Affinity Photo Financial Model
Jul 23, 2017 11:15:24 #
Affinity Photo software produced by Serif (Europe) Ltd is in its infancy and is offered for around $50 US currency, this includes all updates and new versions for life.
The software is in direct competition with other photo editing software on the market and Adobe Photoshop CC, but unlike Photoshop it is a onetime purchase of
the software instead of a subscription of $10/month.
I own several editing software including Photoshop CC, DXO Suite, OnOne, elements 15, topaz and Affinity to name a few and I understand how the companies
make their money on new versions or subscriptions.
My question (and I open it up for comments or education from anyone on UHH) is once Affinity has saturated the market how does Serif expect to get revenue
to be able to offer free updates or new versions? We all know that if software is not maintained it will soon become obsolete, case in point is Nikon NX-2, and
I don’t know of any company that can employ a staff to upgrade software and not get revenue.
The software is in direct competition with other photo editing software on the market and Adobe Photoshop CC, but unlike Photoshop it is a onetime purchase of
the software instead of a subscription of $10/month.
I own several editing software including Photoshop CC, DXO Suite, OnOne, elements 15, topaz and Affinity to name a few and I understand how the companies
make their money on new versions or subscriptions.
My question (and I open it up for comments or education from anyone on UHH) is once Affinity has saturated the market how does Serif expect to get revenue
to be able to offer free updates or new versions? We all know that if software is not maintained it will soon become obsolete, case in point is Nikon NX-2, and
I don’t know of any company that can employ a staff to upgrade software and not get revenue.
Jul 23, 2017 11:42:44 #
Jul 23, 2017 11:58:48 #
I understand that they may be working on an indexing add-on (something like Lightroom) and that may end up costing extra. Also the sale of add-ons may sustain them for a while. If they do add on an indexing product it would be like having Lightroom and Photoshop in one product.
Jul 23, 2017 11:59:00 #
Stan Gould
Loc: La Crosse, Wisconsin
Will they saturate the market? The market is always is fluid. People aging out, others coming in and so forth. Does their market include India and other foreign countries. Will there be enough turnover to keep sales up?
Jul 24, 2017 06:05:05 #
Heather Iles
Loc: UK, Somerset
Brucej67 wrote:
Affinity Photo software produced by Serif (Europe)... (show quote)
Bruce, on a light note, I and my generation wouldn't be around to worry about that, so in the meantime why not try it if we want to and see how we get on with it. I have just purchased it and I am looking forward to using it, as I haven't really taken to Lightroom or Photoshop Elements.
Jul 24, 2017 06:12:36 #
Once they have you, it opens the door for selling you additional software... eg. Page Plus for doing news letters etc. Affinity also has a drawing program Affinity Designer. They sell a Work Book for Affinity Designer for $50... perhaps next a book for photo editing
Jul 24, 2017 06:37:17 #
From their forum, it does not look as if upgrades are forever...
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/41857-upgrade-pricing-policy/&do=findComment&comment=209449
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/41857-upgrade-pricing-policy/&do=findComment&comment=209449
Jul 24, 2017 07:37:57 #
Linary
Loc: UK
Brucej67 wrote:
Affinity Photo software produced by Serif (Europe) Ltd is in its infancy and is offered for around $50 US currency, this includes all updates and new versions for life.
As I understand it, updates are free but new versions will be charged for. Version 1 is now at 1.5, when it gets to v2, it will cost money. When it reaches v2, hopefully it will be more robust with fewer bugs, the current price is to get new customers on board, v2 price may start reflecting the real cost. Hopefully, users of v1 will be able to upgrade at a better price than those buying the finished Affinity Photo.
Jul 24, 2017 08:10:16 #
Thank you, like I stated now I am educated. So the financial model includes version cost and updates are free just like other software. I can imagine that when they get to version 2 it will be a much more mature software. One problem I noticed is while they can open PSD files if you work with smart objects in Photoshop or Elements Affinity Photo can not handle them and has problems opening the PSD. Affinity is working on the smart object problem.
rafikiphoto wrote:
From their forum, it does not look as if upgrades are forever...
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/41857-upgrade-pricing-policy/&do=findComment&comment=209449
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/41857-upgrade-pricing-policy/&do=findComment&comment=209449
Jul 24, 2017 08:24:10 #
I was a Serif customer for about 10 years. They are a great company. They have great, and reliable products.
At one time, I owned the current versions of PhotoPlus, PagePlus, DrawPlus, WebPlus and a few other products.
I only switched to Photoshop and Lightroom because the online tutorials for Photoshop and Lightroom are plentiful, and the online training for Serif products are only created by Serif. Plus, Serif products, while great, are only about 90% as good as Abode products.
Would I recommend Serif products, YES, but do I prefer Adobe products, also a YES.
At one time, I owned the current versions of PhotoPlus, PagePlus, DrawPlus, WebPlus and a few other products.
I only switched to Photoshop and Lightroom because the online tutorials for Photoshop and Lightroom are plentiful, and the online training for Serif products are only created by Serif. Plus, Serif products, while great, are only about 90% as good as Abode products.
Would I recommend Serif products, YES, but do I prefer Adobe products, also a YES.
Jul 24, 2017 08:36:37 #
I agree and my only reason for purchasing Affinity was if Adobe decided to increase pricing of their subscription beyond what I am willing to pay per month, then I have a product that could read my PSD files and I could work with it.
photostephen wrote:
I was a Serif customer for about 10 years. They a... (show quote)
Jul 24, 2017 09:33:58 #
For me, while having tried a variety of editing software, Affinity is much more intuitive and needs less tutorials.
Jul 24, 2017 10:12:55 #
Brucej67 wrote:
Affinity Photo software produced by Serif (Europe)... (show quote)
The market will never become saturated. If people use Affinity and like it, they will tell others. At some point, Serif will do something to generate income.
Jul 24, 2017 10:39:59 #
Thank you Jerry as was pointed out the updates are free the version upgrade you still pay for, so it is much like other non-subscription software. Eventually like any product on the market there is a saturation limit, and yes there will always be new people coming in and going out, however that does not sustain revenue if you don't charge for new versions. Basically you need sustained growth or revenue to support a product (in this instance programming staff, marketing and all others concerned with the sales of a product) and if you don't get that revenue you can't indefinitely support the product (no company is in the market to loose money). However not to worry Affinity will be supported even if the market is saturated by charging for version updates.
jerryc41 wrote:
The market will never become saturated. If people use Affinity and like it, they will tell others. At some point, Serif will do something to generate income.
Jul 24, 2017 10:52:10 #
Affinity Photo is created and sold by Serif Software. Serif Software has been around for over 15 (maybe 20) years, so they know what they are doing.
All the PhotoPlus versions (the precursor to Affinity), gave free updates within a version and charged for version updates. And they were always reasonably priced.
For those who are choosing Affinity Software, the company (Serif) is a good company, and their products, in my experience, are also good.
My reason for switching to Adobe is that as my photography skills developed, I wanted, and use the enhanced features found in the full Photoshop product. And I liked the abundance of training for Photoshop I get online.
All the PhotoPlus versions (the precursor to Affinity), gave free updates within a version and charged for version updates. And they were always reasonably priced.
For those who are choosing Affinity Software, the company (Serif) is a good company, and their products, in my experience, are also good.
My reason for switching to Adobe is that as my photography skills developed, I wanted, and use the enhanced features found in the full Photoshop product. And I liked the abundance of training for Photoshop I get online.
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