Almost all businesses need a graphic designer, be it startups, multinational companies, or even MSME businesses.
There are many aspects of business that require graphic design. For example, social media content, advertisements, brochures, menus, banners, packaging, and much more. Have you ever bought a certain item because the packaging was cute? Or is it because the visualization in the ad is really good? If so, we are the same.
Well, to make that design, there are many graphic design applications that can be used. Here are recommendations for the 12 best and most popular graphic design applications. What are the applications? Come on, take a look!
Recommended 12 Best Graphic Design Applications
1.Photoshop by Adobe
This graphic design application must be very familiar to some of us. Reporting from the official Adobe website, more than 90% of creative professionals around the world use this application.
Photoshop is a software (software) based bitmap. This application can be used to edit photos, change photo compositions, combine digital art, change backgrounds, and create graphic designs.
In addition, with Photoshop, you can delete objects, fix objects, remix, and recolor objects.
Adobe Photoshop can be used on Windows as well as Macs. Launching from the official website, Photoshop can now be used on the iPad. Adobe also makes photo editor applications for iOS and Android, you know. The name of the app is Photoshop Express Photo Editor.
This is not a free application, but a paid one. The price starts from Rp. 187,000 to Rp. 996,000 depending on the package you want to choose. Photoshop also provides a free trial if you want to try and learn first.
2. Adobe Illustrator
Still from Adobe, the next graphic design application is Adobe Illustrator (Ai). This is a design application focused on vector design. With Ai, you can create mockups of website layouts, logos, icons, typography, illustrations, posters, and other vector designs. Because Ai is vector-based, your designs won't break when you enlarge them.
If you're still a beginner and just learning to use Ai, don't worry. Adobe Illustrator provides many templates that you can directly download and use.
This app can be used on Windows, Mac, and iPad. Just like Adobe Photoshop, Ai is also paid so that it can be used legally. Subscription fees start at IDR 395,000 per month.
3. Inkscape
This time we will discuss a free graphic design application. The name of the app is Inkscape.
Inkscape is a vector-based graphic design application. This application is suitable for creating vector-based logos, illustrations, and other artwork.
This application can be used on Windows, Mac, and Linux. On the official website, they provide various tutorials using Inkscape. You should try this one application for everything from the basics to tips and tricks.
4. Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is an application that is commonly used to design layouts or layouts on print or digital media. This application is commonly used by creative workers in the publishing industry.
With InDesign, you can customize layouts to create books, magazines, eBooks, posters, interactive PDFs, and more. Designs created using InDesign can be imported in various formats. For example, JPG, PDF, docs, psd, and more.
This application can be used on both Windows and Mac. If you want to try to learn, you can use the free trial. If it fits, you can subscribe to use this application legally. The cost of subscribing to Adobe InDesign is IDR 395,000 per month.
5. CorelDRAW Graphic Suite
CorelDRAW is a vector-based graphic design application. With this application, you can create logos, posters, brochures, and even wedding invitations. You can create any vector-based design with this application. Since the base is vector, the resulting design will not break even when enlarged.
You can export or import files according to your needs. For example, Ai, PSD, PDF, JPG, PNG, SVG, DWG, and others.
The CorelDRAW application can be used on Windows, Mac, and iPad. It's also a paid design app, but they have a free 15-day trial, so you can try it out and learn before you decide to subscribe. CorelDRAW can be purchased in two ways. Pay annually, or buy once. The annual subscription fee is US $399, or around Rp. 5,700,000.
6. Affinity Designer
Many reviews say that Affinity Designer is an alternative to Adobe Illustrator. This graphic design app can be used to create logos, icons, UI designs, mockups, and more.
If AI is vector-based, in Affinity Designer, you can switch from bitmap to vector and vice versa. If you usually work using Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, using Affinity Designe can save time and be more practical.
This application can be used on Windows, Mac, and iPAD. The purchase price for this application is $54.99, or around Rp. 787,000 for Windows and Mac. For the iPad, the cost is $21.99, or Rp. 314,000.
7. Canva
Canva is a very popular graphic design application. Apart from being free, this application is also easy to use. Canva is usually used to create a CV. But more than that, in Canva, we can create various designs for various purposes.
You can create logos, social media content, business cards, menus, banners, posters, Instagram stories, infographics, presentations, and more. This is very suitable for making designs that are not too complex and take time quickly. You can create a design from scratch or use an existing template.
This graphic design application can be used online via the web, or by downloading the application on a mobile phone. Canva works on Android as well as iOS. This application can be used for free, but if you want to use all the features available, you can buy a premium one. There are various price packages offered, which you can adjust to your needs. You can even try the pro package for 30 days for free.
8. GIMP
The next free graphic design application is GIMP.
"GIMP" stands for "GNU Image Manipulation Program." This application can be used for retouching photos, changing image composition, and creating new designs.
This app can be used on Windows, OS X, and Linux. Even PCs with specifications that are not too high can easily download and install this application.
On the official website, GIMP provides various tutorials for using this application. Starting from basic tutorials, editing photos, to using parametric brushes,
9. Gravit Designer
Gravit Designer is a vector-based graphic design application. Its function is more or less the same as vector-based applications such as Corel, Inkscape, and Ai. I am able to make vector illustrations, UI designs, web pages, and do photo editing.
This application can be used online and for free on almost all platforms, such as Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Chrome OS, Progressive Web App, and in the browser. In addition, it can also be used offline as an application. However, in order to be able to use this application offline, you cannot use the free version.
To use all its features, you can subscribe for $49.99, or around Rp. 715,000 per year.
10. Sketch
Sketch is a graphic design application that can only be used on the Mac OS. This application is usually used to create digital product designs. For example, UI design, website flow, and applications.
This is a paid application. There are two packages that you can choose from: standard and business
packages. If you choose the standard plan, the subscription fee per month is $9 or Rp 128,000. You can also directly subscribe for one year for $99, or Rp 1,400,000.
11. Vector
From the name, we can tell that this application is vector-based. Its functionality and usability are more or less similar to other vector-based design applications.
Vectr can be used online via the web, or also downloaded on the desktop. Relax, this application is free. Really.
If you are still very unfamiliar with vector design, on the official website, they have written a user guide and also various tutorials for using the application. The tutorial explains how to create a design, for example, how to make a business card, make a logo, use typography, and more. So you can learn to make certain designs more clearly.
12. Desygner
Desygner is a graphic design application similar to Canva. You can make designs online through the official website, or download the application. Desygner can be used to create logos, social media content, banners, invitations, presentations, and other design needs.
This application can be used on Windows, Macs, and mobile phones, both Android and iOS. It can be used for free or paid.
With the free version, you can access thousands of templates, icons, design formats, and various other interesting features.
Well, those are the 12 recommendations for the best graphic design applications. Some are free, some are paid, and some can be used on mobile phones, iPads, and PCs. Hopefully, it will serve as a resource for you if you are unsure about which application to use to study or create graphic design, okay?