Imaging software companies have been stepping up to support photographers and artists with work drying up because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Joining Adobe and Skylum, Serif is offering three months free access to its Affinity suite of apps, which includes Affinity Photo for Mac and iPad. If trial users like Affinity they can purchase the apps for 50 percent off the retail price.
“With all that’s going on right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in response to the many stories we’re hearing from the creative community about how they’re being severely impacted, we felt it was our responsibility to try to offer as much support as possible during this incredibly difficult time,” read a statement on the Affinity website.
In addition to the free trial and price break, Serif said it would contract with more than “100 freelance creatives for work, spending the equivalent of our annual commission budget in the next three months.”
The Affinity suite of apps is a popular alternative to the Adobe Creative Cloud, in part because there is a one-time download fee. But the apps, which include Affinity Publisher and Affinity Designer, are packed with powerful tools.
Each Affinity app typically runs $49.99 for Mac users but can be purchased for $19.99 coming off the trial. The iPad apps are also 50 percent off at $9.99.
Last week, Adobe announced it will give every user two free months in Creative Cloud. It also offered Creative Cloud free through May 31 to schools as they figure out distance learning alternatives while students are homebound.
Skylum, the maker of the popular photo app, Luminar, has published resources to assist artists and photographers idled by mandated self-isolation.