Free online assessment

Assess your Affinity — Digital illustration skills for free

Independent 45-question assessment drawn from 80 for Affinity — Digital illustration. Identifies skill gaps and recommends targeted training modules.

This assessment measures knowledge and produces a practical diagnostic. Modules are recommended after the test; they are not an offer of paid courses.

Start for free How does the test work?

What is assessed

Questions about practical workplace skills

The test covers different areas of the software, including beginner, intermediate and advanced questions. The score and skill-area breakdown help reveal strengths and topics to revisit.

This is not an official certification and should not be the sole factor in an employment decision.

Who can use it

digital illustrator

Employees and applicants.
HR professionals.
Employers, managers and team leads.

Assessment learning framework

Modules that may appear in your recommended plan

The topics below form the recommendation framework associated with this assessment. The system selects priorities using individual answers and proposes a plan to use independently with a provider of your choice. We do not deliver these courses through this website.

Topic M01

Sketching and references

Sketch quick thumbnails to compare framing • Use construction guides on a separate layer • Lower the sketch layer opacity and lock it

Sketch quick thumbnails to compare framing
Use construction guides on a separate layer
Lower the sketch layer opacity and lock it
Document reference sources and usage rights
Complete a guided “Sketching and references” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M02

Canvas and Pixel tools

Switch to the Pixel workspace and choose a brush • Set pixel dimensions before sketching • Create layers for sketch, line work and colour

Switch to the Pixel workspace and choose a brush
Set pixel dimensions before sketching
Create layers for sketch, line work and colour
Inspect the rendering at final display size
Complete a guided “Canvas and Pixel tools” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M03

Pen tablet input and stabilisation

Configure brush pressure response • Enable appropriate stroke stabilisation • Choose a pressure response that modulates the stroke

Configure brush pressure response
Enable appropriate stroke stabilisation
Choose a pressure response that modulates the stroke
Adjust brushes, zoom and document demands for the hardware
Complete a guided “Pen tablet input and stabilisation” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M04

Drawing layers and masking

Use a clipped layer above the shape • Apply an editable mask to the relevant layer • Create variants arranged in layer groups

Use a clipped layer above the shape
Apply an editable mask to the relevant layer
Create variants arranged in layer groups
Reorder layers by visual depth
Complete a guided “Drawing layers and masking” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M05

Geometric character construction

Sketch a line of action before building volumes • Break the character into geometric masses • Compare length ratios on construction guides

Sketch a line of action before building volumes
Break the character into geometric masses
Compare length ratios on construction guides
Check the centre of gravity and movement lines
Complete a guided “Geometric character construction” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M06

Vector outlines

Draw the shape using the Pen Tool in Vector • Move Bézier handles and refine nodes • Change the stroke pressure profile

Draw the shape using the Pen Tool in Vector
Move Bézier handles and refine nodes
Change the stroke pressure profile
Keep native curves rather than rasterising them
Complete a guided “Vector outlines” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M07

Shapes and expressive silhouettes

Combine simple primitive shapes • Use suitable geometric operations • Exaggerate dominant shapes deliberately

Combine simple primitive shapes
Use suitable geometric operations
Exaggerate dominant shapes deliberately
Test the shape as a monochrome fill
Complete a guided “Shapes and expressive silhouettes” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M08

Brushes and textures

Test textured brushes on a trial layer • Save and reuse consistent brush settings • Use low-intensity texture on a separate layer

Test textured brushes on a trial layer
Save and reuse consistent brush settings
Use low-intensity texture on a separate layer
Inspect the illustration at final output size
Complete a guided “Brushes and textures” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M09

Flat colours and illustration palettes

Arrange flat fills below the outline layer • Define a reusable document palette • Use a local selection or component mask

Arrange flat fills below the outline layer
Define a reusable document palette
Use a local selection or component mask
Keep variants in labelled groups
Complete a guided “Flat colours and illustration palettes” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M10

Painted shading and form

Place shadows according to a defined light source • Paint on dedicated layers with appropriate edges • Adjust shadow value, colour and blend mode

