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Best Tools for Graphic Design

Last Updated: 25 Jul, 2024

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In the fast-paced world of visual arts, having the right tools for graphic design can significantly enhance your creative process and output. If you’re a professional designer or an aspiring artist, utilizing the best design software graphic options is essential to bringing your visions to life. From powerful software for graphic design to innovative graphic art software, these tools provide the features and flexibility needed to create stunning visuals.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top software for graphic designing that will help you elevate your projects, streamline your workflow, and maximize your creative potential. Let’s get into the world of graphic design and discover the essential tools that every designer should have in their arsenal.

Best Graphic Designing Tools

Best Graphic Designing Tools

Best Graphic Design Softwares

Here we will be covering software for graphics designing which are efficient and can accomplish your designing tasks.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a professional-grade image editing software developed by Adobe Inc. It is widely used by graphic designers, photographers, and digital artists to manipulate and enhance digital images.

Features of Adobe Photoshop

  • Layer-Based Editing: Organize and edit different elements separately.
  • Selection Tools: Precisely select and manipulate parts of an image.
  • Retouching Tools: Easily remove flaws and enhance details.
  • Filters and Effects: Apply various effects to create stunning visuals.
  • Text Tools: Add and customize text within your designs.
  • Drawing and Painting: Create artwork with a variety of brushes and tools.

Pros

Cons

  • Powerful image editing tools
  • Versatile for graphics, web design, illustrations
  • Seamless integration with other Adobe products
  • Industry standard used by professionals
  • Steep learning curve for beginners
  • Resource-intensive software
  • Subscription model can be expensive
  • Complex for casual users

Pricing of Adobe Photoshop

  • Single App Plan: $20.99/month.
  • Photography Plan (20GB): $9.99/month (includes Lightroom).
  • Photography Plan (1TB): $19.99/month (includes Lightroom).
  • Creative Cloud All Apps: $54.99/month (includes 20+ apps).

Go to Official Websites of Adobe Photoshop by clicking here

Canva

Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create various types of visual content such as presentations, social media graphics, posters, flyers, logos, and more. It was founded in 2012 by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams in Sydney, Australia.

Canva offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of design templates, graphics, fonts, and photos that users can use to create their designs. It also provides a drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy for users to add elements and customize their designs.

Features of Canva

  • Content Creation: Create various types of content.
  • Drag and Drop: Easily add elements to designs.
  • Templates: Access a large library of templates.
  • Photo Editing: Enhance images.
  • Stock Images: Use free stock photos, icons, and fonts.
  • Collaboration: Work with others.
  • User-Friendly: Accessible to users without design experience.
  • Free: Create professional designs without expensive tools.

Pros

Cons

  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Lots of templates and graphics
  • Good for teams
  • Limited formats
  • No backup option
  • Restricted search
  • Alignment issues

Pricing of Canva

  • Free Plan: Basic features with limited templates and elements.
  • Pro Plan: $12.99/month per user or $119.99/year per user.
  • Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for larger teams with additional features.

Go to Official Websites of Canva by clicking here

Figma

Figma is a cloud-based design tool used for creating user interfaces, web and mobile apps, and other digital designs. It was launched in 2016 and has quickly gained popularity among designers due to its collaboration features, accessibility, and ease of use.

Features of Figma

  • Collaboration: Multiple users can work together in real-time.
  • Design Flexibility: Figma supports various design stages, from sketches to high-fidelity mockups.
  • Prototyping: Interactive prototypes can be built and tested directly on smartphones.
  • Design System Management: Figma helps define and manage design systems for consistency.
  • Handoff to Developers: Easy sharing of design information, including redlines and measurements.
  • Customization: Figma’s API and plugin system allow for customization and extension of the tool.

Pros

Cons

  • Real-time Collaboration
  • Platform Agnostic
  • Version Control
  • Free to Use
  • Easy to Learn
  • Internet Dependency
  • Limited Offline Support
  • Performance Issues

Pricing of Figma

  • Free Plan: For individuals with basic features.
  • Professional Plan: $12/month per editor (billed annually) or $15/month (billed monthly).
  • Organization Plan: $45/month per editor (billed annually).

Go to Official Websites of Figma by clicking here

Adobe Illustrator 

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor which has been developed by Adobe Systems. It is widely used by graphic designers, artists, and illustrators for creating illustrations, logos, icons, typography, and other vector-based graphics.

Features of Adobe Illustrator

  • Adobe Stock Integration: Access to millions of high-quality images and graphics.
  • Faster Performance: Improved speed and performance.
  • Smart Guides: Align and space objects with ease.
  • Shaper Tool: Convert natural gestures into geometric shapes.
  • Real-Time Drawing: Draw and edit in real-time.
  • Cloud Libraries: Store and access design assets from anywhere.
  • Integration with Other Adobe Products: Seamless integration with other Adobe apps.

