Technology has touched and affected every industry that exists. Almost the entire population of the world has an online presence now. Additionally, technology has changed the very way in which we work. Artists now use computers to do the work of charcoal and paint. Graphic design software applications have been developed to aid artists in the creation, editing, and management of computer-based graphics. Graphics could be present in the form of headings, backgrounds, clip art, drawings, or other forms of digital images.
Those software applications keep getting updated, and new ones find their way into the market on a regular basis. If you are a beginner, you can try these Free Graphis Design Software Available Online. However, if you are not quick enough to adapt yourself to the rapid pace of change, you might find your skills slowly getting extinct. Graphic design software apps are more powerful than what people assume them to be.
They can be used for 3D modeling and Computer-Aided Design which makes them important tools in the architectural and engineering industry. Also, they can be used in the film industry to create motion graphics and animation. That is besides their extensive use, of course, in the fields of marketing, branding, and product design.
What is the best app for graphic design?
There are numerous tools that are at the disposal of graphic designers. The functionality of these software keeps expanding, and designers keep evolving. The boundaries between the tools and their original purpose keep getting blurred. For example, while Photoshop was originally a photo-editing platform, it has now become the go-to tool to create photorealistic effects.
1. ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
Adobe Photoshop targets professional graphic designers, artists, photographers, and illustrators. It has become essential for designing websites, illustrations, 3D images, icons, posters, banners, paintings, and mobile apps. It has tools that help photographers in enhancing and creating effects in images. Brush smoothing, access to Lightroom photos, luminance masking controls, filters, layer management, and many more tools make it an able editing solution for photos, images, and graphic design. The price of Adobe Photoshop CC starts at $29.90 per month.
2. Crello
Crello is a user-friendly and multifunctional tool for crafting visual content for your social media posts, web, print marketing materials and it also provides a wide range of logo design templates. Crello allows creating beautiful and customizable images, videos, and animations to meet all your marketing needs.
With more than 30,000 professional templates available in Crello, you also get access to their media library of premium photos, videos, graphics, and animated design. Even if you don’t have any design skills, Crello is a perfect tool to create eye-catching visuals for social media posts and ads, business websites, blogs, and more. You can add or remove objects, change fonts and colors, remove backgrounds, add animations, download your own images and customize accordingly, and much more.
Most of Crello’s instruments are free; for the unlimited downloads and some extra features, you can upgrade to a Pro plan for $7.99/month.
3.ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR
This software is easy to use, with an extremely user-friendly interface. It is generally preferred by graphic designers and illustrators to create vector graphics. The wide arsenal of tools allows people to create meticulous designs, sketches, illustrations, and topography. The in-built design presets, templates, brushes in Adobe Illustrator allow for fast design creation. The software is available at a variety of prices, starting from $29.99 per month.
4. SKETCH
This is a Mac-only vector graphic editor. It is only focused on on-screen design, and it addresses the needs of a small set of designers. However, as it is only available on Mac, designers who use iPhones, iPads and Mac OS find its sleek user interface very useful. The easy-to-use interface, self-explanatory icons, and simple tools make this software app a worthy addition to the list. Moreover, there are numerous tutorials to learn it from, and first-time users do not struggle while using it.
The software offers a 30-day free trial and then a one-time fee of $99 to own the software.
5. ADOBE INDESIGN
Adobe InDesign is used to create and publish documents for print and digital media. It is used to create eBooks, digital magazines, interactive PDFs, posters, and flyers. It has tools that help artists collaborate with writers and editors. They can share text, colors, graphics, shapes, and more, facilitating the workflow. In addition, users are given access to the Creative Cloud Libraries. They have tools like paragraph borders, master pages, fonts, PDF enhancements, and endnotes which are indispensable for graphic designers. The price of this graphic design software starts at $29.99 per month.
6. AFFINITY DESIGNER
This graphic design platform is aimed at professional artists and designers. Affinity Designer handles a variety of tasks including branding, typography, and patterns. Artists use it to create repeating patterns which could be applied on ceramic tiles, wallpapers, furnishings, etc.
