Affinity desktop platform Publisher is finally out – and already comes integrated for use with Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo.

Affinity Photo and Affinity Serif are today joined by the long-awaited Affinity Publisher, Serif’s desktop publishing alternative to Adobe InDesign.

The app was launched today by the Nottingham-based software makers, replacing last year’s beta release and coming with the introduction of another new innovation, StudioLink.

StudioLink technology allows Designer and Photo users to use the apps within in an Affinity Publisher layout all through a click of the relevant product icon. All your graphics and images in a layout can now be edited using a full array of professional tools without any need to switch to a different app. A great capability, one can agree, and one that wasn’t available with the Beta, but which is available with Adobe Creative Cloud.

While Publisher itself will come to iPad later in 2019, owners of the iPad versions of Designer and Photo will be able to open, edit and export Publisher documents already, with both of those apps coming in updated form today so as to handle the integration. 

Affinity Publisher specs

Affinity Publisher can import and export all major raster and vector files, including layered PSD, PDF, EPS formats. It can also output print-ready documents in the latest PDF/X formats, including hyperlink support for documents shared online.

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

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