In the world of multimedia and images, graphic designing is a crucial skill and need. Today, nearly 81 percent of businesses depend on graphic design services and solutions for their business purposes. Graphic design services in India are also very important and popular because of the growing economy and the high number of businesses running in the country.
Today, you can find excellent graphic designers everywhere in India. These skilled professionals use tools for graphic design that are very advanced and fast in creating outputs. You will learn about the use of graphic design tools and their impact on businesses in this blog. From graphic design tools free to top graphic design tools in the paid version, you can find everything related to the best graphic design tools here.
Why Choosing the Right Graphic Design Tools Matters
Like in every industry, there is a growing demand for speed and advanced innovation in the graphic design sector. A graphic designer needs to grasp his creativity and expression to create the best output possible. However, he also needs to have knowledge and skills related to the tools used in graphic design.
Apart from knowing which tools are used in graphic design, it is also important to know the best tools for graphic design and use them in day-to-day workflow. The use of the best graphic design tools helps maintain high productivity and amazing work for the graphic design team. The top graphic design companies and freelancers depend on a graphic design tools list that you will find later in this blog.
Key Features to Look for in Graphic Design Tools
⇒ User-friendly interface
Before you choose the best graphic design tools for beginners, you need to see the kind of UI and controls it has. Graphic design tools should be useful to graphic designers at different levels. A smooth and simple UI is one that anyone can use to design graphics and edit media. Even expert designers prefer to use graphic design best tools that are user-friendly and have a good feel.
⇒ Wide range of design capabilities
The online graphic design tools should also have a wide range of features and capabilities that a graphic designer can tap into to maximize the creative output he has. Designers create different types of graphics for different purposes. A versatile graphic design tool should be able to support different kinds of design needs that might arise in a team.
⇒ Integration with other tools
The tools in graphic design should be strong and flexible for integration with other design and development tools. When the tools are ready for integration, the professionals can create a complete ecosystem for graphic design and development. This ecosystem with tools needed for graphic design aids the graphic designer in creating the best output for the pipeline.
⇒ Cloud-based storage and collaboration
The top 10 tools for graphic design should offer cloud-based storage and collaboration channels so that the graphic designer is able to access the work he is doing from anywhere. The cloud environment simplifies the storage process and also makes sure that the output is never lost. With the help of cloud design solutions, the graphic design professional is able to collaborate with others on his team.
⇒ Regular updates and innovation
The graphic design free tools should have regular updates and new features depending on the innovation introduced in the sector. New features and updates ensure that the designer remains updated and ahead of the crowd in his professional sphere.
Top Graphic Design Tools for 2024
1. Adobe Creative Cloud
The Adobe Creative Cloud is a suite of tools that is the industry standard for most designers. Many graphic designers depend on the Cloud suite to access different kinds of graphic design tools. Here are some of the best graphic design tools included in the Adobe Creative Cloud.
Tools included:
⇒ Photoshop
Photoshop is a photo editing tool that can edit graphics seamlessly. It is a graphics editor with which you can swiftly create digital art and graphics for any purpose.
⇒ Illustrator
Illustrator is a tool that can help with vector graphics editing. Vector graphics editing is needed to create blended and creative graphics, which you can achieve with the use of Illustrator.
Also Read: Top 10 Graphic Design Companies in Ahmedabad
⇒ InDesign
InDesign is a desktop publishing software that you can use to create magazines and brochures as well as other graphical material to print.
⇒ Key features:
Graphic designers prefer using Adobe Creative Cloud because it helps in creating multiple types of designs and graphic materials. It is a tool that can be integrated with other Adobe apps and is easily used. It has a range of editing features that are the comprehensive tools that graphic designers need.
2. Figma
Figma is also among the top graphic design tools that you can use to create a collaborative environment for your teammates. It is used by graphic designing teams to create channels for collaboration and teamwork.
⇒ Key features:
Figma is preferred by users because it can foster real-time collaboration and also helps in creating top-notch designs quickly. There are many features that designers can use in a cloud-based way. On the other hand, Figma is generally preferred by UI/UX designers to create the layout needed for websites and apps.
3. Canva
Canva is probably the most well-known graphic designing tool for users. Graphic designers at any level can use Canva with ease. Even people who are not designers but want better graphics for social media also use Canva.
⇒ Key features:
Canva is so popular because it is beginner-friendly and offers simple features like a drag-and-drop editor. It also has a huge library of premade and designed templates that people can tap into for creativity. It is a very quick tool and can create polished designs in a few simple steps.
4. Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is also among the free graphic design tools that professionals use for better output and design. It is a good tool with which to channel your creativity. It might not be easy for beginners and nontechnical people, but it is a tool that professionals rely on.
⇒ Key features:
Affinity Designer is a highly responsive and interactive tool that allows graphics and raster editing on one platform. It has a free version, but for best results, you can also go for the subscription payment mode that you need for your work.
5. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a highly useful graphic editing suite that has many amazing features. The editor primarily deals with vector design graphics and editing. Graphic designers use this tool to create scalable designs for print and digital purposes.
⇒ Key features:
The Graphics Suite from CORELDraw has many powerful features and is very efficient. It is great for vector design and can create designs in a versatile manner for many purposes. It also has multiple features for illustrations and other types of graphics.
6. Procreate (for iPad)
Procreate is a graphic design tool that you can access easily on the iPad and iOS systems. You can use the designing tool to create illustrations and graphics for different purposes.
⇒ Key features:
The Procreate tool is a pressure-sensitive app that is ideal for making designs on a tablet. It is a tool that you can use for pressure-sensitive brush strokes and easy designing. Because of its realistic UI, it can be great for people who use iPad and Apple Pencil to design. It is also very flexible, as it has many customization options and many different brush strokes to choose from.
7. Inkscape (Open Source)
Among the graphic design tools that are free, Inkscape is the primary one that you can depend on. It is a very interactive and reliable tool to use for graphic design. It is versatile and can be used by beginners as well as professionals. It is free, so it can come under any budget for graphic design.
⇒ Key features:
The Inkscape tool is open-source and has an easy learning curve. Because of this, it is easy to use and good for beginners as well as graphic design experts. It is a tool that supports design in SVG format and can be adapted for different purposes.
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Best Tools for Specialized Design Needs
⇒ For UI/UX Design
1. Sketch
Sketch is a simple but useful vector design tool that graphic designers use for UI and UX design on apps and websites. It allows for interactive prototyping and is good for team collaboration in the same design space.
2. Axure RP
Axure RP is one of the free tools for graphic design that helps in design prototyping and documentation. It has simple features like a drag-and-drop editor, adaptive views, and collaboration tools that help the team create the best output for UI UX design.
⇒ For Motion Graphics
1. Blender
If you want to create 3D and motion graphics for your client, then you can use the Blender tool without any worry. It is a free tool that you can use to add animation and visual effects to a graphic to make it more interactive.
2. Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects is a tool included in the Adobe suite, and it is the best tool for 3D graphics in the industry. Adobe After Effects is a good tool for creating 3D models and also adds visual effects to any graphics.
⇒ For 3D Design
1. Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D is a rendering software that can blend graphics to create 3D designs and add animation in the required places. It is a tool that designers use to add gameplay graphics to gaming apps and animation to videos.
2. Tinkercad
Tinkercad is a web-based design tool that is absolutely free to use and is great at adding 3D depth to images and videos. It is very popular among beginners and engineers as it helps with basic projects and electronic design.
How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Workflow
Before you pick the tools used for graphic design, you need to first assess the kind of work that comes to your graphic designing team and what they create. The kind of graphics, whether vector design, 3D, or any other form of graphics, is what determines the kind of graphic design tools picked.
You also need to consider the budget restrictions around the graphic design project and how much you can spend on the tools for graphic design free. If you have a very low budget, then go for a tool that is free or has a one-time purchase condition. If you want to go for paid tools and can afford them, then you can look at subscription-based graphic design tools.
The graphic designing tool that you pick should be compatible with the skill level of the professionals on your team. The tool should also be very adaptable and integrate easily with the workflow your team has. This ensures that the team can use the tool right away.
If you are a freelancer, you might go for a standalone graphic design tool. However, if you are working in a team and with other designers, then choose a graphic design tool that has multiple collaborative features and channels. Most of the design tools have collaborative features or can be upgraded to the environment.
Boost Your Creativity: Choose the Perfect Graphic Design Tool!
If you are working at a graphic design company in India or want to work on a freelance basis, you have to use the best graphic design tools for your work. Before you choose the tool, you need to look at its features and other tools so you can compare. Also, try to gauge your skill level and the kind of work you do before you choose the perfect graphic design tool for your work. You need a strong knowledge of what tools are used for graphic design before you start creating professionally.
Mit Thakkar
Mit Thakkar, CEO of Midas Touch Infotech and a recognized LinkedIn SEO influencer, possesses extensive expertise in branding, website development, and digital marketing. He excels in transforming ideas into impactful digital strategies.