The availability of Cloud—hence the ability to collaborate, makes it a great option for a team of artists. The cost of the software is $49.99 per computer (Mac and Windows).
7. XARA DESIGNER PRO X
This is an affordable solution for designers who want to work with bitmaps and vectors. It is a comprehensive solution to handle DTP (desktop publishing), illustration, photo manipulation, and graphic design. Its features enable artists to maneuver color and texture in the images.
The license provides access to template layouts, design elements, photos, and illustrations for designers to incorporate into their projects. The price of the software is around $299.
8. CORELDRAW
This platform helps artists come up with images, designs, and graphics with a wide range of tools. The tools of Corel Draw are developed to cater to the needs of users from different sectors. This specifically designed interface makes it an easy-to-use software. The Graphic Suite of CorelDraw has a variety of tools to boost creativity. These tools include CorelDraw 2017, Corel Font Manager 2017, CorelCONNECT 2017, CorelPHOTO PAINT 2017, Corel Website Creator, Corel PowerTrace 2017, and Corel CAPTURE 2017. The full version of the CorelDraw Graphic Suite costs $635, while the annual enterprise plan costs $16.50 per month. The full version has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
9. CINEMA 4D
When one thinks of 3D models, motion graphics, painting, or animation, Cinema 4D is one application that should definitely come to mind. It is known for its fast 3D production and friendly interface which make lighting, texturing, and other 3D rendering processes easier. The platform caters to beginners and professional artists alike. The intuitive nature of the software makes it easy to use without the need for tutorials or training.
10. PAINTSHOP PRO
Paintshop Pro is an easy-to-use image editing software, with numerous features that aid in image editing, drawing, and correction. The robust tools in this graphic design software make the artistic process seem like a breeze. In addition to its fast performance, this inexpensive platform has multiple creative tools and an intuitive interface. The workspace is also customizable, allowing users to create their own editing environment. The price of this software app starts at $63.99.
11. ADOBE DREAMWEAVER
This graphic design software focuses on graphics creation for mobile and web-based content. With a single dashboard, artists can manage, create, and publish websites. Adobe Dreamweaver has a wide array of features and customizable templates. For designers who can code, this software is a godsend. Artists need to code only once, and the software does the rest for them. The software helps artists visualize websites on different devices and design for varying screen sizes. The cost of the software starts at $19.99 per month.
12. ACDSEE PHOTO EDITOR 10
This graphic design solution is an affordable alternative to the expensive software that is available in the market. It is perfect for those who do not want to use advanced photo editing tools. Users can easily edit, adjust, and manipulate images using the numerous tools available on the platform. This application has pixel-based editing tools that help enhance images and also has the ability to preserve layers, enabling non-destructive adjustments to the images. The price of the ACDSEE Photo Editor 10 is $59.99.
13. ADOBE FIREWORKS
This powerful image editing solution is used by designers around the world to create graphics for websites and apps. Its robust tools make the creation, editing, and drawing of bitmaps for websites, an easy process. Images can be saved in different formats: JPEG, PNG, PSD, GIF, etc.
14. PHOTOIMPACT
PhotoImpact has been designed to be approachable for both amateurs as well as professional designers. The features are easy to use and help in the production of excellent digital art. The project templates can be customized, and so they could be used for making image-related gifts. The intuitive painting and drawing tools can also be used to create graphics for videos, slideshows, DVDs, etc.
This graphic design software is available at $29.99
15. AUTODESK 3DS MAX
Autodesk 3DS Max is used as a 3D modeling, animation, and rendering tool. While it can be used by game designers and VR (Virtual Reality) game developers, the architectural fraternity also uses it as a tool for design realization. 3Ds Max is also popular among TV and film visual effects, especially because of its simulation of real-life camera effects. In addition to this, it can create the effects of liquids, like water, oil, etc.
This platform by Autodesk is available at a pricing scheme of $185 per month.
