Serif’s Affinity Photo has quickly become a popular platform for editing visual content of all types, including photos, videos, and illustrations. Beyond its impressive, user-friendly features, there is another reason why so many designers are turning to Affinity Photo – it is also one of the most affordable options out there. But what is its cost in terms of the computer resources that are required?

In terms of hard drive space, the amount needed to use Affinity Photo depends on the type of computer. For Mac users, the minimum space required is 2.8 GB and for PC users this program will take up 953 MB of hard drive space. In either case, however, more space will be needed during installation.

One of the most popular features of this program is not what it can do but how much it affects the pocketbooks of its users. With a one-time purchase model (as opposed to a recurring subscription), Affinity Photo is garnering legions of loyal fans. As it turns out, the minimum system requirements for Affinity Photo are far less than competing programs as well. Read on to learn more.

How Much Space Does Affinity Photo Take Up

When purchasing computer software these days it is not just the cost to purchase the program that needs to be considered. There is also a considerable price to pay in terms of the computer resources that it will consume just to work properly. For instance, image editing platforms are known for taking up a lot of real estate in a computer’s hard drive, often to the detriment of other applications.

But such is not necessarily the case with Affinity Photo. According to Serif, the developer of Affinity Photo, these are the figures for how much space this program will take up on a Mac or PC:

• For PC users, Affinity Photo requires at least 953 MB of available hard drive space on a PC, and more will be needed during the installation of the software
• For Mac users, a minimum of 2.8 GB of free hard drive space is needed on a Mac, and even more space is required for the software to be installed properly

While these figures may seem large at first glance (particularly for Macs), they pale in comparison to the minimum space requirements for competing programs.

For instance, Adobe Photoshop, the undisputed top dog in the image editing arena, requires a minimum of 4 GB of available hard drive space (and even more during the installation process) to run on either a Mac or a PC. But according to Adobe, the recommended hard drive space is a whopping 16 GB to ensure that the software’s features and tools run smoothly without any sluggishness or glitchiness.

Affinity Photo is not only economical to use from the standpoint of its one-time purchase price, but it is also a bargain when it comes to the amount of hard drive space that it requires.

Why Does Affinity Photo Take Up This Much Space?

Although Affinity Photo takes up far less space on a hard drive than its competitors, namely Adobe Photoshop, it still occupies a significant chunk of resources to the tune of nearly a gigabyte on a PC and close to 3 GB on a Mac.

Why does Affinity Photo take up this much space? Because it is jam-packed with powerful editing tools and dynamic features. Here is a sampling of this platform’s capabilities:

• A broad range of retouching tools, including skin and blemish editing, sculpting implements, and a full array of blending functions
• Dynamic layers that are easy to manipulate in a number of different ways
• RAW editing to bring out the finest details in digital imagery
• A huge collection of brushes that can be used individually or combined together to create truly unique artistic effects
• True 32-bit HDR rendering and editing
• 100% compatibility across PC, Mac, and iPad, allowing seamless editing no matter the platform
• 8,000-step history allowing virtually limitless redo and undo capabilities

Considering the number of editing tools and thoughtfully designed features that are built into Affinity Photo, the amount of space that it takes up on a PC or a Mac seems like a reasonable price to pay for the incredible functionality that awaits.

What Are the Other System Requirements for Affinity Photo?

Aside from minimum hard drive space, media editing platforms like Affinity Photo also have other system requirements that must be met in order for the programs and their vast arrays of features and tools to function properly. Here are some key system requirements for Affinity Photo:

Whether PC or Mac is your preferred computing platform, Affinity Photo will work equally well on either. In fact, there is even a toned-down version of this image editing program that is available for iPad Pro, Air, and even Mini (iOS 12 or later is required).

How Do You Purchase and Install Affinity Photo?

Purchasing Affinity Photo online can be done through a variety of easily accessible ways and the most popular of these are:

• Serif’s website
• Microsoft Store
• Mac App Store

One of the major selling points of Affinity Photo is that it is a one-time purchase instead of a subscription model (i.e., paying a monthly or annual fee to continue using a program).

When it comes to software upgrades, however, it is important to remember that they are free for as long as Affinity Photo is offered in the current version (e.g., Version 1.XX.XXX). If and when Version 2.XX.XXX is released, indications are that there will be an upgrade fee assessed to current users.

Conclusion

When it comes to image editing software, the king of the hill is Adobe Photoshop. While this grizzled graphics industry veteran continues to set the standard, there are newcomers to the scene that have made a name for themselves and Serif’s Affinity Photo is definitely one of them.

For a price that simply cannot be beaten, Affinity Photo puts powerful features and tools into the hands (and imaginations) of the masses.