The Best Graphic Editors: An Expert's Review of Paid and Free Software

Contents:

• Raster Graphics Editors
• Vector Graphics Applications
• Editors for layout and print design
• Software for web design and interface design
• What other tools can be used in work
• Which editor should a novice designer choose? Useful resources from the editors of Skillbox.by

Packaging design, glossy magazine layout, special effects in films—no field today can do without graphic designers.

Graphic design in the post-industrial world is a way to stand out from the competition; it is one of the drivers of sales and the economy as a whole. Companies invest billions of dollars to create cool advertising, unusual packaging, booklets, and brochures that will make people buy their product. And they are willing to pay designers well for this.

But the work of a graphic designer is primarily about software, without which even a simple idea cannot be realized. We'll explain how to choose the right app to land larger-budget orders in the future.

Overview of raster graphics editors

Raster images are images that consist of a grid of colored dots (pixels). The dots overlap, and when zoomed out, we see an image with smooth color transitions. If you greatly enlarge such an image, instead of a solid picture, you will see a mosaic of individual pixels.

Raster graphics include photographs, scanned copies of documents, collages, and textures in 3D animations and films. Video itself consists of individual raster images—frames (edit: This does not apply to film or photographic film). The image on a monitor or smartphone screen is formed using the same principle. Raster images are usually saved in the following formats: png, tiff, jpeg, gif.

If you plan to process photos, create or edit textures, work with illustrations for glossy magazines, then you cannot do without a raster graphics editor.

Adobe Photoshop. No. 1 for working with raster images

At one time, Adobe Photoshop made a real breakthrough with the proposed approach to photo editing. Today, it remains the most powerful and popular raster graphics editor. It is used by web designers, 3D artists, photographers, animators, and special effects specialists in film and television.

Although Photoshop has capabilities for working with vector graphics, 3D animations, and video, its main focus is on raster images. And in this area, it can literally do everything. Working with masks, the ability to make hand-drawn sketches on graphics tablets, restoring lost areas of a photo, cutting out objects, color correction, adding effects, converting a photo into a painting, compositing. And this is only a small part of the possibilities.

Photoshop is suitable for photo retouching, developing graphical interfaces for websites, banners, posters, creating logos and realistic illustrations. And the latest versions of the software even have access to artificial intelligence (AI), which can generate images, add objects to a photo based on a text description, or restore lost parts of illustrations.

Among the advantages of the editor are the following:

• a huge selection of tools that can be flexibly customized, for example, adding new brushes;
• supports graphic tablets;
• The interface can be customized: display frequently used tools in a convenient place and hide unused ones;
• Supports third-party plugins that extend the functionality of the software.

Among the disadvantages:

• Due to the abundance of tools, it takes time to learn the program;
• High hardware requirements;
• Not suitable for batch image processing.

Adobe Photoshop is available through a paid subscription. Rates valid as of the end of 2023:

• $34.49 per month;
• $22.99 per month when you sign up for an annual subscription paid monthly;
• $21.99 per month when paid annually.

Raster editors that are no less worthy of attention than Photoshop

Gimp

The best free alternative to Photoshop. It is practically equal in terms of capabilities and set of tools. Suitable for retouching, replacing or removing backgrounds, drawing, blurring, adding effects, color correction, improving light, creating illustrations, logos, banners, business cards, etc.

The only area in which GIMP is inferior to Photoshop is that it lacks the AI ​​capabilities that Adobe is actively implementing. Also, some users are put off by its more complex functionality.

Krita

Another free, open-source alternative to Photoshop. Unlike the universal GIMP, Krita is tailored for artists and offers many drawing tools, flexible brush settings, and supports HDR technology. Among the disadvantages are poorly developed functionality for working with text, there is no stamp, which is used for retouching.

SumoPaint

This is a set of web tools for designers, artists and publishers. Copies most of the features of Photoshop. Offers a large selection of brushes, there is a 3D editing mode and many other features.

Pixlr, Photopea

Free raster web editors with advanced features. Conceptually similar to each other, and both are worth attention. Support working with layers, masks, have retouching and compositing functions. You can switch between advanced and simplified modes for quickly preparing postcards and illustrations. Pixlr has an AI-powered image generation tool.

Overview of Vector Graphics Applications

Vector graphics include images that are formed using curved lines defined by a mathematical formula. The picture is assembled from individual objects composed of a contour and a fill. These are infographics, interface elements, fonts, and logos.

