Since my background is in Graphic Design I thought this is
the perfect opportunity to talk about the best graphic design software that you
can install on your device.
Whether you need software to help you with a logo design or
to edit some photos, selecting the best graphic design software can take your
designs to the next level.
I want to mention that all the graphic design Softwares were
tested by me before writing this. So you will get the best possible review from
a guy who works in the design industry.
Let’s start 🙂
First thing first: Graphic Designer's Guide to Choosing the Right Design Software
Choosing the right design software for your profession as a
graphic designer is crucial for your efficiency, creativity, and the quality of
your work.
There is a strategic and informed manner to select design
software for your career.
Understanding specific needs and goals ensures alignment
between software capabilities and project requirements, optimizing efficiency
and creativity. Researching industry-standard tools and assessing compatibility
and features help in choosing software that seamlessly integrates into the
designer's workflow and provides essential functionalities.
Considering ease of use, community support, and trial
testing ensures a smooth learning curve and adequate assistance when needed.
Evaluating costs, scalability, and staying updated ensures that the chosen
software aligns with the designer's budget, growth, and evolving industry
standards.
Here are steps and considerations to help you choose the
best design software:
- Understand
Your Needs and Goals: Define the type of projects you work on (e.g.,
web design, print design, illustrations, branding). Consider your level of
expertise (beginner, intermediate, advanced). Evaluate if you need
software for collaboration or working individually.
- Research
and Identify Industry Standard Software: Look for software that is
widely accepted and used in the graphic design industry. Examples include
Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Sketch, Figma,
and CorelDRAW.
- Consider
Platform Compatibility: Determine if the software is compatible with
your operating system (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux).
- Assess
Ease of Use and Learning Curve: Choose software that aligns with your
current skill level and offers a reasonable learning curve for further
growth.
- Evaluate
Features and Tools: Compare the features and tools offered by different
software to ensure they meet your specific project requirements (e.g.,
vector tools, image editing capabilities, typography options).
- Check
Community and Support: Consider the availability of tutorials, online
forums, and a supportive community for the software you are considering. A
strong community can provide valuable insights and help troubleshoot
issues.
- Trial
and Testing: Take advantage of free trials or demos to test the
software before making a final decision. Experiment with different tools
and functionalities to see if they suit your needs.
- Consider
Budget Constraints: Evaluate the cost of the software and assess if it
fits within your budget. Consider both upfront costs and ongoing
subscription fees.
- Think
About Scalability: Choose software that can grow with you as you
advance in your career. Consider the scalability and expandability of the
software to accommodate your future needs.
- Read
Reviews and Get Recommendations: Read reviews from other graphic
designers and seek recommendations from colleagues or industry
professionals to gain insights into the performance and usability of the
software.
- Consider
Alternative and Specialized Software: Explore specialized software that
caters to your specific design niche (e.g., 3D design, motion graphics)
and see if they complement or replace your primary design software.
- Trial
Multiple Options: It's often beneficial to use a combination of
software for different purposes. For instance, I use Adobe Illustrator for
vector work and Adobe Photoshop for image editing.
- Stay
Updated: Regularly review new updates, features, and software
advancements to ensure you are using the most up-to-date and efficient
design tools.
Ultimately, a thoughtful approach to selecting design
software empowers graphic designers to deliver high-quality work and adapt to
the dynamic demands of their profession.
Start Exploring Software Solutions Today!
What is the Best Graphic Design Software?
1. Adobe Photoshop
When it comes to photo editing, Photoshop is the best design
software. It is one of the most used software in the industry and well
respected for the history that has behind.
I use this one a lot to edit product photo and personal
photos.
Skill level required: beginner to advanced.
Key features:
- Manipulating an
image.
- Cropping images.
- Drawing
an illustration or portrait for digital designers.
- Repairing
flaws in a picture, such as red eyes.
- Adding
or removing text on an image.
- Removing or
adding people or objects.
Pros:
- Multiple
devices: If you buy a license you can use it on Desktop or Tablet.
- Huge
variety of tools.
- You
can edit animations and video layers.
- You
can actually get a job in the industry if you know this software very
well.
- It
has a mobile app as well to edit your photos from your pocket.
- A
lot of tutorials on youtube on how to use this software.
Cons:
- Like
Adobe Illustrator, you can’t buy the software for life, you have to pay
monthly to use it.
- It can be a bit overwhelming to use it as a beginner, but you have a lot of tutorials to learn from.
2. Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is the Design Software I use daily. It’s my personal best and one of the most popular vector editing software.
It is one of the most popular software in the design
industry and you can create so many awesome illustrations, logos, icons and so
much more.
New Key Features:
- Real
time drawing: Scaling of objects and application of effects on objects are
not displayed as outlines, instead these tasks will fully render as you
work.
- Improved
toolbar: Dragging and dropping of tools between the toolbar and the drawer
is easy.
- Stability
and performance: Better stability performance, and smoother
workflows.
