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Rustam Rams
Rustam Rams

Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 Review: A Powerful and Affordable Alternative to Adobe InDesign



Affinity Publisher 1.8.0: A Powerful and Affordable Desktop Publishing Software




If you are looking for a desktop publishing software that can help you create stunning layouts for print and digital media, you might want to check out Affinity Publisher 1.8.0.




Affinity Publisher 1.8.0



Affinity Publisher is a versatile and professional software that gives you pixel-perfect control over design and typography. It is part of the Affinity suite of graphic design tools, which also includes Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer.


In this article, we will review Affinity Publisher 1.8.0, the latest version of the software that was released in February 2022. We will cover its features, benefits, pricing, compatibility, and more.


We will also show you how to get started with Affinity Publisher 1.8.0, how to use it for different types of projects, and how to integrate it with other Affinity apps.


By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of what Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 can do for you and your design needs.


What is Affinity Publisher?




Affinity Publisher is a desktop publishing software that allows you to create professional-looking documents for print and digital media.


It is developed by Serif, a British company that has been making graphic design software since 1987.


Affinity Publisher was launched in 2019 as a part of the Affinity suite, which also includes Affinity Photo (a photo editing software) and Affinity Designer (a vector graphic software).


Affinity Publisher is designed to be fast, smooth, and powerful. It has a sleek and modern user interface that is easy to use and customize.


It supports multiple image formats (such as AI, JPEG, PDF, PNG, PSD or TIFF), as well as fonts (such as OpenType or TrueType).


It also has a wide range of tools for layout, typography, graphics, color management, output, and more.


How does Affinity Publisher compare with other desktop publishing software?




Affinity Publisher is often compared with other popular desktop publishing software, such as Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Publisher.


Adobe InDesign is the industry-standard software for desktop publishing, used by many professional designers and publishers. It has a rich set of features and integrations with other Adobe products, such as Photoshop and Illustrator.


However, Adobe InDesign is also expensive and requires a subscription to use. It can also be complex and overwhelming for beginners and casual users.


Microsoft Publisher is a cheaper and simpler alternative to Adobe InDesign, aimed at home and small business users. It has a user-friendly interface and basic tools for creating flyers, newsletters, cards, and other documents.


However, Microsoft Publisher is also limited in its capabilities and compatibility. It does not support many image formats and fonts, and it does not have advanced features for layout, typography, graphics, and output.


Affinity Publisher is a middle ground between Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Publisher. It has a competitive price and a one-time payment model. It has a user-friendly interface and a powerful set of features. It supports many image formats and fonts, and it has advanced features for layout, typography, graphics, and output.


Affinity Publisher also has a unique feature called StudioLink, which allows you to switch between Affinity Publisher, Photo, and Designer without leaving the app. This gives you access to the full range of photo editing and vector graphic tools within your document.


What are the benefits of using Affinity Publisher?




Some of the benefits of using Affinity Publisher are:



  • It is affordable and cost-effective. You can buy Affinity Publisher for $49.99 (or $24.99 if you are eligible for an educational discount) with no subscription or hidden fees.



  • It is compatible and flexible. You can use Affinity Publisher on Windows, Mac, or iPad. You can also import and export files in various formats, such as PDF, EPS, SVG, PSD, AI, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, etc.



  • It is fast and smooth. You can work with large documents and high-resolution images without lagging or crashing. You can also use GPU acceleration to boost your performance.



  • It is easy and intuitive. You can customize your workspace and tools to suit your preferences and workflow. You can also use guides, grids, snapping, alignment, and other features to ensure accuracy and consistency.



  • It is creative and professional. You can use advanced tools for layout, typography, graphics, color management, output, and more. You can also use StudioLink to edit images and vectors in your document.



What's New in Affinity Publisher 1.8.0?




Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 is the latest version of the software that was released in February 2022. It brings several new features and improvements that enhance your design experience.


Some of the main new features are:


IDML Import




IDML stands for InDesign Markup Language, which is a file format used by Adobe InDesign to store document data.


Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 allows you to import IDML files into your document, which means you can open and edit files that were created with Adobe InDesign.


This feature is useful if you want to migrate from Adobe InDesign to Affinity Publisher or if you want to collaborate with someone who uses Adobe InDesign.


To import an IDML file into Affinity Publisher 1.8.0:



  • Go to File > Open...



  • Select the IDML file you want to import.



  • Affinity Publisher will convert the IDML file into an Affinity document.



  • You can now edit the document as you wish.