A vector image file stores contour calculation data instead of raster grid data. This provides two advantages at once. The file size is much smaller, and the picture can be scaled infinitely without sacrificing quality.

The main disadvantage is that they are not suitable for photographs, since you cannot achieve a smooth color transition, as in raster images.

Vector editors are needed for developing logos, preparing layouts for outdoor advertising, packaging design, advertising and information signs and infographics.

Adobe Illustrator. The best application for working with vector graphics

In the vector graphics segment, the best software is still offered by Adobe. Illustrator has a similar interface to Photoshop, and many tools are duplicated, which greatly simplifies mastering the program.

The application has flexible capabilities. There is a freehand drawing function with automatic conversion of sketches to curves, advanced editing of vector shapes is available, and you can also play with fonts, changing their width, thickness, and tilt. The software has a built-in AI tool that can generate vector images or turn photos into vector illustrations. It is distributed based on a paid license with a monthly subscription for $22.99 per month.

Among the advantages:

• many functions to implement any ideas;
• precise editing of paths;
• Convenient, well-designed interface.

Disadvantages include:

• Limited capabilities for editing raster images;
• High demands on PC performance;
• Little training materials and a steep learning curve.

Useful vector graphics software other than Illustrator

CorelDraw Graphics Suite

A vector graphics application used by most print shops today. Its special feature is the AI-powered LiveSketch tool. It converts hand sketches into vector curves. The application is paid and can be purchased starting at $22.99 per month. A standard subscription includes a license for Photo-Paint and Corel Font Manager.

Affinity Designer

Another worthy vector graphics editor, comparable in capabilities to CorelDraw and Illustrator. Affinity Designer users note its more user-friendly interface and easy layer management. And for $49.99 you can even get a lifetime subscription.

Overview of applications for layout and print design

You can quickly assemble an advertising booklet, flyer, business card, or make a beautiful postcard using most graphic editors such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and software that works on the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) principle. For example, Adobe Express, Canva, or MS Publisher. But for more serious projects, such as the layout of a magazine, a multi-page catalog, or a book, publishing systems are used that combine the capabilities of three editors at once: text, vector, and raster graphics.

InDesign. A popular application for layout of digital and print publications

Since 1999, Adobe InDesign has been used by publishers and advertising agencies to layout magazines, newspapers, books, informational brochures and flyers, outdoor banners, business cards, digital books, and interactive PDF files. Although it is not the first publishing system, the application has set the standard by which other developers are guided.

An important feature of InDesign is the built-in Senseye technology. It adapts the position and size of images, which allows you to evenly fill the page with text. In the application, you can enable a mode in which editing text and graphics will automatically adjust to the page. One-click export to PDF or HTML is also provided. And also many built-in tools for working with vector and raster graphics. Like other products in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, InDesign is distributed by subscription. Price: $ 22.99 per month.

Among the advantages:

• The interface is similar to other Adobe products;
• A large set of built-in tools for editing images;
• Simple layout customization, there is an automatic mode;
• huge selection of built-in fonts;
• one-click file integration and export from other Adobe applications.

Disadvantages include:

• not the easiest interface to learn;
• Limited web design support.

InDesign's Main Competitors

Scribus

A popular free alternative for layout of digital and print publications. Although this software cannot compare in functionality to InDesign, it is an open-source application with a large community. Popular among freelancers and studios - it is used to layout booklets, small brochures, and business cards.

QuarkXPress

Professional software for print design. QuarkXPress has gained advanced capabilities for working with graphics and text, including a built-in spell checker and font management features. It's perfect for large projects, such as fashion magazine layouts and preparing books and monographs for print. However, it can easily handle business cards, postcards, or small brochures.

Web and Interface Design Software Review

In the world of graphic design, Photoshop is the king of all things. It's also suitable for website and app layout. However, the software is too cumbersome and complex. Web designers needed a tool tailored to specific tasks and that would speed up web development. This is how interface editors came to be.

It's based on a vector graphics editor, but adapted for web design. It allows you to edit or create buttons and icons from scratch, assemble and edit page layouts, and immediately set up connections between them.

Figma. A popular app for UX/UI design

A free web app that works from a browser. There is also a desktop version for Windows and MacOS, and a mobile app for iOS and Android. Figma allows even beginners to create beautiful and well-thought-out interfaces thanks to its flexible and well-designed functionality. Collaboration on projects is also available. The full version starts at $12 per month.

