Whatever your needs are, whether it’s predominantly with marketing, photography editing, or social media graphics and user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) as graphic design professionals, you’ll likely employ a mixture of subscription-based, paid, and free graphic design software over the course of your career. However, there are a few tried and tested software that have remained with their users over the years for one reason or another.
What Kind of Software Do Graphic Designers Use?
The selection of software depends on factors such as the particular requirements of the project, personal designer preferences, their workflow compatibility, and budgetary considerations. This is why there are so many people who use some online graphic design software that can be utilized in an internet browser by using an unpaid version or a free trial before signing up for an annual subscription.
The Rise of Online Graphic Design Tools
As the current digital landscape is, the aesthetic appeal of websites, applications, social media posts, and e-commerce sites is vital for consumer interaction and perception of brands. The main objective is to show creativity and user-friendliness. Digital design tools allow innovation along with seamless cooperation across formats and platforms, unlike ever before, while also expanding accessibility to beginners, hobbyists, and professionals alike.
Below, we will look at the most notable software for graphic design today, as well as their numerous features and appealing qualities.
Adobe Suite
Adobe Creative Cloud’s collection of programs specifically designed for graphic design comprises Illustrator (for graphic vectors), Photoshop (for image editing), Express (a free alternative to Illustrator), InDesign (for layout design), and many more.
- Adobe Illustrator – This industry-standard software offers top-quality editing, types, vector, and drawing tools. Illustrator’s recent addition of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and constant improvements keep it ahead of the pack when compared to other programs. As a fundamental component for graphic designers, the knowledge of the program is essential to collaborate with other designers in vector design projects.
- Adobe Photoshop – In terms of advanced editing of images and photos, Photoshop has long been the most popular software. The program’s capabilities go beyond simple image editing into UX design and paint-by-numbers, touch-ups to photos, and much more. Recent developments in tools have helped simplify and streamline the tasks that were previously complex, such as the removal of background images.
- Adobe Express – It was previously referred to by the title Adobe Spar. Express is an individual free graphic design program and is an Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps subscription plan. It’s easy to use with an intelligent AI that comes with free templates and design elements, and is compatible with various Adobe products. Do you need to create a short advertisement or video? Are you looking for an application that can work seamlessly on both mobile devices and desktop devices? Adobe Express is a flexible solution that’s ideal for novices, but perhaps not appropriate for complex, detailed creative tasks.
With the majority of applications that fall under the Adobe umbrella, a Creative Cloud subscription is required for graphic designers. However, this expenditure is usually expected since it gives access to the full range of tools as well as the most recent updates.
Sketch
The program is extensively used for both icons as well as UI as well as UX design, specifically for mobile and web applications. Sketch is an intuitive program that has an incredibly low learning curve when compared to other design programs. It may not have the complete variety of features that other software (like Illustrator) offers; however, it comes with the essentials and an easy user interface for UI design. Sketch is available to Mac users only.
Canva
Canva is an essential user-friendly tool that is suitable for both designers and non-designers, developed by non-designers. As a design tool for the web with a free version, every professional is able to use It offers templates that can be customized for almost every design task that you can imagine, from business cards and email headers to infographics, text overlays, advertisements, and social media posts. It is worth considering upgrading to the paid version if your goal is to improve your output and gain access to more advanced capabilities and features.
Figma
Figma is a cloud-based interface design tool used to create user interfaces, web designs, prototype apps, and other graphic design tasks. Figma’s strengths lie in its collaboration capabilities, which make it a preferred option for teams that work from different locations or remotely. The flexibility, ease of use, and real-time capabilities have made it an essential tool for graphic design and UI/UX collaboration.
CorelDRAW
Most often employed for vector illustration or layout, CorelDRAW has been a leader in the field of graphic design and has a strong community of users, as well as numerous innovative features. Although there are some Adobe design software might have risen to the market as the current standard, this tool for graphic design has constantly upgraded capabilities, and a variety of tiers that include an entry-level version and a suite of features.
The first is targeted towards amateurs, while the latter is a favorite among professionals. CorelDRAW can also be purchased as the option of a subscription or a one-time payment option, which makes the software for graphic design flexible to the needs of the user.