Note that some features or elements from Adobe InDesign may not be fully supported or compatible with Affinity Publisher 1.8.0.


Preflight Check




Preflight check is a feature that helps you identify and fix any potential issues or errors in your document before printing or exporting it.


Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 has a built-in preflight check panel that automatically scans your document for any problems such as missing fonts or images, overflowing text frames, low-resolution images, spelling errors, etc.


You can access the preflight check panel by going to View > Studio > Preflight or by clicking on the preflight icon at the bottom left corner of the document window.


The preflight check panel will show you a list of issues categorized by type and severity. You can click on each issue to see more details and suggestions on how to fix it.


You can also customize the preflight check settings by going to File > Document Setup > Preflight. You can choose which types of issues to check for, how to display them, and how to handle them.


Preflight check is a useful feature that can help you avoid mistakes and ensure your document is ready for print or export.


Smart Master Pages




Master pages are pages that contain common elements or layouts that you want to apply to multiple pages in your document.


Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 has a smart master page feature that allows you to automatically apply master pages based on certain criteria or rules.


For example, you can create a rule that applies a master page with a different header or footer depending on the section or chapter of your document.


To use the smart master page feature in Affinity Publisher 1.8.0:



  • Go to View > Studio > Pages to open the pages panel.



  • Create or select a master page that you want to apply automatically.



  • Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of the master page thumbnail and choose Edit Detached.



  • A new window will open where you can edit the master page and set the rules for applying it.



  • Click on the plus icon at the bottom left corner of the window and choose Add Rule.



  • Select the type of rule you want to create, such as Section Name, Page Number, Page Count, etc.



  • Specify the condition and value for the rule, such as Equals, Contains, Greater Than, etc.



  • You can add more rules by clicking on the plus icon again and choose And or Or to combine them.



  • When you are done, click on Apply at the top right corner of the window and close it.



  • The master page will now be applied automatically to the pages that match the rules you set.



Smart master pages are a convenient feature that can help you save time and effort when creating complex documents with different layouts or styles.


How to Get Started with Affinity Publisher 1.8.0?




If you are interested in trying out Affinity Publisher 1.8.0, here are some steps on how to get started with the software.


How to download, install, and activate Affinity Publisher 1.8.0?




To download, install, and activate Affinity Publisher 1.8.0:



  • Go to the official website of Affinity Publisher at https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/publisher/



  • Click on Buy Now and choose your platform (Windows, Mac, or iPad).



  • Follow the instructions to complete your purchase and download the software.



  • Run the installer and follow the steps to install the software on your device.



  • Launch Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 and enter your product key or sign in with your Affinity account to activate the software.



You can also download a free trial version of Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 from the website if you want to test it before buying it. The trial version is valid for 10 days and has all the features of the full version.


How to use the user interface and the main tools and panels?




The user interface of Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 is designed to be simple and intuitive. It consists of four main areas:



  • The menu bar at the top of the window, which contains various commands and options for file, edit, view, layer, text, table, document, arrange, etc.



  • The toolbar at the left side of the window, which contains various tools for selection, text, image, shape, pen, node, etc.



  • The context toolbar at the top of the document window, which contains various options and settings for the selected tool or object.



  • The studio panels at the right side of the window, which contain various panels for layers, pages, assets, text styles, color, swatches, stroke, effects, etc.



You can customize the user interface by dragging, docking, resizing, hiding, or showing the toolbar and the studio panels. You can also create and save your own workspace presets by going to View > Workspace.


The main tools and panels that you will use in Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 are:



  • The move tool, which allows you to select, move, rotate, scale, or align objects on your document.



  • The frame text tool, which allows you to create and edit text frames on your document.



  • The artistic text tool, which allows you to create and edit artistic text on your document.



  • The picture frame tool, which allows you to create and edit picture frames on your document.



  • The place image tool, which allows you to place images on your document.



  • The shape tool, which allows you to create and edit basic shapes on your document.



  • The pen tool, which allows you to create and edit curves and paths on your document.



  • The node tool, which allows you to manipulate the nodes and handles of curves and paths on your document.



  • The layers panel, which shows the hierarchy and visibility of the objects on your document.



  • The pages panel, which shows the thumbnails and order of the pages on your document.



  • The assets panel, which stores and organizes reusable objects that you can drag and drop onto your document.



  • The text styles panel, which stores and applies predefined text styles to your text frames or artistic text.



  • The color panel, which shows and adjusts the color values of the selected object or text.



