11 Tools for Graphic Designers in 2021
The world of a graphic designer is one of color, shapes, and text. It takes skill to combine these and several other elements to form the beautiful designs we see all around us. A graphic designer, either a beginner or an expert, needs some tools to make their work more accessible. The software or applications help them create magic.
Colormind
Colormind has deep learning, some artificial intelligence that allows it to produce different combinations of colors that mesh correctly. It is a creator of color schemes. The deep learning AI learns from various things like art, pictures or images, and images.
Fontjoy
Fontjoy is an easy-to-use tool for font pairings. Its main job is to pair aesthetically pleasing heard fonts with body fonts. Fontjoy is easy for anyone to use, gives some excellent suggestions, and is suitable for both designers and aspiring or non-designers.
GIMP
GIMP is one of the most popular photo editors, its being free might be a factor. GIMP or GNU Image Manipulator is a good photo editor. Though it is free, GIMP has many tools and features that have paid for photo editors.
Its user interface is not as good as paid editors, but it does a good job editing raster photos.
Sketch
One of the drawbacks of this vector illustrator is that it is only available on Mac. This software is excellent for designing interfaces, web, and apps. in recent times, some developers have preferred Sketch designs to other software like Photoshop.
It is not difficult to use, though it is not suitable for illustrations or print designs. To get Sketch, designers have to pay $99 per year.
Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign has been used in the publishing industry for more than two decades. Many newspapers and magazines have laid out using this software.
Adobe costs Illustrator at $20.99/month. If you are interested in their full Creative Cloud, that is an additional $52.99/month. Illustrator’s UI is better than Photoshop’s, and its editing is precise. Its job is to construct or design these magazines and other things you want to be printed then convert them to PDF or HTML for export.
InDesign is easy to use, though is it is one-dimensional in its functions, it is still a great way to learn about graphics design.
Adobe Illustrator
Illustrator and Photoshop come from the same company. Perhaps that is why they contain similar tools. Where they differ, however, is vector designs. Photoshop cannot create vector designs in the real sense when Illustrator is primarily for that.
The software allows for combining logos, icons, sketches, and even typography with its various tool. The mesh, pen, Pathfinder, and shape tools, along with swatches and color, allow you to do this.
Illustrator isn’t as easy to use as Photoshop. It requires some level of skill to navigate and utilize the software effectively. If mastered, though, there virtually no limit to the vectors you can create on the software.
Canva
Canva is an app for beginners who find Photoshop too challenging to use. Canva has an essential layout tool that users find easy to use. The app gives you the chance to import images, icons, and texts into a layout.
Within this layout, Canva allows the user to rearrange the imported items until they have the desired result. The app has templates that help an amateur quickly grasp graphic designing, and they are free and customizable.
VPN
Virtual Personal Network, VPN, is an app that allows gives the user privacy and masks their location, allowing them to browse websites forbidden in their area. Graphic designers need a VPN to protect their information, get stock pictures from websites they are not allowed to access, or even get software it would be impossible to get from their location.
There are various types of VPNs, and their quality differs. To get the best VPN, search for the best VPNs and compare them against each other. The versus searches are one way to get to knows the pros and cons of each VPN.
Infogram
Infogram is one of the best apps for creating and designing infographics of excellent quality while having just basic knowledge. The software has ready-to-use templates that help the user edit and input information like text.
Infogram comes in free and paid packages, but the free package is good enough for high-definition infographics.
Adobe Photoshop
When it comes to graphic design tools or software, Adobe Photoshop is easily the most popular. The reason for this is it is easy to use for beginners and has tools for the most complex photo editing. So a layperson could use the software, and an experienced hand could also use it.
In the new version of Photoshop, some new tools like the Frame tool make masking so much easier, that in addition to the traditional Photoshop tools like masks, the pen, layers, among others.
Another advantage of Photoshop is its integrated stock library making, making getting pictures easy for users. However, a disadvantage is the software’s interface; some users could find it challenging to get used to it.
Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is an easy to use, cheaper alternative to Adobe Illustrator. Though the Affinity Designer is more inexpensive, it doesn’t mean the software is bad. Many critics praise the software for its functionality, great style, speed, and usability.
For beginners in vector creation, Affinity Designer is a more excellent way to learn. Also, graphic designers who cannot afford Illustrator can use this software to a significant effect. Affinity also added some great upgrades to its latest version, adding some cool features.
The Affinity Designer costs $49.99. For those that can’t afford Illustrator but need to create vector files or those that need to learn how to make it, then the Affinity Designer is good for you. You should note that though the Designer is a fantastic alternative, it doesn’t have some tools contained in Illustrator.
Conclusion
The world of graphic design is evolving, and designers have to develop with it. The sketchpad and pencil are still relevant, but apps are the way to go. Aside from these apps, there are others that you can use, and you also need a good computer and smartphone.
For beginners starting their journey in the graphics world, apps like Canva can help you on that journey until you gain more experience and use the more complicated ones.
