Affinity Photo, which Apple named the iPad App of the Year for 2017, was today updated with a suite of "more powerful professional features," according to developer Serif. To celebrate the new update, users can also download three add-on brush and filter packs for free starting today.

Specifically, version 1.6.7 of Affinity Photo lets users shoot direct in RAW or HDR video from within the iPad app, and introduces upgrades for RAW processing so that the clarity of RAW images has improved. There's direct integration from the iOS Files app, enhancements to Drag and Drop, the ability to add personalized fonts, and much more, which you can glimpse in the Version History on the iOS App Store.

affinity photo update
We've listed a few updates below:

- Save overwrites back to the same location, without needing to create a copy
- A new ‘Solo Layer View’ mode, allowing you to isolate individual layers instantly
- A new ‘Show Touches’ option to create more detailed screen captures – great for users who create tutorials
- Added ‘Average blur” filter from desktop
- Brand new shadows / highlights algorithm in Develop
- Brand new clarity algorithm in Develop
- New “Solo” layer option in layer properties panel
- New preferences option to show touches - good for screen recording
- Enhanced angle / tilt support for Apple Pencil
- Snapping candidates can be selected by hovering over them whilst in a drag

Starting today and lasting for the next two weeks (expiring March 8), Serif is also offering a trio of packs for free, available for Affinity Photo owners to download on the web. These include the Luminance Brush Pack (normally $9.99) with 13 light effect brushes, the Retouch Brush Pack ($9.99) with 20 retouch brushes, and Live Filters Macro Pack (already free) with 28 "non-destructive" live filter layers.

The base Affinity Photo for iPad app costs $19.99 on the iOS App Store [Direct Link] and is compatible with the 9.7-inch, 10.5-inch, and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and iPad from 2017. For users with an iPad Pro, Serif notes that the app has been optimized for use with the Apple Pencil.

Top Rated Comments

ErikGrim Avatar
103 months ago
Great app. We need more productivity apps like this on the iPad to ensure a vibrant platform.
As a Photoshop user since v1.0, this is truly the first app I would call a Photoshop replacement (sorry Pixelmator).
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
103 months ago
I love this app. I recently bought their Mac apps when they were on sale but haven't used them much yet. I just got around to installing them on my work machine though so we'll see.

I'm looking forward to their Affinity Designer app coming out for the iPad. However, I think at this point they're saving it to show off on stage at WWDC alongside iPad improvements in iOS 12. I want them to take their time so they can put out a quality product like Affinity Photo, but I'm still really looking forward to using it!

Are there any Serif people here that can give an ETA on Affinity Designer for iPad? I think I've seen them around the forums at some point.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BWhaler Avatar
103 months ago
Great app. We need more productivity apps like this on the iPad to ensure a vibrant platform.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bladerunner2000 Avatar
103 months ago
Does it support smart objects?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Donka Avatar
103 months ago
You can also email the packs to yourself and do the same to copy to Affinity Photo or copy them to a cloud service and tap on them in the Files app and use the share icon to copy to AP.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fhall1 Avatar
103 months ago
I used my iPad to go to my Affinity Store account page, then went to where it shows the three free product download links. Make sure the Affinity app isn’t open. Click on one of the download links. It should bring up a page that has links that say “open in iMovie” and “More”. Click the “More” and scroll to and select “Copy to Photo”. The Affinity app should open and a box will pop up saying it loaded the feature.

Close the Affinity app and repeat for the other two packages.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More

Thursday January 15, 2026 11:19 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the United States, according to the company's website. Most of the values declined slightly, but some of the Mac values increased. iPhone ...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

Wednesday January 14, 2026 7:09 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous...
Verizon New

Verizon Offering $20 Credit After Major Outage, Here's How to Get It

Thursday January 15, 2026 7:37 am PST by
Verizon today announced it will be offering customers a $20 account credit after a major outage on Wednesday, and action is required to receive it. The carrier said affected customers can accept the credit by logging into the My Verizon app, but it might take some time before this option shows up in the app. Affected customers will receive a text message when the credit is available. On...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

These 5 Apple Products Will Reportedly Be Upgraded With OLED Displays

Friday January 16, 2026 7:07 pm PST by
Apple plans to upgrade the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iMac, and MacBook Air with OLED displays between 2026 and 2028, according to DigiTimes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the iPad mini and MacBook Pro will receive an OLED display as early as this year, but he does not expect the MacBook Air to adopt the technology until 2028 at the earliest. A new iPad Air is...