  • The swatches panel, which stores and applies predefined colors or gradients to your objects or text.



  • The stroke panel, which shows and adjusts the stroke properties of the selected object or text.



  • The effects panel, which shows and applies various effects such as shadows, glows, bevels, etc. to your objects or text.



How to create a simple document from scratch?




To create a simple document from scratch in Affinity Publisher 1.8.0:



  • Go to File > New... to open the new document dialog box.



  • Choose a preset or enter your own settings for the page size, orientation, margins, columns, bleed, etc.



  • Click on Create to create a new blank document with one page.



  • Use the toolbar and the studio panels to add and edit objects such as text frames, picture frames, images, shapes, etc. on your page.



  • Use the pages panel to add more pages or apply master pages to your document.



  • Use the file menu to save or export your document in various formats such as PDF, EPS, SVG, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, etc.



You can also use templates to create a new document with predefined layouts and styles. To use templates in Affinity Publisher 1.8.0:



  • Go to File > New... to open the new document dialog box.



  • Click on Templates at the top of the dialog box.



  • Choose a category and a template that suits your project from the list of available templates.



  • Click on Create to create a new document based on the template.



Edit the template as you wish by replacing or modifying the text, inity Publisher 1.8.0, along with some screenshots and links to the templates or tutorials that you can use as a reference or inspiration.



Project Type


Example


Template or Tutorial


Flyer


How to create a Halloween flyer in Affinity Publisher


Brochure


How to create a travel brochure in Affinity Publisher


Magazine


How to create a magazine in Affinity Publisher


Book


How to create a book in Affinity Publisher


Newsletter


How to create a newsletter in Affinity Publisher


Poster


How to create a poster in Affinity Publisher


How to create a flyer step by step?




To demonstrate how to use Affinity Publisher 1.8.0 for a specific project, we will show you how to create a flyer for a music event step by step.


We will use the template and the tutorial from the previous table as a reference, but we will also add some modifications and variations to make it more unique and personalized.


To create a flyer for a music event in Affinity Publisher 1.8.0:



  • Download the template from this link and open it in Affinity Publisher 1.8.0.



  • The template has two pages: the front and the back of the flyer. We will start with the front page.



  • Select the text frame that contains the title of the event and double-click on it to edit it. Change the text to "Rock On!" and change the font to "Rock Salt". Adjust the size and position of the text frame as needed.



  • Select the text frame that contains the date and time of the event and double-click on it to edit it. Change the text to "Saturday, June 17, 2023 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM" and change the font to "Roboto Condensed". Adjust the size and position of the text frame as needed.



  • Select the text frame that contains the location of the event and double-click on it to edit it. Change the text to "The Garage 123 Main Street, Redmond, WA" and change the font to "Roboto Condensed". Adjust the size and position of the text frame as needed.



  • Select the text frame that contains the description of the event and double-click on it to edit it. Change the text to "Join us for a night of rock music with live performances by local bands. Enjoy the drinks, snacks, and games at The Garage, the coolest venue in town. Don't miss this chance to rock on with your friends and have a blast!" and change the font to "Roboto". Adjust the size and position of the text frame as needed.



  • Select the picture frame that contains the image of the pumpkin and delete it. We will replace it with a more suitable image for our flyer.



  • Use the place image tool to place an image of a guitar on the flyer. You can use any image you like, but we will use this one from Unsplash as an example.



  • Resize and position the image as you wish. You can also use the effects panel to apply some effects to the image, such as shadows, glows, or color adjustments.



  • Select the text frame that contains the contact information and double-click on it to edit it. Change the text to "For more information, visit our website at www.rockon.com or call us at (425) 555-1234." and change the font to "Roboto Condensed". Adjust the size and position of the text frame as needed.



  • You have now completed the front page of your flyer. You can preview it by going to View > Preview Mode or by pressing W on your keyboard.



  • To create the back page of your flyer, go to the pages panel and click on the second page thumbnail.



  • Select the text frame that contains the title of the back page and double-click on it to edit it. Change the text to "Meet The Bands" and change the font to "Rock Salt". Adjust the size and position of the text frame as needed.



  • Select the text frame that contains the subtitle of the back page and double-click on it to edit it. Change the text to "Here are some of the bands that will be performing at Rock On!" and change the font to "Roboto". Adjust the size and position of the text frame as needed.



  • Select the picture frames that contain the images of the bands and delete them. We will replace them with our own images.



Use the place image tool to place four images of different bands on the flyer. You can use any images you like, but we will use this one, this on


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