Of course you want to create stunning vector graphics. It is not only easy but also a lot of fun to do. You can get great satisfaction from being able to pull off impressive piece of design work. To help you create amazing vector graphics, we have crafted this guide to the best free vector software for mac
Do you want to design vector graphics for your mac computer? If yes, then you are at the right place. Today I will be discussing about some of the best vector graphics software which allows designing vector graphics without having any knowledge in this field. It is amazing to see how flexible and powerful these software are. These software gives users advanced features to resize, modify, rotate and do multiple modifications which can make your design look stunning. You can use these software to create impressive designs that can be used in printing or as an e-card.
Lunacy
Platform: Windows
Download link: icons8.com/lunacy
At first, Lunacy was developed as a Sketch viewer for Windows, because the problem of opening .sketch files was always a nightmare for people who didn’t own Mac. But it’s quickly becoming a powerful tool on its own. With Lunacy, you can not only open .sketch files, but also perform multiple editing functions: organize pages and artboards, draw, join & align objects, and use typography.
Add to that export in PNG and SVG, support of CSS & XAML code and you’ll get a powerful vector editing tool without having to employ a bunch of crutches to make .sketch files work on Windows. A portable version comes as a bonus.
Pros:
- First fully-featured .sketch editor for Windows
- Constant updates
- Portable version
- Active development & support
Cons:
- Minor performance bugs
- Advanced features are yet to come
Pixelmator Pro
Moving forward on the list of vector graphics software, the next one is Pixelmator Pro which supports vector art with shapes, curves, and lines. It consists of a huge collection of built-in shapes and tools which reduces the time and effort of creating new ones. It contains a GPU-powered image editing module that lets users make all the changes required.
Features:
- Layer-based image editing
- Workspace presets for photography, illustration, design, and painting
- Live histogram with RGB, Luminance, and Colors modes
Price: $39.99 per month
Boxy SVG
Boxy SVG is one of the best vector graphics software that supports PNG, JPEG, and GIF in addition to SVG files. It can be used as a web version and macOS application from the App Store. It allows users to use transform tools, grouping tools, painting tools, and support gradients and patterns.
Features:
- Includes Developer tools.
- Built-in Keyboard shortcuts.
- Supports Windows, iOS, Android, Mac, Linux,cloud-based, and cloud-based versions.
Price: $9.99 per month
Fatpaint
Fatpaint graphic design software is a free image editor supporting custom printed templates for drawing page layouts. This vector drawing and printing software support photo restoration and color manipulation for designing products online.
It also helps create and edit logos, photos, and other types of vector illustrations. With thousands of in-built fonts and vector clip arts, Fatpaint makes it relatively easy to showcase your creative side.
Features of Fatpaint:
- Creating logos and 3D texts
- Vector image and photo editor
- Easy to adjust extrusion depth and camera position
- Inbuilt vector clip arts
Free trial: Fatpaint is a free picture editor with limited features.
Pricing: Fatpaint Pro version costs around ₹ 670 per month.
Compatible OS: Windows & Mac OS; Apple and Linux browsers
Inkscape
Let us begin the list of the best vector design software with a free vector software known as Inkscape. This open-source application supports full compatibility with W3C open standard SVG files. This app requires XQuartz downloaded on your system to run Inkscape. It supports object creation and manipulation, text support, rendering, and fill/stroke functions.
Features:
- Supported on all major platforms (Mac, Windows & Cloud)
- Documentation and Help Forums are available
- Used for marketing, branding, engineering, cartooning, and web graphics.
Price: Free
Vectr
Moving forward on the list of best vector graphics software, we have another free vector software by the name of Vectr. This vector design software is built on web technology and has been declared free forever. It supports the creation of Logos, brochures, posters, and other vector drawings.
Features:
- Supports Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, and macOS(browser version only)
- User guide and tutorials available
- Includes Collaboration tools and image editing.
Price: Free
LibreOffice Draw
Another free vector software in the list is LibreOffice Draw which is from the parent company LibreOffice. This organization has launched open-source alternatives to all Microsoft Office products and excelled by launching a vector design software known as Draw. Many users claim that it contains lesser features than other vector graphics software but it is surely worth a try.
Features:
- Easy to create flowcharts and diagrams.
- Supports technical drawings and brochures
- Create network diagrams
Price: Free
Gravit Designer
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS, Web
Download link: designer.io
We might be a bit subjective here. After all, Gravit used our icons. However, Gravit’s developers have much more to offer than having good taste.
On a feature-wise specter, Gravit falls precisely between Inkscape and Vectr. It has more features than the latter while staying as intuitive as the former. And, like all the apps mentioned in this article, it comes with no price attached. Talk about balance.
The app allows you to do everything you would expect from a vector software program: Create curves, edit paths, manage layers and use the knife function. It supports SVG, PDF, JPEG,.SKETCH and recently, EPS (finally!) formats for import and export. In addition, you can work on your projects across different platforms; Gravit Cloud allows seamless transition of files between desktop and online versions. A portable version is also available.
Among the other handy things that Gravit features, there are vector assets that are available within the app. Gravit Designer’s library of assets includes icons, shapes, emojis, and illustrations – all of which can be combined and modified for commercial and non-commercial use.
Gravit Youtube Channel
Even though the tool is free (according to developers, “there will definitely be areas in Gravit Designer in the foreseeable future, or areas surrounding Gravit Designer, that are subject to a charge”), bugs are being fixed and the most voted for features are being developed. You can see a full description of the new features in the Gravit Designer developers’ blog, along with a bunch of cool tutorials.
Tutorials: Youtube Playlist
Pros:
- Huge library of vector assets out-of-box
- Intuitive UI and workflow
- Browser and cross-platform versions, all connected with cloud
Cons:
- Not yet clear what features will stay free in the future
- No advanced features like the ones that can be found in AE or Inkscape
Inker
Inker vector graphics editor is famous for creating typographies and logos. EPS and SVG export functions, gradients are the key designing features of the Inker online editor.
The vector graphics editor is easy to use and provides color palettes for adjusting colors. Inker supports all types of drawings, such as sketch inking, comics, logotype, etc.
Features of Inker:
- Arranging created artwork, layer, and group-wise
- Drawing smooth finished lines
- Option for creating shapes
- Organized color palette for adjusting colors
Free trial: NA
Inker Pricing: It’s a free vector graphics software.
Compatible OS: Mac OS, Android, Google Chrome and web-based
Conclusion:
Vector graphics software is a form of computer graphics that uses a geometrical (vector) representation of images in digital form. Vector graphics are based on mathematical expressions and equations, instead of individual pixels. If you love vectors and you have decided to purchase one piece of vector software, you might be confused with the options that are currently in the market. There are literally hundreds of vector programs for macs that are sold in the market for thousands of dollars. While many of these programs might be okay, some might not be satisfactory.