Pros

Cons

  • Powerful vector graphics editor
  • Scalable designs
  • Customizable workspace
  • Integration with Adobe Stock
  • Wide range of tools and features
  • Steep learning curve
  • Expensive for commercial use
  • Limited support for raster graphics
  • No support for pixel art

Pricing of Adobe Illustrator

  • Single App Plan: $20.99/month.
  • Creative Cloud All Apps: $54.99/month (includes 20+ apps).

Go to Official Websites of Adobe Illustrator by clicking here

Procreate

Procreate is a popular digital painting app for the iPad that is used by artists and designers for creating detailed illustrations, designs, and animations. It offers a wide range of features that allow users to create stunning artwork with ease.

Features of Procreate

  • Powerful brush engine for creating textures and effects
  • Over 200 customizable brushes for painting, animation, and 3D model painting
  • Advanced color management for precise control over palettes and adjustments
  • Multiple layers for complex compositions and easy management of artwork elements
  • Transformation tools for scaling, rotating, and moving elements
  • Apple Pencil integration with advanced features like barrel roll, squeeze, and haptic feedback
  • M2 chip support for smoother and more efficient performance, especially in 3D painting
  • Freehand selection with hover preview for precise control
  • Intuitive gestures for on-the-fly brush control and adjustments

Pros

Cons

  • Intuitive interface
  • Wide range of tools
  • Affordable one-time purchase
  • Simulates real painting with Apple Pencil
  • Easy to share artwork online
  • Limited to iPad
  • Limited animation features
  • Can be slow with many paintings
  • Limited file compatibility
  • Not ideal for large prints

Pricing of Procreate

  • One-Time Purchase: $12.99 (iPad app).

Go to Official Websites of Procreate by clicking here

CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW is a vector graphics editor that is popular among designers for its powerful tools for creating logos, illustrations, and other graphics. It offers a wide range of features that enable users to create complex designs with ease.

Features of CorelDRAW

  • Vector illustration tools for creating complex designs
  • Page layout tools for creating multi-page documents
  • Typography tools for arranging and styling text
  • Photo editing tools for adjusting and enhancing images
  • AI-powered tools for improving image quality and creating HDR photos
  • Cloud collaboration for real-time feedback and commenting
  • Scripting support for automating tasks and cross-platform scripting
  • File format compatibility for easy import and export

Pros

Cons

  • Easy to use with powerful features
  • Supports various formats and scalable vector graphics
  • Extensive customization options
  • Competitive pricing with a one-time purchase
  • Unlimited cloud storage and font usage
  • Learning curve for complex features
  • Printing preview and layer management could be better
  • Customer support issues reported by some users
  • Occasional glitches and crashes
  • Short free trial period

Pricing of CorelDRAW

  • Subscription: $249/year.
  • One-Time Purchase: $499.

Go to Official Websites of CorelDRAW by clicking here

Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is a page layout software used for creating print and digital documents such as brochures, magazines, and ebooks. It offers a range of features that enable users to create complex layouts with ease.

Features of Adobe InDesign

  • Page Control: Add objects, scale, and create sections for better page layout.
  • Collaboration: Share work with peers using cloud storage and capture text or color from images.
  • Integration: Works seamlessly with other Adobe apps like Illustrator and Photoshop.
  • Text and Image Features: Modify text spacing and apply styles, and generate images from text.
  • Sharing and Feedback: Share links for feedback and read comments in-app.
  • Accessibility and Publishing: Create accessible PDFs and publish interactive documents.

Pros

Cons

  • Wide range of features
  • Easy to Use
  • Works with Other Adobe Tools
  • Good for Page Layout
  • Streamlines Design Process
  • Expensive
  • Hard to Learn
  • Limited Export Options

Pricing of Adobe InDesign

  • Single App Plan: $20.99/month.
  • Creative Cloud All Apps: $54.99/month (includes 20+ apps).

Go to Official Websites of Adobe InDesign by clicking here

Sketch

Sketch is a vector graphics editor and digital design tool that is popular among designers for creating user interfaces, web designs, and icons. It offers a range of features that enable users to create designs quickly and easily.

Features of Sketch

  • Drawing and Editing Tools: Standard tools for creating and editing shapes, text, and other design elements.
  • Grids and Precision Tools: Grids and precision tools for precise design work.
  • Hotspots and Linking: Create interactive prototypes by defining hotspots and linking elements.
  • Importing Images and Text: Import images and text to populate their prototypes.
  • Customizable Design Elements: Create reusable design elements and customize their designs.
  • Templates and Integration: Preloaded templates and integrates with various prototyping, collaboration, and version control tools.