Skill level required: Medium.
Pros:
- Great
User Interface.
- Multiple
design tools that you can choose from.
- Continuous
improvements to existing features.
- Used
by the leaders in the industry.
- A
lot of tutorials to learn from.
Cons:
- You
don’t have the option to buy the software for life, you need to buy a
subscription
Get started with Adobe Illustrator.
3. Sketch
Unfortunately, this software is only available for Mac users
only. Sketch is best known for web design, app, and interface design.
I used this software a lot when I was in school to create
interactive prototypes for UI/UX projects.
Key Features:
- Sketch
is intuitive and powerful. It’s very easy to get started on your next
project. And without any effort, you can create something — whether you’re
an absolute beginner or a seasoned pro.
- Easy
to zoom in to pixel level. You can align things perfectly with
Snapping and Smart Guides
- Reusable
components. You can create an element once and reuse it anywhere in
your design.
Skill level required: beginner.
Pros:
- You
have Mirror option. You can check your work on a real iOS device
without writing a line of code with the Mirror app.
- It’s
easy to use and it has an intuitive interface.
- The
price is a bit lower than other design Softwares.
- Cloud
Sharing. You can view your designs in the browser, from anywhere.
Also, your team can access your prototype through cloud.
Cons:
- The
software is available only on Mac.
- The
features are limited in comparison to Adobe Illustration.
- During my test, the software crashed one time.
4. Affinity Photo
This software is close to my heart. Every time I use it, I
am amazed at how cheap it is and the quality of the product. So If you are
looking for a cheaper version of Adobe Photoshop this one is for you.
Key Features:
- Raw
Editing. You can edit raw in real-time and the guys from Affinity
promise Super smooth pan and zoom at 60fps.
- Digital
Painting. Experience fluid and natural painting experience.
- Retouching. Complete
set of retouching tools like dodge, burn, patch and much more.
Skill level required: medium.
Pros:
- One
time payment 49.99$
- 100%
file format compatibility across Windows, Mac and iPad. You can work
on any device.
- PSD
import/export. If your teammates send you a photoshop file you will
be able to work on it from Affinity.
- Pixel/Vector. This
means you can choose from both pixel art or vectorial art without
installing any other app.
Cons:
- Some
tools from Photoshop and Illustrator are missing.
- Doesn’t
export AI files.
- Doesn’t
update frequently.
Get started with Affinity Photo.
5. Canva
If you have no experience in graphic design and you are not
planning to become a pro anytime soon then Canva is for you.
It’s easy, it has millions of resources and templates, and
you can basically create a design in a few minutes. It’s not going to be like
in Adobe Photoshop but still a good choice.
Key Features:
- Drag
and drop concept. You only need to drag an element to your work area
and customize it
- Freemium
plan. Free for basic stuff, however, you will be charged if you want
to use more features.
Skill level required: beginner.
Pros:
- Very
easy to use
- Premium
stock image library. You can choose from tons of templates, images
and fonts.
- Export
designs as PDF, JPG, PNG. You can export your design in all the popular
formats.
- Team
share. Share your design with people inside your team through a link.
- Pretty
cheap.
Cons:
- If
you want to create a premium design you don’t have the features that pro
software offers
- Some
of the templates and fonts are generic.
Get started with Canva.
6. Corel Draw Graphic Suite
Corel Draw Graphic Suite is a package that allows you to
create professional vector illustration, layout, and photo-edit. Unfortunately,
this is available only for Windows and they do have a pricey fee, but it’s a
one time fee.
They are less expensive compared to Adobe Cloud, and they do
have a bunch of design tutorials to learn from.
Key Features:
- Fully
featured suite with 7 apps. Meaning, for this price you receive Vector
illustration, Image editing, Font exploration, and much more .
- Tools
for productivity and creativity.
- Cloud
Share. Like other design Softwares, you can share your work with your
colleagues.
- AI-powered
image solutions. Machine-learned models help you to expand your design
capabilities and accelerate workflows.
Skill level required: advanced.
Pros:
- Perfect
compatibility with Windows devices including tablets.
- Capable
of exporting to over 40 file types.
- It
was built initially for Windows, but they do have a version for macOS.
- Flexible
payment. You can opt for a single-application subscription, or choose
a perpetual license to own software outright.
Cons:
- It’s
not user friendly. Don’t start with this one if it’s your first
design software.
- Some
tools are hard to use.
Get started with Coral Draw.
7. GIMP
I remember this was the software that I started with. Why?
Because it’s free. It offers you tools for photo manipulation, artwork
creation, and graphic design elements.
Key Features:
- Customizable: The
interface is extremely customizable.
- Addon
plugins: GIMP has a strong community that developed several plugins
to increase software performance.
- Compatibility: The
software is compatible with almost all the operating systems including
macOS, Windows, Solaris, and Linux.
Skill level required: medium.
Pros:
- It’s
free, what do you need more 🙂
- Perfect
for beginners who don’t want to invest money yet
- You
have “almost” all the tools that a paid pro software design has.
