Affinity Photo (v.1.9 and newer)

Affinity Photo supports GPU acceleration to enhance performance, especially during demanding tasks like applying filters, real-time adjustments, and complex compositing. Enabling OpenCL compute acceleration can dramatically speed up processes, making the software more responsive when working on high-resolution images or large files.

How to Enable GPU Acceleration in Affinity Photo

1. Launch Affinity Photo
   Open the application from the default location:
   C:\Program Files\Affinity\Photo\Photo.exe

2. Configure Performance Settings

   

   • Navigate to Edit > Preferences and go to the Performance tab.

   • Set View Quality to Bilinear (Best Quality) to ensure optimal rendering.

   • Check Dither Gradients to improve gradient transitions.

   • Select NVIDIA GPU (or your dedicated GPU) under the Renderer option.

   • Enable Retina Rendering: Automatic (Best) to allow the software to adjust to your display.

   • Ensure Hardware Acceleration: Enable OpenCL Compute Acceleration is checked for GPU-based acceleration.

Top Tips to Speed Up Affinity Photo

1. Use a Dedicated GPU
   Affinity Photo can run on integrated GPUs, but for the best performance, using a dedicated GPU such as NVIDIA RTX 3060 or higher with at least 4GB VRAM is recommended. Dedicated GPUs handle real-time rendering and raster effects much more efficiently than integrated graphics.

2. Update Your GPU Drivers
   Regularly updating your GPU drivers ensures compatibility with the latest versions of Affinity Photo. Both NVIDIA and AMD provide drivers specifically optimized for creative applications like Affinity Photo.

3. Increase RAM Usage
   In the Preferences menu, adjust the RAM usage settings to allocate more memory to Affinity Photo, especially if you are working with large, multi-layered files. This helps the software handle complex edits more smoothly.

4. SSD for Faster File Access
   Storing your project files on an SSD rather than a traditional HDD will significantly improve file load times and overall application responsiveness.

5. Optimize Display Settings
   If you're working with a 4K or high-resolution monitor, consider lowering the display resolution for smoother performance during editing. Larger displays put more strain on the GPU, so ensuring you have sufficient VRAM (4GB minimum for high-res displays) will improve your workflow.

By following these tips and configuring the recommended settings, you can optimize Affinity Photo’s performance and enjoy faster rendering, smoother editing, and improved responsiveness.