Place shadows according to a defined light source
Paint on dedicated layers with appropriate edges
Adjust shadow value, colour and blend mode
Use a shared lighting reference
Complete a guided “Painted shading and form” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M11

Perspective and depth

Construct vanishing lines and a horizon • Align object sizes with the perspective system • Vary contrast, sharpness and saturation with depth

Construct vanishing lines and a horizon
Align object sizes with the perspective system
Vary contrast, sharpness and saturation with depth
Keep a separate perspective guide layer
Complete a guided “Perspective and depth” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M12

Narrative composition

Create a dominant contrast focal area • Arrange gestures, gazes and shape direction • Redistribute visual weight and breathing room

Create a dominant contrast focal area
Arrange gestures, gazes and shape direction
Redistribute visual weight and breathing room
Compare thumbnails before adding details
Complete a guided “Narrative composition” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M13

Consistent characters in a series

Build a simplified character turnaround • Use a reference proportion sheet • Centralise the character's palette and signature details

Build a simplified character turnaround
Use a reference proportion sheet
Centralise the character's palette and signature details
Provide a model sheet with poses and drawing rules
Complete a guided “Consistent characters in a series” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M14

Environments and atmosphere

Set a value scale for foreground and background • Build a warm palette with directional light • Control detail density near the focal point

Set a value scale for foreground and background
Build a warm palette with directional light
Control detail density near the focal point
Reuse reference perspective, palette and motifs
Complete a guided “Environments and atmosphere” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M15

Patterns and repetition

Align elements correctly across tile edges • Adjust the scale and spacing of repeated elements • Reuse one structure with alternative palettes

Align elements correctly across tile edges
Adjust the scale and spacing of repeated elements
Reuse one structure with alternative palettes
Test its tiling at multiple scales
Complete a guided “Patterns and repetition” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M16

Complex vector illustration

Organise curves into named groups and subgroups • Use masked or clipped groups • Use reusable symbols or swatches

Organise curves into named groups and subgroups
Use masked or clipped groups
Use reusable symbols or swatches
Reduce unnecessary effects and inspect heavy assets
Complete a guided “Complex vector illustration” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M17

Mixing Vector and Pixel

Keep the texture on a clipped Pixel layer • Keep master shapes in Vector • Structure Pixel and Vector layers separately

Keep the texture on a clipped Pixel layer
Keep master shapes in Vector
Structure Pixel and Vector layers separately
Inspect raster effects and vector objects in the target export
Complete a guided “Mixing Vector and Pixel” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M18

Editorial illustration

Build artwork to the brief's size and margins • Create a sufficiently contrasting region beneath text • Check the required resolution, profile and bleed

Build artwork to the brief's size and margins
Create a sufficiently contrasting region beneath text
Check the required resolution, profile and bleed
Export dedicated artboards while retaining the master
Complete a guided “Editorial illustration” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M19

Interface illustration and icons

Establish shared grid, padding and stroke widths • Test icons on both backgrounds • Simplify silhouettes in reduced variants

Establish shared grid, padding and stroke widths
Test icons on both backgrounds
Simplify silhouettes in reduced variants
Export SVG and PNG assets at required sizes
Complete a guided “Interface illustration and icons” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M20

Final preparation and review

Compare the composition at several display sizes • Review layers, masks and stacking order • Verify colour profile and the delivered PDF

Compare the composition at several display sizes
Review layers, masks and stacking order
Verify colour profile and the delivered PDF
Archive the native Affinity file and assets using clear names
Complete a guided “Final preparation and review” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Assessment output

Actionable insight, not a sales pitch

The report provides an overall score, category breakdown and recommended modules. Use it to inform development discussions, document progress or complement candidate assessment.

View business use cases →

Privacy and recipients

The participant provides their email and that of the manager or authorized report recipient. The tool emails the report to those recipients according to its current process. Do not enter a third party without permission.

Review privacy information

Free assessment

Ready to assess your Affinity — Digital illustration skills?

45 questions and a suggested development plan. No course enrollment.

Take the free test