Adobe InDesign versus Affinity Publisher: Which Should You Use?

Summary

In 'Design Domination,' Colleen Gratzer compares Adobe InDesign and Affinity Publisher, highlighting key differences in pricing, compatibility, and features. She discusses the learning curve, the one-time fee of Affinity Publisher versus InDesign's subscription model, and the software's capabilities in layout, design, and accessibility. Gratzer suggests that while Affinity Publisher is budget-friendly, InDesign is preferable for complex publications and accessibility needs, proposing a hybrid approach for designers to maximize cost-effectiveness.

Takeaways

• 📚 **Design Domination** is a podcast aimed at helping designers become more business-savvy and competitive in the market.
• 🎨 **Software Comparison**: The podcast compares Adobe InDesign 2021 and Affinity Publisher 1.9.3, two popular page layout design software.
• 💡 **Learning Curve**: Adobe InDesign is suggested to have a steeper learning curve and offers a shorter free trial period of 7 days compared to Affinity Publisher's 30 days.
• 💰 **Pricing Models**: Adobe InDesign is subscription-based, which is a turn-off for some, while Affinity Publisher offers a one-time, low-cost purchase.
• 🔄 **Transition Ease**: Designers who have switched from InDesign to Affinity Publisher find the transition smooth due to the software's similarities.
• 🔄 **Compatibility Issues**: Affinity Publisher cannot open INDD files natively but can with the help of a converter or by using the IDML format.
• 🎨 **Integrated Suite**: Affinity Publisher integrates with Affinity Photo and Designer through Studio Link, offering in-app editing capabilities unlike Adobe's separate programs.
• 📝 **Paragraph Styles**: Both programs have paragraph style functionalities, but they are named and operate slightly differently, with Affinity Publisher calling them 'text styles'.
• 📚 **Table of Contents**: Affinity Publisher simplifies the creation of tables of contents more than InDesign, making it a more straightforward process.
• 🔗 **Interactivity**: Adobe InDesign offers more advanced interactivity options such as multimedia embedding, hyperlinks, bookmarks, and forms, while Affinity Publisher is limited to hyperlinks and bookmarks.
• ♿ **Accessibility**: Adobe InDesign supports exporting to a tagged PDF for accessibility, a feature that Affinity Publisher lacks, making it unsuitable for accessible document work.
• 🗂 **Document History**: Affinity Publisher uniquely allows saving the document's history with the file, which can be beneficial for training or auditing purposes but may increase file size.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the 'Design Domination' episode presented by Colleen Gratzer?

The main topic is a comparison between Adobe InDesign and Affinity Publisher, highlighting key differences and deciding factors for choosing one over the other.

Which versions of Adobe InDesign and Affinity Publisher does Colleen Gratzer compare in the episode?

Colleen compares Adobe InDesign 2021 and Affinity Publisher 1.9.3.

What are the differences in the availability of free trials for Adobe InDesign and Affinity Publisher?

Affinity Publisher offers a 30-day free trial, while Adobe InDesign provides a 7-day free trial.

How does Colleen describe the learning curve for Adobe InDesign compared to Affinity Publisher?

Colleen mentions that Adobe InDesign has a steeper learning curve and the 7-day trial might not be sufficient to master it.

What is the primary difference in pricing between Adobe InDesign and Affinity Publisher?

Adobe InDesign is subscription-based, while Affinity Publisher is a one-time purchase with a significantly lower cost.

What is the monthly cost for Adobe's Creative Cloud subscription that includes InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator?

The cost is about $53 per month.

How does Colleen describe her transition from Quark XPress to Adobe InDesign?

Colleen describes her transition as initially reluctant, having to switch when her workplace required it, but she has been using InDesign ever since.

What compatibility issues exist when trying to open Adobe InDesign files in Affinity Publisher?

Affinity Publisher cannot open the native INDD format without a converter, but it can open IDML format and PDFs with some caveats.

What is the feature called Studio Link in Affinity Publisher, and how does it differ from Adobe InDesign's approach to image editing?

Studio Link allows for direct editing of images using Affinity Photo and Designer within Publisher, unlike InDesign, which requires separate editing in Illustrator or Photoshop.

How does Affinity Publisher handle paragraph styles compared to Adobe InDesign?

In Affinity Publisher, paragraph styles are called 'text styles' and are displayed as they appear, including character styles and overrides, all in one panel.

What limitations does Affinity Publisher have regarding accessibility features compared to Adobe InDesign?

Affinity Publisher does not support exporting to a tagged PDF, which is essential for creating accessible documents, unlike Adobe InDesign which supports accessibility features.

What unique feature does Affinity Publisher offer regarding document history that Adobe InDesign does not have?

Affinity Publisher can save the document's history with the document, allowing others to see the steps taken in creating and editing it if shared.

What is the recommended approach for designers who need the advanced features of Adobe InDesign but also want to save on costs?

Designers can use Affinity Publisher most of the time and switch to InDesign only when specific advanced features are needed for a project.