we called our apps Affinity.”

Affinity Publisher is available with a 20% discount (priced $39.99) for a limited period, and as with all Affinity apps has no subscription.