How does Adobe Firefly work in Photoshop?

In Photoshop, Adobe Firefly powers AI tools such as Generative Fill and Generative Expand, allowing you to add, remove, or expand image content simply by typing prompts.

Do I need training to use Adobe Firefly?

While Firefly is intuitive, structured training helps you craft effective prompts, integrate AI into workflows, and produce professional-quality results consistently.

Can Firefly help with marketing and social media content?

Yes. Firefly can create social media graphics, marketing visuals, product mockups, and other content quickly, streamlining your creative workflow.

Can your company switch from Adobe to Affinity ?

Q: What is Adobe Firefly?

Adobe Firefly is Adobe’s generative AI platform that allows users to create images, graphics, and design elements using text prompts. It integrates with Photoshop, InDesign, and Adobe Express.

Switching from Adobe to Affinity? Why more organisations are questioning using Adobe!

Over the past few years, many organisations have relied on Adobe Creative Cloud as their go-to solution for design, marketing and communications work.

But increasingly, teams are asking:

Do we really need all of these tools?
Are we getting value from ongoing subscriptions?
Is there a simpler, more cost-effective option?

With rising budget pressures across public sector, education and business, it’s no surprise that alternatives are being explored more seriously than ever.

Affinity Studio offers a free, intuitive alternative helping teams create professional content without Adobe subscriptions.

So, why are companies questioning the future of their design workflow?

Originally this was going to be a standard post but while writing it it became obvious that more of a question and answer format would be a better approach. Also following along this line gave the opportunity to include some of the questions and discussions that have arisen in recent training sessions about design software and migrating from Adobe to Affinity Studio.

So why are companies questioning or even considering a change in software. To be fair the answer is an easy one and not surprising, primarily it’s about money and rapidly rising subscription costs, secondly the software has become larger and for many over complicated for what they actually do. Another odd factor is that strangely enough not everyone wants to work with AI tools, the traditional tools work fine for what they need to do. Although Affinity has AI tools it’s worth bearing in mind that you need to have the full Canva software to access these and to be fair at this moment Affinity cannot really compete with Adobe where AI is concerned.

But is it really free?

For that it might be an idea to visit the Affinity website and check out their comparison chat and whilst you’re there find out a bit more about how Affinity Studio works and /or download it.

Visit the Affinity Store to find out more

Did I mention that Affinity is now a part of Canva?

Oh and did I also happen to mention that I can help you use design software to uncomplicate and streamline your workflow? I can help you use software and workflows effectively and efficiently whatever software you use which means you save time which equals saving money.

Back to the questions and answers structure.

Rising subscription costs, complex software, and over-complicated workflows are leading many organisations to reconsider their design tools.

Teams across the public sector, education, and in-house marketing among others are asking:

Is Adobe really worth the ongoing subscription?
Could we achieve the same results more efficiently?
Is there a simpler, cost-effective alternative for our team?

The answer for many is Affinity Studio (V3) which is a free, fully-featured design platform owned by Canva, offering an intuitive interface and the essential tools your team needs to create professional content.

What can Affinity Studio do for your team?

Affinity Studio V3 replaces the old Designer, Photo, and Publisher apps with a single, unified interface, making it easier for teams to learn, adopt, and work efficiently.

One thing that makes it popular is the fact that it’s free, yes you did read that right. Find out how it works on our blog at Free Affinity Studio Review

Where Affinity Studio excels

For many organisations, Affinity Studio is more than capable of handling:

Social media graphics
Reports, brochures, and internal communications
Marketing materials and campaigns
Photo editing, layout, and illustration

Affinity Studio covers almost all day-to-day design needs for organisations that don’t require the full advanced Adobe suite.

Where Adobe may still be preferred

While Affinity Studio V3 is a capable, free alternative for most everyday tasks, Adobe Creative Cloud still holds advantages and may well be vital in certain professional scenarios:

Complex collaborative projects: Adobe’s cloud-based apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are designed for teams working simultaneously on the same files, with advanced version control and commenting features. For agencies or large organisations, this can be crucial.
Industry-standard file compatibility: Many clients, agencies, and external partners still rely on Adobe formats (e.g., PSD, AI, INDD). If your team needs to exchange files regularly with other Adobe users, sticking with Adobe can simplify collaboration and reduce file conversion issues.
Advanced design and production workflows: Adobe offers specialized features for professional print production, prepress workflows, 3D content, animation, video editing, and high-end image manipulation. Teams working in these areas may find Affinity Studio doesn’t yet cover the full range of advanced capabilities.
Large-scale enterprise integration: Adobe’s ecosystem integrates with tools like Microsoft 365, Slack, and Adobe Experience Manager, which can be essential for organisations with complex enterprise systems.

Affinity Studio is excellent for in-house design teams producing marketing materials, reports, and social content. But for highly specialised design work, large collaborative projects, or enterprise-level integrations, Adobe remains the preferred solution.

The biggest challenge is never about the software, it's about the switching

Switching to a new tool is more than installing software.

Teams often struggle with:

Adjusting workflows
Adapting to a new interface
Managing existing files
Building confidence with a different toolset

This is why practical guidance and training is often the fastest way to make a smooth transition.

I might just have mentioned a bit further up the page that I can help with this.

Who should consider using Affinity Studio?

Ideal candidates

Public sector teams managing communications
NHS or healthcare teams producing regular content
Educational organisations creating teaching or marketing materials
In-house marketing teams bringing design work in-house

Where caution is needed

Agencies collaborating with external clients
Teams dependent on Adobe-specific integrations or advanced features

Affinity Studio works best for teams that need practical, day-to-day tools rather than specialist production suites.

How to switch without disrupting your team

The most effective approach is structured and phased:

Identify key use cases for your team (social media, reports, marketing content)
Train small groups or team leads first
Run Adobe and Affinity Studio alongside each other during the transition
Focus on real projects for faster adoption

Switching doesn’t have to be overwhelming and a clear plan needs to be in place to reduce disruption and build confidence.

Do you need training to move to Affinity?

While Studio is intuitive, professional Affinity training can dramatically speed up the crossover process.

It can reduce the learning curve for staff and if migrating from Adobe point out the differences between the two
Training helps to minimise mistakes and frustration that happen during any software migration
Enable your team to apply the software directly to everyday work

With training a team can move swiftly into Affinity, who are adding to their tool kit quickly. Missing in earlier versions they added Image Trace to the vector workspace in late 2025

Our training in Affinity is available in both the latest version Affinity Studio 3 or the earlier version 2 covering courses such as Publisher

The switch itself

Switching from Adobe to Affinity Studio is not just possible, for many organisations, it’s a smart, cost-effective choice.

The key is:

Understanding your team’s real needs
Taking a practical, phased approach
Supporting people through the transition

The result is a confident, capable team producing professional content without expensive subscriptions.

Thinking about switching

Greta Powell helps organisations:

Assess whether Affinity Studio is right for your team
Plan smooth transitions between the old and the new
Deliver practical tailored Affinity training for your real-world workflows

Get in touch for a no-obligation chat about your options