Getting Started with Affinity V3 Pixel Studio [Series 1, 2026]

New Affinity v3 Pixel Studio with Celia Henderson

Have you been looking for a way to break free from expensive monthly software subscriptions without losing the ability to edit your photos beautifully? You are certainly not alone. With so much subscription fatigue around at the moment, many of us in the community have been looking for a permanent, budget-friendly alternative to traditional editing suites.

The fantastic news is that the brand-new Affinity V3 application is now free for individual users. It brings photo editing, graphic design and layout tools together under one roof, with the photo editing side now named Pixel Studio.

To help us navigate this exciting new layout, our friend and community favourite, Celia Henderson, is hosting a practical, friendly three-part live series to get you up and running with confidence. Whether you are completely new to Affinity, upgrading from an older version, or looking to step away from Adobe, Celia will guide you step-by-step through simple, enjoyable activities.  

From Mark:

Celia is an absolute pillar of the Camversation community. She is known right across the UK and beyond for her beautiful photography, her excellent workshops, and her incredibly warm, helpful nature. She is a huge supporter of what we do here, and I know firsthand how patient and clear she is as a presenter. If you want to learn this software without the stress, Celia is the perfect person to show you the way. 

What You Will Learn

Celia has designed each session to build your confidence through hands-on practice. Here is what we will be covering:

• Session 1: A Gentle Introduction to Pixel Studio

  • Getting Comfortable with the Workspace: Celia will take us on a relaxed tour of the interface so you know exactly where all the essential tools live without feeling overwhelmed.  

  • Understanding RAW vs. JPG: Learn the right setup choices when opening your files. We will look at why opening a RAW file (the pure, uncompressed image data straight from your camera sensor) gives you so much more flexibility to fix highlights and shadows compared to a standard, compressed JPG.  

  • Mastering the Develop Tools: Think of this as your digital darkroom. Celia will show you how to use simple adjustments to balance your exposure, correct the colour temperature (white balance) and get your tones looking beautiful before you do any creative editing.  

  • An Introduction to Layers: Learn how to use Layers, which act like stackable, clear sheets of glass. By putting different elements, brushes, or adjustments on separate layers, you can edit one part of your project without accidentally altering or ruining the rest.  

• Session 2: Selections and Masks

  • Making Accurate Selections: Discover how to use simple tools to outline and isolate a specific part of your photo or artwork so you can edit only that area without affecting the background.  

  • The Magic of Non-Destructive Masks: If you have ever used an eraser tool and regretted it later because your original photo was permanently changed, Masks are the answer. A mask acts like a safe, digital stencil that lets you hide or reveal parts of an image using black or white paint. Your original photograph remains completely untouched and perfectly safe underneath, allowing you to change your mind at any time.  

  • Working with Adjustment Layers: Instead of baking changes directly into your photo, Celia will show you how to place adjustments (like brightness, contrast, or colour boosts) on their own separate layers. It is like putting a pair of removable sunglasses over your image - you can tweak them or turn them off completely whenever you like.  

• Session 3: Retouching and Finishing a Simple Project

  • Essential Retouching Tools: Learn how to neatly clean up distractions, sensor spots, or small blemishes in your images using Affinity's dedicated retouching tools.  

  • Creative Filters and Blend Modes: Discover how to apply special effects (Filters) and use Blend Modes. Blend modes are simply clever ways of telling two layers how to interact with each other - such as blending a texture into a background or creating a soft, dreamy lighting effect.  

  • Bringing It All Together: We will wrap up the series by putting all these new skills into practice with a short, guided final project, giving you a beautiful, finished result and the confidence to explore Pixel Studio on your own.  

Event Details

• Type: 3-Part Live Zoom Workshop Series  

• Price: £18 (covers all three live sessions and access to the recordings for three months)  

• Experience Level: Perfect for beginners, upgraders, or those transitioning from other software.

About Celia's Guides

If you have taken a class with Celia before, you will already know that her written session guides are incredibly popular with our community.

They are detailed, easy to follow and act as a companion to the practical work we will be doing in the new Pixel Studio layout. Best of all, they are yours to keep forever, giving you a permanent reference guide to look back on whenever you are editing at your computer. Lots of people on Camversation take advantage of these!

• Bought Separately: These guides are available individually during or after the series for £8 each (which is £24 for the set of 3).

• The Pre-Order: By choosing the Workshop + Guides ticket for £34, you are pre-ordering all three of Celia's popular PDF guides for £16 extra. This means you're buying two and getting one free!

Please note: This training series is an independent Camversation workshop and is not officially sponsored, provided, or endorsed by Affinity or Canva.