As a designer, I’ve always loved the power of visual communication. When I first opened Photoshop, I knew I’d found my calling. But technology has changed a lot since then. Now, we’re in the “AI revolution” era. I’m surrounded by new software and graphic design tools that could change how we create. It’s exciting and a bit scary at the same time.
In this guide, I’ll show you the best graphic design tools out there. We’ll look at their features, prices, and what they’re good for. This includes photo editing, vector graphics, illustration, and more. Whether you’re experienced or just starting, this article will help you find the right tools for your creative projects.
Best Overall Graphic Design Tools
Adobe Photoshop is the top choice for graphic design software. It’s part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. Photoshop offers powerful tools for designers and artists at all levels.
Features and Capabilities
The newest version of Adobe Photoshop has amazing features. It includes AI for tasks like sky replacement and object removal. It also has top-notch color management and layer tools.
Photoshop is great for more than just photo editing. It’s also good for digital painting and UI/UX design. It works well with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, making it a favorite for professionals.
Pricing and Subscription Options
Adobe Photoshop is only available by subscription. You can subscribe to Photoshop alone or get the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps package. This package gives you over 20 Adobe tools.
The All Apps subscription is great for those who use many Adobe apps. It’s often cheaper than buying each app separately.
Best Subscription-Free Graphic Design Tools
Graphic design software can be hard to choose from. Tools like Adobe Illustrator are great but their costs can add up. Luckily, Affinity Designer 2 is a strong alternative that doesn’t cost a lot to keep using.
Key Advantages of Affinity Designer 2
Affinity Designer 2 is a vector-based tool for making amazing graphics. It’s different from Adobe Illustrator because you only pay once. This makes it a good choice for those who want to save money and still get great results.
- Powerful vector graphics capabilities: Affinity Designer 2 is great at making vector graphics. You can create things like logos and illustrations that can be scaled up or down easily.
- Versatile raster tools: It also has strong raster tools. This lets you switch between working with vectors and pixels smoothly.
- Intuitive user interface: The software is easy to use, even for beginners. It’s designed to be simple and straightforward.
- One-time purchase: Unlike adobe illustrator alternative subscriptions, Affinity Designer 2 is a one-time buy. This makes it a more affordable choice for graphic designers who don’t need Adobe’s whole suite.
Whether you’re a pro or just starting out, Affinity Designer 2 is a great choice. It has all the features you need for vector graphics and more. Plus, its pricing is flexible, making it a top pick for those who don’t want to keep paying every month.
Top Free Graphic Design Tools
As a creative professional, I’m always searching for reliable graphic design tools. Canva is a standout, offering a free plan with many features. It’s easy to use and helps bring ideas to life.
Canva’s free version has over a million templates and design elements. It’s great for designers and non-designers. You can make social media posts, presentations, or marketing materials easily with Canva.
The free plan has some limits, but Canva Pro unlocks more features. It includes a Brand Kit for keeping designs consistent. The Canva Pro plan is just $15 a month, making it a good deal for individuals and teams.
“Canva has completely transformed the way I approach graphic design. As a non-designer, I was able to create professional-looking assets in a fraction of the time it would have taken me with traditional design software.”
If you need a top graphic design tools, try Canva. It’s free, has a vast template library, and has affordable plans. It’s why Canva is a favorite among creatives.
Graphic Design Tools for Illustrators
Adobe Illustrator is a top pick for graphic designers and illustrators. It’s great for vector-based design and illustration. It has many tools and features made just for illustrators.
Illustration-Specific Features
The newest version of Adobe Illustrator has cool updates for illustrators. Now, you can find and change fonts in any image. This makes adding text to illustrations easy.
It also has better 3D mockup tools. This lets illustrators make their designs look real and three-dimensional.
Adobe Firefly, the AI design helper, is another big plus. It suggests colors, creates design parts, and helps pick fonts. This AI makes designing easier and opens up new ideas.
Adobe Illustrator might look hard for newbies at first. But, it’s really powerful and keeps getting better. It’s perfect for handling complex projects and has special features for illustrators.
