Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is a professional raster graphics editor developed by Serif for photo editing, digital painting, and graphic design. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for retouching, compositing, and creating high-quality images, competing directly with Adobe Photoshop. The software is known for its performance, non-destructive editing capabilities, and one-time purchase model without a subscription.
Developers should learn Affinity Photo when working on projects that require image manipulation, such as creating UI/UX mockups, designing marketing materials, or processing photos for applications. It's particularly useful for indie developers or small teams seeking a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Photoshop, as it provides advanced features like layer adjustments, live filters, and PSD file compatibility at a lower upfront cost.