conv.

All stories
TechQuiet 9d · day 16

Canva launches free Affinity design app for iPad with Sketch Studio

The all-in-one creative suite arrives on Apple's tablet with touch-optimized tools and Apple Pencil Pro support, free for individuals.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 8d ago11 pieces14 likes & upvotes MastodonNewswiresHacker NewsGoogle News

What to know

  • Affinity for iPad launches free with all core design tools (sketch, vector, photo editing, layout) available to individuals with a free Canva account.
  • The app includes Apple Pencil Pro support and a new Sketch Studio optimized for touch workflows, with sketch-to-vector conversion.
  • Advanced AI features (Generative Expand, image upscaling, noise reduction) require Canva Pro subscription at $18/month; Canva honored its pledge not to force subscriptions after acquiring Serif in 2024.
  • Some desktop features are unavailable at launch (Books, Batch, Data Merge, macro recording), though more are planned for future releases.

“If you're the sort of person who rotates the canvas 40 times to get one line right, Affinity for iPad was made by people who've done exactly that.”

Neil Ladkin, Affinity product design head · The Verge ↗

Canva Software companyNeil Ladkin Affinity product design headSerif Affinity developer (acquired by Canva in 2024)

Canva launches free Affinity design app for iPad with Sketch Studio
theverge.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 10 pieces in 4h at Nov 2, 7 AM; 11 pieces over 16 days (6 articles · 5 posts) Oct 26, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 26, 4 PM — quietOct 26, 8 PM — quietOct 27, 12 AM — quietOct 27, 4 AM — quietOct 27, 8 AM — quietOct 27, 12 PM — quietOct 27, 4 PM — quietOct 27, 8 PM — quietOct 28, 12 AM — quietOct 28, 4 AM — quietOct 28, 8 AM — quietOct 28, 12 PM — quietOct 28, 4 PM — quietOct 28, 8 PM — quietOct 29, 12 AM — quietOct 29, 4 AM — quietOct 29, 8 AM — quietOct 29, 12 PM — quietOct 29, 4 PM — quietOct 29, 8 PM — quietOct 30, 12 AM — quietOct 30, 4 AM — quietOct 30, 8 AM — quietOct 30, 12 PM — quietOct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 8 PM — quietOct 31, 12 AM — quietOct 31, 4 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 12 PM — quietOct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 12 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 7 AM — quietNov 1, 11 AM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 7 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 7 AM — 10 pieces · 6 articles · 4 posts — Mastodon 5, Newswires 3, Google News 1, +1 moreNov 2, 11 AM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 11 PM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — quietNov 3, 11 AM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 11 PM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 11 PM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 11 AM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 11 PM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 11 AM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietNov 7, 3 AM — quietNov 7, 7 AM — quietNov 7, 11 AM — quietNov 7, 3 PM — quietNov 7, 7 PM — quietNov 7, 11 PM — quietNov 8, 3 AM — quietNov 8, 7 AM — quietNov 8, 11 AM — quietNov 8, 3 PM — quietNov 8, 7 PM — quietNov 8, 11 PM — quietNov 9, 3 AM — quietNov 9, 7 AM — quietNov 9, 11 AM — quietNov 9, 3 PM — quietNov 9, 7 PM — quietNov 9, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 3 AM — quiet 1
Oct 28Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 7Nov 9now · 5:42 AM ET
  1. 1

    iPad version omits some desktop features at launch

    Several desktop features are unavailable in the initial iPad release, including Books, Batch, Data Merge, Quick Adjustments, macro recording, and Astrophotography Studio, though Canva plans to add more features over time.

    “Affinity for iPad delivers the full power of Affinity, together with the versatility and portability of iPad. Every development decision was made by people who create on iPad themselves.”
    — Neil Ladkin, Affinity product design head · source
  2. background

    Affinity for iPad launches with free core tools — Canva released Affinity for iPad with a new Sketch Studio designed for touch and Apple Pencil, providing free access to sketch, vector, photo editing, and layout tools. Core features require only a free Canva account, while AI tools are gated behind Canva Pro ($18/month).

  3. background

    Canva relaunches Affinity as unified desktop app — Canva combined the separate Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher apps into a single all-in-one application for Mac and Windows, attracting more than seven million sign-ups.

  4. background

    Canva acquires Serif, developer of Affinity — Canva acquired the company behind the Affinity creative suite. The acquisition prompted concerns among users about potential forced subscription models and AI integration.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets Affinity for iPad all-in-one design app launches today, free for individuals

    first by Mastodon, 8d ago · also 9to5Mac, MacRumors

    2 more headlines

and 1 smaller piece