Pros

Cons

  • Quick mockups and wireframes
  • Intuitive and easy to learn
  • Wide range of plugins and integrations
  • Precise vector editing
  • Expensive pricing
  • Limited vector drawing tools
  • No cloud storage or collaboration

Pricing of Sketch

  • Standard License: $9/month per editor or $99/year per editor.
  • Volume Licensing: Custom pricing based on the number of editors.

Go to Official Websites of Sketch by clicking here

Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a vector graphics editor that is popular among designers for creating illustrations, logos, and other graphics. It offers a wide range of features that enable users to create complex designs with ease.

Features of Affinity Designer

  • Non-Destructive Editing: Unlimited layers, real-time views, and precise selections.
  • Vector and Raster Capabilities: Vector pen and shape tools, custom brushes, and dynamic symbols.
  • Performance and Compatibility: Handles thousands of objects, zooms up to 1,000,000%, and supports various file formats.
  • Design and Layout Tools: Unlimited artboards, advanced typography, and professional output options.
  • No Subscription: One-time purchase with no monthly costs.

Pros

Cons

  • Affordable one-time purchase
  • Intuitive interface
  • Seamless vector and raster editing
  • Excellent gradient tools
  • Unlimited undo history
  • Available on desktop and iPad
  • Lacks some advanced Illustrator tools
  • Smaller plugin ecosystem
  • Occasional performance issues
  • Fewer online tutorials
  • Cannot export to Adobe AI format

Pricing of Affinity Designer

  • One-Time Purchase: $54.99 (Mac/Windows), $21.99 (iPad).

Go to Official Websites of Affinity Designer by clicking here

Gravit Designer

Gravit Designer is a vector graphics editor that is available both as a web app and a desktop app. It is a popular choice among designers for creating illustrations, logos, and other graphics.

Features of Gravit Designer

  • Cross-Platform: Works on web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and mobile (iOS, Android).
  • Vector Graphics: Create high-quality illustrations, logos, etc., scalable without losing quality.
  • Tools: Includes Pen, Shape, Text, Knife, and Bezigon tools for easy design creation.
  • Layers: Organize designs efficiently with a layers panel.
  • Typography: Advanced text features like styles, text on path, and typography controls.
  • Cloud Storage: Save and access designs from Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
  • Templates: Pre-made templates and design assets for quick starts.
  • Responsive Design: Design for various screen sizes and devices easily.

Pros

Cons

  • User-friendly interface
  • Compatible with multiple OS
  • Free Version
  • Customization
  • Limited Vector Graphics
  • Performance Issues

Pricing of Gravit Designer

  • Free Plan: Basic features with limited functionality.
  • Pro Plan: $49/year (includes advanced features and additional cloud storage).

Go to Official Websites of Gravit Designer by clicking here

Conclusion

Mastering the right tools for graphic design can transform your creative process and elevate your work to new heights. The top design software graphic options, from versatile software for graphic design to specialized graphic art software, provide the functionalities and ease of use required for both intricate and large-scale projects. By incorporating these essential software for graphic designing into your workflow, you can streamline your efforts, enhance your artistic capabilities, and produce professional-grade visuals that captivate and inspire. Embrace these tools and watch your graphic design skills flourish, paving the way for endless creative possibilities.

Best Tools for Graphic Design – FAQs

Which tool is best for graphic design?

The best tool for graphic design depends on the specific needs of the designer, but some of the most popular and highly regarded software includes:

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • CorelDRAW
  • Affinity Designer
  • Sketch
  • Canva

What are graphic design tools for beginners?

For beginners, the following tools are excellent starting points:

  • Canva
  • Gravit Designer
  • Inkscape
  • GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
  • Vectr

Which gadget is best for graphic design?

The best gadgets for graphic design include:

  • Apple MacBook Pro
  • Microsoft Surface Studio
  • Wacom Cintiq Pro
  • iPad Pro with Apple Pencil
  • Dell XPS 15

What is best device for graphic design?

The best device for graphic design depends on your specific needs and preferences. Options include desktop computers (like iMacs), powerful laptops (such as MacBook Pro or Dell XPS), graphics tablets (like Wacom Intuos), or even iPad Pro with Apple Pencil for on-the-go work.

What are graphic tools?

Graphic tools are software applications and devices used by designers to create, edit, and manipulate visual content. These tools can range from basic photo editors to advanced design software, as well as hardware like tablets and styluses.



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