[nyar]

It isn't an alternative.

Illustrator runs on Windows and Mac, this runs on Mac. I don't have a mac, nor do I want one, so this is unusable.

Now tell me about how design has to be done on a and how the sleek $2000 plastic encasing the computer helps you do it.

[notasmartman]

The dictionary defines Alternative as: one of two or more available possibilities. This is available, and it is a possibility, even if it's a possibility with a low probability based on your inherent bias. So, by definition, in english, this is certainly an alternative. So I'm curious about your motivation for the comment. You come out swinging, create a strawman, and introduce an error, all in one sentence. You're either a troll, or you're an idiot, and I'm honestly curious which, because I would like to assume the former, but your post makes no sense, even as a troll message. What was your motivation?

[fred_durst]

Can people please stop saying strawman over and over and over again. We get it, you read about it on Wikipedia by way of Reddit and now it applies to every single time someone disagrees with you.

[notasmartman]

I was trained in debate and logic long before Wikipedia existed, actually, long before the web existed. I'd rather you appeal to people against serving up logical fallacy up as substantive material for discussion.

[pessimizer]

By your logic, it should be safe to describe surviving on a concentrated stream of spiritual energy emanating from the Godhead as an alternative to eating food, even if it's only available to the 12 Ascended Masters.

Saying that this is only an alternative on a Mac is not trolling, not a strawman, and not an error, it's a clarification that people looking at thread titles to click on might appreciate. You're either a troll, or you're an idiot, and I'm honestly curious which, because I would like to assume the former, but your post makes no sense, even as a troll message. What was your motivation?

[notasmartman]

Since spiritual energy cannot sustain life, and it's inconceivable that it ever could (there are no such masters, but there is indeed Apple computers for less than $500), life energy is not a possibility, where Apple clearly is for the vast majority of designers. A Tesla car is not a personal alternative for me, I make too little, but I would be an idiot to say that a Tesla wasn't an alternative to a vast majority of Americans based on their actual usage.

[cageface]

I suspect that the reason that apps like this and Sketch are Mac-only is that the OS X provides APIs like Quartz and CoreGraphics that do a lot of the heavy lifting for drawing apps. So there's a lot less code to write for an app like this.

[MattP_Affinity]

Affinity supports RGB8/16, CMYK and Lab colour spaces - but Quartz/CoreGraphics does not. We needed to make sure we produced a pro level application - which necessitates pro colour support so there's no way to do this if you're limited to what the OS provides: That's why we have our own renderer which took a lot of development to make so powerful and fast.

[wooster]

Quartz does have some support for those color spaces and depths. Is there support in particular that you found lacking?

By the way, nice app!

[cageface]

Interesting. I'm sure writing a custom renderer for an app like this would be a very large chunk of work.

[mike_ivanov]

If you're looking for a Windows alternative, Xara is still hanging around.

[adamredwoods]

Inkscape! http://www.inkscape.org/en/ With the "use space to pan" option, it works just as well as Illustrator. Highly recommended!

[peapicker]

It isn't an alternative.

Illustrator runs on Windows and Mac, this runs on PC. I don't have a PC, nor do I want one, so this is unusable. Now tell me about how design has to be done on a and how the MS operating system on the computer helps you do it.

(Tongue firmly in cheek...)