Canva has released Affinity for iPad, bringing its free all-in-one design application to Apple’s tablet. The launch also introduces a Sketch Studio designed specifically for touch input and Apple Pencil.
The iPad release follows last year’s relaunch of Affinity for Mac and Windows, which merged the previously separate Designer, Photo and Publisher applications. Canva says the desktop version has attracted more than seven million sign-ups since then.
Affinity for iPad combines sketching, vector graphics, photo editing and page layout in a single interface. Users can move between Sketch, Vector, Pixel and Layout studios while working in the same .af file, which can also be opened on a desktop computer.
Sketch Studio includes freehand drawing and a customizable brush library. Its Sketch to Shapes tool converts hand-drawn forms into editable vector shapes. The photo-editing tools include RAW processing, non-destructive adjustments and a Mask Tool intended to help trace complex edges, including hair and fur.
The layout features support multi-page documents, master pages and print-ready output. Canva says the interface was designed for iPad rather than adapted by simply shrinking the desktop version. Apple Pencil Pro features include barrel roll, squeeze and hover, as well as pressure and tilt controls.
The core sketching, vector, photo and layout tools are available free to individuals, although using the app requires a free Canva account. AI features are the only paid functions and require a Canva premium plan. They are offered through Canva AI Studio and include Generative Expand, image upscaling, noise reduction and Decompose Layer, which separates a flat image into editable layers.
Despite the shared file format, the iPad version launches without several desktop features. The omissions listed by Affinity include Books, Batch, Data Merge, Quick Adjustments, Info and Scope panels, macro recording and Astrophotography Studio. Canva says additional features are planned over time.
Affinity by Canva is available as a free download on the App Store with in-app purchases. It requires iPadOS 18.0 or later.
Sources: MacRumors.