I’m Free! – From Affinity and Beyond.

At the start of October 2025, Affinity removed everything from their online shop, announced that big changes were coming, and said that all would be revealed on October 30th.

As Canva acquired the company in March 2024, the biggest concern was that a subscription model would replace the one-time payment system that made Affinity so appealing.
Personally, I didn’t think they’d go down that route, as one of Affinity’s strongest draws has always been that you paid once, received free updates within that version, and got a universal license that worked across PC, Mac, and iPad – no extra fees for multiple platforms.

So when they announced last week that Affinity 3 would be free for everyone, it came as a big surprise to many. And that wasn’t the only big change; instead of three separate apps, everything’s now combined into one unified package.

You do need a Canva account to access it, but a free one is fine. A subscription is only required for some of the advanced AI tools. I’ve installed Affinity 3, though I haven’t properly tested it yet, but installation didn’t affect my existing Affinity 2 apps, which I will, for now, continue to use.

There are a few bugs, which are to be expected; it’s impossible to test for everything.
What matters is reporting them, so the developers can fix what they actually know about.
I know there has already been 1 update.

And, currently, the iPad version is still in development and will hopefully be released in the new year.

But at least whilst they work on the iPad release, and sort out the kinks for the Mac and PC users, anyone who has paid for v1 or v2 still has full access to these, and can continue to use them.

For my most recent YouTube upload, I wanted to make sure I was using software that everyone could access. So I’ve used the free basic edition of Silhouette Studio. I do have the full Business Edition, but you can switch between versions within the software, which makes it great for tutorials.

It’s a nice starting point for people who aren’t used to more advanced tools, and the same steps generally apply across other apps; the names of tools might just differ.

Going forward, I’ll likely start using Affinity v3 for more projects. Canva’s free version is also handy, but it does have limits – if it didn’t, there’d be no need to pair it with Affinity in the first place.

---

When I first started making videos that required screen recording, I was wary. Funds were tight, and I couldn’t justify paying for software. Windows has a few built-in tools, but I found OBS Studio to be a brilliant free option. Once you’ve set it up, you literally just hit record. And if you accidentally record in .MKV instead of .MP4 (been there, got the T-Shirt etc.), OBS has a built-in converter to fix it instantly.

These tutorial-style videos are becoming my favourite type to record. There’s no need for prepared samples, and if something goes wrong, I can just undo, re-record, or edit it out in Davinci Resolve.

---

I’ve been gradually improving my editing skills in the free version of DaVinci Resolve.
Taking the time to actually learn the software, instead of “winging it”, has made all the difference; well, there’s a surprise!

The paid Studio version obviously offers more tools, but for now, the free one does everything I need.

My “hands-on” videos are getting better, too. I do write a loose script, but having my tablet on worktop where I have all the other supplies, made it difficult.
I have however, recently realised I can mirror my teleprompter app, TeleprompterPAD, from my tablet to the TV I have in my little recording space. The TV’s attached to my camera, mainly for setup, but I might try using the Picture-in-Picture feature so I can see both the script and the camera feed on screen at the same time. Even if I don’t have the full script, but the running order on screen, I think that will help.

TeleprompterPAD is surprisingly good. You can import Word, ODT, or TXT files, or just write directly in the app. It even supports speech-to-text. Like the others, it’s free. The developers also sell compatible gear, like remotes, foot pedals, and iPad teleprompters. If mirroring the script works well, I might invest in one of those remotes.

---

I’ll also be offering free files with my next video, PNGs for each month of 2026, plus a full-year PDF. The tutorial shows how to use them to create and assemble a mini calendar, and how to add your own images to the pages. And going forward, I will add PNGs for future years too.

Of course, typically, I noticed during editing that January (the month I show in the video most often) had a small error. I do address this error in the video and made sure to correct the files.

I’m sharing the files on my Ko-Fi page for easy access. I know how annoying it can be to join yet another Facebook group just to download free files. I understand why people do it, but I know I’d prefer it if there were another option. So, Ko-Fi keeps things simple, and if anyone wants to leave a tip, they can, but it’s completely optional. To grab the files for free, just enter “0” (zero) in the payment box. And I can link the relevant YouTube video on the Ko-Fi page where the files can be grabbed from.

Ko-Fi is also a place where you can sell other items. There is only a processing fee for any payment received, so this may be something I explore further in the future.

I sometimes have extra supplies left from bulk orders, like packs of 50 or 100, when I only needed a handful. Listing them on Ko-Fi could help others get smaller quantities at a fair price.
Or, perhaps I’ll use it to list some of my handmade items that I show off in videos instead of listing them on Etsy.

It will only be within the UK as international shipping and regulations make it more trouble than it’s worth these days.


So, from Affinity to OBS, DaVinci Resolve to Ko-Fi, I have been able to build my workflow around software that lets me focus on the work itself, not the price tag.
And honestly, that freedom feels good. Creating, learning, sharing, that’s the point of it all.