GIMP
It is the GNU Image Manipulation Program, commonly referred to as GIMP is a free alternative to Photoshop. The tool for designing is well-known and is praised for its flexible design, digital editing capabilities, as well as its ease of making models from scratch, as well as compatibility with many file formats of files.
Inkscape
Inkscape is an editor for vector graphics that is known for its versatility and wide array of capabilities that work across all platforms. The combination of its extensive feature set, its open-source nature, and a focus on design based on vectors makes it a popular choice for users looking for a strong yet free software to produce scalable, professional-quality graphics. It has features that are geared towards novice and experienced designers.
Affinity Designer
As a software for graphic design with vector graphics and features for editing photos that are similar to (and that are compatible with) Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer is a fantastic, affordable alternative. It includes all essential tools to provide the most affordable price, including an all-in-one payment plan and the most recent software updates. The program also offers advantages that the Adobe suite doesn’t have, like faster operation with a more detailed zoom and unlimited redos.
Procreate
The most popular for digital illustration (especially iPad users), Procreate has a stellar reputation and a reasonable price for the high-quality tools for painting, along with overall functionality. While it’s not the complete set of tools, it provides simple but useful drawing tools that can support most smooth brush strokes and shapes.
Vectr
Vectr is a simple, web-based vector graphics design software that is suitable for casual and beginner designers. With helpful tutorials and tools to facilitate collaboration, this software is completely free unless you decide to change to an upgraded version with more storage space and credits (and without advertisements). The collaborative component of Vectr truly distinguishes it from other programs, as it allows live synchronization for projects that involve groups or customers.
Krita
A robust, open-source digital painter, Krita is popular with illustrators, artists, and designers due to its numerous paint tools, its customizable interface, and animation support. The free graphic design software was developed by the community of artists and relies on donations to build out new features. Krita’s application is extremely flexible and has tools for various uses.s However, there is an extensive learning curve for designers who are arenon-professionalsl and want the simplest option.
Lunacy
Lunacy is a graphic design tool specifically built for Windows users, focusing on creating designs for Windows platforms–particularly UI/UX and web design. It provides a design environment designed for editing and creating graphic designs and interfaces that are aligned with Windows design concepts. The software for graphic design is totally free and accessible to those who are new, yet it offers an array of more sophisticated capabilities and instruments. Additionally, Lunacy is compatible with Sketch files, making it simple for you to edit and share your work with other users.
Pixlr
It is renowned for its simplicity and flexibility. Pixlr is an online graphic design and editing application that has three distinct versions. Its blend of targeted tools for designing, accessibility via the web, and basic as well as advanced features makes it a top option for those looking for an easy-to-use but powerful photo editing software. Pixlr’s suite functions in browsers that support web-based browsing or on Android as well as iOS devices.
SVG-Edit
SVG-Edit is a completely ffree open-source, web-based graphic design software that offers an easy way to edit vector graphics that can be scaled (SVG) documents, along with essential tools for editing vectors and an easy interface for those needing basic editing functions (without the requirement for complicated installation of software). The totally free graphic design program may not have the latest tools, but it’s the most popular choice for creating or editing work. SVG-Edit’s repository can be found on GitHub.
Photo Pos Pro
Photoshop Pos Pro is a basic photo editing program that is geared toward beginners and users who want an easy option to improve their photographs. This tool is free and has many plugins that can make things more interesting, an d its simple interface and help system could aid users to get started quickly.
Making the Right Choice in Graphic Design Software
To make the best decision or invest in graphic designing software, begin by defining what you want to know: What do you need in terms of features thcan to support the variety of projects you could be working on? In addition, take into consideration the program’s user-friendliness with respect to your skill level and learning curve.
Comparing Features, Compatibility, and Scalability
The following elements can aid in determining whether a specific graphic design software is worth the mix of features, usability,p rice, and long-term sustainability it offers:
- Features – Make sure that the software for designing is compatible with the essential features you’ll need (vector editing as well as tools for manipulating photos, typographyy and more).
- Compatibility – Make sure the program is appropriate for the operating system you are using (Windows, macOS, Linux) or other devices (desktop, tablet, mobile).
- Scalability – For a software to be scalable, its resources are able to handle tasks that increase in amount or in the complexity. So, think about whether the program will be able to meet your needs in the future as you develop your skills and your projects get more complicated.
