We all know that deciding on the best software for graphic design is not an easy task. We all know how many brands make how many products and we always like to compare them and see which one of them is the best. Have you ever wondered why is it so difficult to find the right brand, the right product that fits our needs?
It’s difficult to choose the best software for graphic design. The decision for this will depend upon the type of software that you need to do your job well. There are many different types of tools for designing graphics, but today I am going to explain two of them. These are Photoshop and Illustrator.
SVG-Edit
The best free vector editor for quick SVG jobs
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: BrowserTODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Good vector capabilities+Intuitive interface
REASONS TO AVOID
-Short on advanced tools-Needs some code knowledgeAdvertisement
Based in the browser, SVG-Edit lets you edit and create SVG files using a standard vector toolset. It’s not the most sophisticated of vector apps, but it doesn’t really need to be. For simple vectors, or even slightly more detailed ones, it’ll do the job just fine.
Adobe Photoshop
The best graphic design software for editing images
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows, macOSTODAY’S BEST DEALSCreative Cloud PhotographyUS$9.99/mthCreative Cloud Single AppUS$20.99/mthCreative Cloud All AppsUS$52.99/mthVISIT SITEat Adobe
REASONS TO BUY
+Industry standard bitmap editor+All the tools you’ll need+AI-powered features
REASONS TO AVOID
-Requires subscription
Just as Illustrator is the best graphic design software for vector work, Photoshop is the number one choice for image editing. It’s the de facto standard for pretty much all image work, from touching up photos through to drawing and painting, and packs in all manner of tools that’ll make your creative life easier, including powerful AI tools for seamlessly replacing bits of images you want to get rid of. If you’re a working designer then an Adobe subscription is basically a must-have.
Easelly
Software for creating infographics automatically
1/4
2/4- 3/4
4/4
Editors’ Rating (3/5)
WebPros
- Create all the diagrams online
- Instant upload a finished layout to your website, social network or computer
- To use additional functions of this resource, you have to pay just $3 a month
Cons
- No autosave
- Might not be useful for advanced users
The next option might seem too creative for those who haven’t worked with infographics yet. Especially, if you take into consideration a set of different icons in the form of moving people, various lines and diagrams.
This software allows you to create and edit different infographics and display it in PDF or JPG formats. The basic version is free but additional elements are available for a small fee. However, unlike many other data visualization tools, Easelly is way cheaper.
Daz 3D
Best software for creating 3D graphics
1/4- 2/4
- 3/4
- 4/4
Editors’ Rating (4/5)
Windows / MacUSE DAZ3D FOR FREEPros
- Characters look realistic
- Offers Morphing Tools, Facial Expressions, Movements
- Provides 3D Content Modeling, Animation, Rendering
- Has 3D Creation Tool
Cons
- Hasn’t had updates for a long time
- Requires powerful computer
This is the best free graphic design software for animators, illustrators and designers. It can be used for 3D animation, figure posing and rendering.
The software represents a combination of various graphic design platforms, solutions and additions, such as Hexagon, Genesis 8 and Daz Studio. They work together in order to create the possibilities of designing 3D rigged human models.
Also, using Daz 3D, you can create amazing digital locations, animations and illustrations. It’s a universal software that offers a lot of functions that help adjust scenes and characters and make masterpieces out of them. Daz 3D has a figure platform and character engine that enables the creation of detailed characters.
Inkscape
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Its tagline is “draw freely” and Inkscape lives up to that mantra — there’s no cost for this graphic design tool and it packs a host of features for both beginners and experienced marketers.
In addition to cross-platform support and an active community, Inkscape is known for superior vector art options and wide format compatibility. One drawback is that the sluggish controls can frustrate some users if they’re looking to quickly create and publish designs.
Gimp
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
One of the most popular open-source design tools, Gimp is often compared to its closest for-pay competitor, Photoshop, with users on both sides making passionate arguments for one platform over the other.
Gimp gets high praise as a free design tool for its support of all file formats, ease of digital retouching, and ability to quickly create new designs from scratch. In addition, Gimp features a customizable interface that allows more experienced designers to make use of the tool’s capabilities. Worth noting? Gimp does not support any Photoshop plugins.
Paint 3D
Platform: Windows
The classic Microsoft design tool is back, free, and updated to deliver more functionality. While it can’t compete with some of the more robust design tools on our list, Paint 3D comes with realistic textures, 2D cutout creation, and a host of 3D tools and effects.
If you’re a beginner looking for an easy bar to entry for straightforward graphic design, Paint 3D is a great place to start. There’s virtually no learning curve and since it’s made by Microsoft, the tool naturally works well on all Windows 10 devices.
Conclusion
If you’re starting a project and wondering which is the best tool for it, make sure to read this short and simple comparison and avoid getting confused and overwhelmed by the extensive information out there about graphic design software.
There are hundreds, maybe thousands of software solutions online and offline available to help graphic designers with their business. This of course means choosing the best one can be a daunting task for someone who is new to the field of graphic design. A lot of designers simply don’t have the time to test every bit of software available for any given task, so many designers are left wondering which software is best for them.