The main features include:

• Website layout preparation: creating interfaces, interactive buttons, setting up links between pages;
• Interface layout for mobile and desktop applications;
• Creating interfaces for various gadgets: smart home control devices, intercoms, etc.;
• Development of banners and presentations;
• Creation of logos, icons, and buttons;
• Photo editing.

Among the advantages:

• Does not require installation, works through a web interface;
• A wide range of tools;
• Collaboration with auto-saving in the cloud is available;
• Easy-to-learn interface;
• There is a free version with a limited number of projects.

Disadvantages include:

• does not work offline;
• lacks tools for working with text and fonts;
• no hotkey settings.

Useful apps besides Figma

Sketch

It almost completely replicates Figma in its capabilities. However, this is a desktop application with localization only for MacOS, which ultimately affected the popularity of the software. Among the advantages: low requirements for computer resources and fast operation.

Adobe XD

Like all Adobe applications, it has a rather complex and cluttered interface. Because of this, the software has not been very popular. But in return, you can get a huge selection of tools, and with it the ability to solve non-trivial problems.

What other tools can designers use in their work?

A designer's work is not limited to one tool. Other applications can also be useful:

• Adobe Express.This is not a Photoshop analogue, but a graphics editor for people who are not familiar with design and image editing. It allows you to quickly create a postcard, booklet, brochure, add a frame and captions to photos for social networks. Or do simple retouching: remove red eyes, correct skin tone.
• Canva.Conceptually similar to Adobe Express. But in addition, you get thousands of ready-made templates, hundreds of thousands of stock photos and footage. There is a desktop and web version.
• Microsoft Publisher. Intuitive software for creating booklets, postcards, business cards, calendars, and other publications. The database offers a large selection of ready-made templates and clip art.
• Autodesk SketchBook. The best free program for artists. Suitable for both simple sketches and full-fledged drawing on a tablet.
• Xara Designer Pro X. An all-in-one tool. Includes a graphic and vector graphics editor, tools for layout of digital and print publications. Offers a database of ready-made templates and stock photos.

Which editor should a novice designer choose? Useful resources from the editors of Skillbox.by

Usually, blogs dedicated to design give standard advice - choose the application that suits your needs. Planning to become a web designer - choose Figma or Sketch. Going to create book designs - InDesign. For working on logos, Illustrator or CorelDraw will come in handy.

In reality, everything is more banal. If you want to develop in the direction of graphic design and computer graphics, it does not matter whether you like to create sketches for manga, effective booklets or special effects for films, then you need to start with Photoshop or its closest analogues. For example, GIMP. And after mastering their capabilities, you can move on to specialized software.

It is not necessary to use expensive software packages. If you are a freelancer, your work is more important to clients than the software you use. There are free applications with decent functionality for every industry.

If you are planning to get a job in a studio, then study the vacancies and requirements of employers in advance. You can study the interface and basic capabilities of paid software using a trial version. For example, Adobe allows you to use all functions for free without restrictions for a whole month.

And so that you can learn more about graphic design and learn how to work with popular graphic editors, the editorial team of Skillbox.by has collected useful resources:

• Learn Design With 99designs — blog of a popular freelance exchange for designers;
• Adobe Creative Cloud Learn & Support — Adobe support center, here three sections are available on all company products: "Getting Started", "Guides" and "Tutorials";
• Web Design Blog | WDD (webdesignerdepot.com) — all about web design and vector graphics;
• UI and UX Design Blog by ScienceSoft (scnsoft.com) — Useful materials on UX and UI design;
• Behance Blog — a blog of a stock photo and footage exchange, here you can find a lot of useful materials for designers and photographers;
• Dieline — all about packaging design;
• Cartoon Vector Characters, Design Inspiration, Freebies | GraphicMama blog — a resource dedicated to vector graphics and layout of digital and print publications;
• Elena Baryshkina — Graphic designer — here you can find lessons on drawing, typography, and vector graphics;
• The Futur — a blog of a creative agency on web design, typography, and marketing;
• Gareth David Studio — here you will find training materials on packaging design, logos, and working with graphic editors;
• Envato Tuts+ — here you will find tutorials on working with graphic editors and the basic principles of graphic design;
• Satori Graphics — On this resource, you can find useful materials on packaging design and advertising, comparisons of "good" and "bad" design.