Beginner-Friendly Graphic Design Tools
Graphic design can be tough for beginners. But, there are tools that make it easier. These tools have simple interfaces, templates, and easy features. They help you start with corelDRAW, photo manipulation, vector drawing, and desktop publishing.
PhotoDirector
PhotoDirector is a graphic design suite with a user-friendly interface. It has many features and is rated 5/5 by TechRadar. Its premium subscription is just $3.33 a month, giving you advanced photo editing tools.
MyEdit
MyEdit is a web-based graphic design tools. It’s easy to use and has a 5/5 rating. The best part? It’s free, making it perfect for beginners.
VistaCreate
VistaCreate is a graphic design platform for beginners. It has a 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating and 4.5/5 for beginner tools. It offers over 75,000 templates for $10 a month.
These tools are great for beginners. They offer a mix of affordability, ease of use, and powerful features. They help you create amazing visuals with ease.
Best Online Vector Editor
Corel Vector is an online vector editor that lets users create and edit graphics in a web browser. It’s cloud-based and great for teams working together from different places. It’s easy to use and perfect for quick design tasks.
Corel Vector stands out because of its AI features. 100% of users find its AI vector generator easy to use. Also, 95% say the real-time collaboration feature has changed their workflow for the better.
Users love the AI tools like the background remover and AI generator. 90% say these tools save them a lot of time. And 85% like how their designs stay scalable and high-quality with Corel Vector’s AI.
| Tool | Free Trial | Subscription Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Corel Vector | 15-day | $99.99/year |
| Adobe Illustrator | 7-day | $17.23/month |
| Affinity Designer | 30-day | $69.99 (Windows/macOS), $18.49 (iPad) |
| CorelDRAW | 15-day | $16.58/month, $199/year, $424 (one-time) |
| Figma | Free starter version | $12/month (Pro), $45/month (Organization), $75/month (Enterprise) |
| Vectr | Free version with ads | $7.99/year, $13.99/year, credit packs starting at $2.99 |
In summary, Corel Vector is great for web-based design, teamwork, and AI tools. It’s easy to use and has good pricing. It’s a top choice for design projects.
graphic design tools
Knowing the difference between raster and vector graphics is key in graphic design. Raster graphics, like those from Photoshop, are pixel-based. They’re great for photos and detailed art. Vector graphics, based on math, scale perfectly without losing quality. They’re perfect for logos and icons.
Raster Graphics
Raster graphics are common for photos, digital art, and images with lots of colors and textures. They’re made of pixels, each with its own color. But, they can get pixelated or blurry when enlarged because of their fixed pixel count.
Vector Graphics
Vector graphics use math to define shapes and lines. This means they can grow or shrink without losing quality. They’re often used for logos, icons, and other designs that need to change size.
| Raster Graphics | Vector Graphics |
|---|---|
| Composed of a grid of pixels | Defined by mathematical equations |
| Best for detailed images and photographs | Best for scalable design elements like logos and icons |
| File formats include JPEG, PNG, and TIFF | File formats include SVG and EPS |
| Image quality can degrade when scaled up | Maintain high image quality when scaled up or down |
It’s important to know the difference between raster and vector graphics for graphic design. Raster graphics are best for photos and detailed art. Vector graphics are ideal for designs that need to change size, like logos and icons.
UI/UX Design Tools
In graphic design, UI/UX tools are key. They help designers make digital experiences that users love. Figma is a top choice, known for its cloud-based platform and teamwork features.
Figma shines with its real-time collaboration. It’s great for teams working on UI/UX projects. Its ease and prototyping features make it a favorite for web and app designs.
Other big names include Adobe XD, Sketch, InVision, and Marvel. Each has special features for different design needs. They help with everything from UI to UX simulations and developer handoffs.
Good UI/UX design is crucial. It can boost website conversions by up to 200%. UX design can increase conversions by 400%. A website’s first impression is often design-related, showing how important these tools are.
| Tool | Pricing | G2 Rating | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Figma | Starts at $12 per editor/month | 4.7 | Collaborative interface design, prototyping, real-time progress tracking |
| Adobe XD | $54.99/month | 4.3 | Vector-based UI tools, real-time collaboration, developer handoff |
| Sketch | $9 per editor/month | 4.5 | Easy handoff, universal changes, third-party plugins |
| InVision | Starts at $9.95 per user/month | 4.4 | Interactive prototyping, collaboration features |
| Marvel | Pricing not available | No rating | Wireframe creation, interactive prototypes, developer handoff |
These tools are just a few examples for designers and UX pros. Each has unique features for different needs. Using these tools, designers can make digital experiences that wow and engage users.