- Open-source
platform
- Compatible
with all devices
- Well
documented. You can find a lot of tutorials for every tool.
Cons:
- Since
it’s a free software, they don’t update their soft frequently.
- You
can experiment crashes from time to time so make sure to save your work
every 5 minutes or so.
- Sometimes
it feels you have limited choice for your designs.
Get started with GIMP.
8. Adobe XD
Adobe XD is the number one competitor of Sketch. It has some
nice features that I play with from time to time. I recommend this software if
you want to design a prototype for user testing.
You can also create and share designs for websites, mobile
apps, and voice interfaces. Besides, it has a nice feature
called coediting and you can collaborate with your team in real-time.
Key Features:
- Real-time
collaboration with coediting: Design together with your team to create
faster and better products.
- Support
for macOS Voice Control: You can access XD design and prototyping
features using dictation and voice commands.
- Responsive
resize: You can easily resize groups of components for different size
screens.
- Compatibility
with all Adobe Softwares: Import and export all your work between all
the adobe products.
Skill level required: beginner.
Pros:
- My
favorite feature is the fact that I can preview instantly the app I
design on any device I want.
- Invite
to edit design: You can share it with your team and work in real-time.
- Auto-Animate:
This feature allows you to Create microinteractions across artboards and
XD automatically generate an animation.
- Compatible
with Windows and MacOS.
- Quickly
replicate design elements, as many times as you want.
- Updates
frequently.
Cons:
- It’s
still a new software, bugs and errors can appear from time to time.
- It
doesn’t have a variety of plugins to choose from.
- Not
much popularity among the design community
9. Adobe Indesign
Adobe Indesign is used for professionals in the printing
industry, you can create print-based documents or even interactive digital
magazines.
It has amazing features to design stunning layouts.
Key Features:
- Good
Typographic Support: Option for font search and filter.
- You
can export your designs to PDF and HTML.
- Support
on devices like Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone/iPad, Mac and Web-based
Skill level required: advanced.
Pros:
- Review
Share: You can share your design with just a few clicks and receive
feedback from your team within the app.
- Adobe
Fonts: InDesign automatically finds all available fonts from Adobe Fonts.
- SVG
Import: You can import your svg files into your InDesign projects to
create animations.
- Very
popular software in the industry: Meaning you will find a lot of tutorials
to learn the software.
Cons:
- It’s
not user friendly: It is understandable because of how complex is the
software. This is not a software you are going to fully learn in a week or
a month. This is used by people who usually work in field of design.
- It
crashes randomly: Be prepared to experience errors/crash from time to
time. Try to save your work at least every 5 minutes.
- Learning
curve is high.
What is the best free design software?
The best free design software is GIMP.
If you are not ready to invest yet in a professional graphic
design software then start with a free one.
GIMP offers you all the tools you need to design awesome
stuff. It has tools for photo manipulation, retouch, artwork creation, and much
more.
The learning curve can be a bit hard but if you are willing
to invest the time it may be a good choice to start with a free software.
What Are the Benefits of Graphic Design Software?
Depending on the software you choose, the quality of your
design will be higher or lower.
Yes.
Choosing the best design software matters. Cheap or free
software will not have the same design output compared to a premium.
Of course, your design skills matter the most, but a premium
tool can make the difference between designers.
Using a software for your designs will save you time and
more importantly it will produce and save you money. The best part is that your
designs are digital so you can edit them, duplicate, change them, and scale
easily every time you want to.
How to use graphic design software?
First, you need to understand that every graphic design
software has one goal: to help you achieve the best possible designs.
So, of course, they will try to create a user-friendly
interface to make it easier to use.
Every learning curve will be different be here are some
things you can do to learn faster how to use a graphic design software.
2. Learn the basic tool. The basic tools are the ones
that you will use the most so start with them. See what “lasso tool” does, and
play with different brushes.
3.Youtube Tutorials. I remember when I was still in highschool,
that’s how I started by simply watching Youtube tutorials. There are thousands
of them. Just watch one and try to reproduce what the designer does. You will
learn new tricks and create some awesome designs in the process.
4. Keep improving. It takes hundreds of hours to master
a software, so don’t give up. Keep creating and improving and eventually, it
will pay off. In the end, your design skills will matter the most.
Summary
Now it’s time to take action.
I know, sometimes finding the best graphic design software
can be overwhelming but if you set some criteria your selection will be much
easier.
My recommendation would be to choose a software based on:
Features: depending on the desired design
quality you will need premium features. If you are planning to learn how to
design why not go with a premium software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.
You will learn from the best, plus usually, the paid Softwares have a lot of
tutorials and support from the community.
Budget: Decide if you want to go with a premium
or a free design tool. If you go with premium, how much you are willing to pay
for the software.
Consider these points when you make a decision and take action
🙂
I hope this review was helpful for you and please if you
have time, share your creation with me.
Cheers!