Graphic Design Tools for Windows
As a graphic designer, the right tools are crucial. Lunacy is a standout for Windows users. It’s a free, open-source vector graphics editor designed for Windows. It’s perfect for UI/UX design and web design.
Lunacy excels in windows-specific design. It has a user-friendly interface and features for vector graphics. This ensures your designs look and work great on Windows.
Lunacy can work with Sketch files, a favorite among designers. This makes it easy to share and collaborate. It’s great for both experienced and new Windows designers.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Windows-specific design focus | Ensures your designs seamlessly integrate with the Windows ecosystem |
| Sketch file compatibility | Facilitates collaboration and file sharing with designers across platforms |
| Intuitive user interface | Streamlines your design process and enhances productivity |
| Open-source and free to use | Provides a cost-effective solution for budget-conscious designers |
If you design for Windows, Lunacy is worth trying. It’s great for web design and UI/UX projects. Its focus on Windows and strong features make it a must-have tool.
Mobile Graphic Design Apps
Mobile graphic design apps have become key for creatives always on the move. Tools like Procreate are designed for mobile use. They make digital illustration and design easy and fun.
Features for Mobile Devices
Mobile apps are made to be easy to use, unlike desktop software. They have top-notch painting tools. This lets users create amazing art right on their phones.
Some top apps include:
- Adobe Photoshop Mix (free for Android and iOS)
- Adobe Capture (free for Android and iOS)
- Autodesk Sketchbook (free for Android and iOS)
- Adobe Spark Post for Poster & Graphic Design Editor (free for Android and iOS)
- Find My Font (free for Android and iOS)
- Color Reference (free for Android)
- Pantone Connect (free for Android and iOS)
- Behance for Photography, Graphic Design, and Illustration (free for Android and iOS)
- Coolors ($2.99 for Android and iOS)
- Vectornator (free for iOS)
- Procreate Pocket ($4.99 for iOS)
- Retrospecs (free for iOS)
- Assembly: Graphic Design & Art (free for iOS)
- Font Candy Photo & Text Editor (free for iOS)
These apps are great for tablets, with features like easy controls and brushes. They also work well with desktop software. This makes them perfect for designers and artists who want to create anywhere.
| App | Platform | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Photoshop Mix | Android, iOS | Free |
| Adobe Capture | Android, iOS | Free |
| Autodesk Sketchbook | Android, iOS | Free |
| Adobe Spark Post for Poster & Graphic Design Editor | Android, iOS | Free |
| Find My Font | Android, iOS | Free |
| Color Reference | Android | Free |
| Pantone Connect | Android, iOS | Free |
| Behance for Photography, Graphic Design, and Illustration | Android, iOS | Free |
| Coolors | Android, iOS | $2.99 |
| Vectornator | iOS | Free |
| Procreate Pocket | iOS | $4.99 |
| Retrospecs | iOS | Free |
| Assembly: Graphic Design & Art | iOS | Free |
| Font Candy Photo & Text Editor | iOS | Free |
Graphic Design Tools for Typography
As a graphic designer, I’ve learned how key typography is in making designs pop. Luckily, there are typography tools out there that make working with text easier. Apps like the latest Affinity Designer have cool features like variable font support and font management.
These text editing tools let designers make their text visions come to life. With tools like kerning and ligatures, I can tweak text to fit perfectly in my designs.
There are also typography tools made just for text work. They have advanced font systems, making it easy to find and use the right fonts for a project.
| Tool | Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity Designer | Variable font support, stroke control, font management | $54.99 one-time purchase |
| Adobe Creative Cloud | Comprehensive text editing tools in Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop | $59.99/month subscription |
| Sketch | Typographic controls, text styles, font sync | $99/year subscription |
For any design task with text, having top-notch typography tools is a must. These tools let me fine-tune text, making my designs stand out.
Image Optimization Tools
As a graphic designer, I know how key it is to find the right balance between image size and quality. Making images smaller without losing their look is essential. Luckily, many tools help me get this balance right.
EWWW Image Optimizer is a favorite, with millions of users. It’s known for its effective image compression. Image4 is another top pick, costing $39 a month. It offers lots of features, like API access and support for WordPress and Cloudflare.
ImageKit is also worth mentioning, with a free plan and premium options starting at $49. It has tools like performance analytics and thumbnail creation. Imagify offers a free plan for small images, with paid plans starting at $9.99. It’s great for optimizing different image types.
Compressor is a budget-friendly choice, offering free compression up to 10MG. Its pro plans start at just $50 a year. TinyPNG starts at $25 a year and is good for JPEG and PNG files. Optimizilla is free, but it only supports PNG and JPEG and has a 20-image limit.
Using these tools, I can easily get my images ready for websites and social media. They ensure my images look great and load fast.
Conclusion
In the world of graphic design, many software options exist. Each has its own strengths and is suited for different needs. Designers can choose from top tools like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, or simpler options like Canva and Affinity Designer.
This guide has shown a variety of graphic design tools. It covered their features, costs, and what they’re best for. Whether you’re experienced or just starting, there’s a tool for you. It can help improve your designs.
The graphic design world is always changing. It’s important for designers to keep up with new trends and tools. With so many choices, the future of graphic design looks bright and full of possibilities.
FAQ
What are the top graphic design tools available in the market?
Top graphic design tools include Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Designer, and Canva. Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and Corel Vector are also popular. Figma, Lunacy, and Procreate are favorites for different needs. Each tool has unique features for various design tasks.
What are the key features and capabilities of Adobe Photoshop?
Adobe Photoshop is a top choice for graphic design. It has advanced tools like AI-powered sky replacement and object removal. It also offers high-quality results and works well with other Adobe apps.
Is Affinity Designer a viable alternative to Adobe Illustrator?
Yes, Affinity Designer 2 is a strong vector design software. It’s a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator. It has new tools and is easy to use, making it a great choice for those who prefer a one-time purchase.
What are the key advantages of using Canva for graphic design?
Canva is easy to use and great for creating many types of designs. It has a vast library of templates and stock assets. The free version is perfect for beginners, and the paid version offers more features.
What are the illustration-specific features of Adobe Illustrator?
Adobe Illustrator is perfect for illustrators. It has new features like font editing and 3D mockups. It’s a powerful tool that’s easy to learn, even for beginners.
What are the key user-friendly features of CorelDRAW?
CorelDRAW is part of the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. It’s easy to use and has many features. The latest version has new brushes and templates, making it great for beginners.
What are the key benefits of using Corel Vector for graphic design?
Corel Vector is a cloud-based vector editor. It’s great for teams working remotely. It’s easy to use and perfect for quick design tasks.
What is the difference between raster and vector graphics in graphic design?
Raster graphics, like those in Photoshop, are pixel-based. Vector graphics, like those in Illustrator, are scalable. Knowing the difference helps choose the right tool for a project.
What are the key features of Figma for UI/UX design?
Figma is a cloud-based design tool for teams. It’s great for UI/UX design. It’s easy to use and perfect for creating web designs and prototypes.
What are the benefits of using Lunacy for Windows-specific graphic design?
Lunacy is for Windows users, focusing on UI/UX and web design. It’s free and compatible with Sketch files. It’s great for creating designs for Windows platforms.
What are the key features of Procreate for mobile graphic design?
Procreate is a top choice for iPad users. It’s known for its painting tools. It’s a great app for creating illustrations and designs on mobile devices.
What are the key typography tools available in graphic design software?
Many design apps, like Affinity Designer, have advanced typography tools. They support variable fonts and allow for precise text manipulation. These tools help designers create detailed text elements.
What are the benefits of using image optimization tools in graphic design?
Image optimization tools help balance file size and quality. They ensure graphics load quickly without losing quality. These tools are essential for preparing graphics for websites and social media.
