Top 6
Essential Graphic Design Software
for Beginners
for Beginners
A visually appealing site is a dream of both a website owner as
well as a user. The real task is of the graphic and web designers to make the
dream turn into reality.
Gone are the days when
people only indulged in reading content online. Nowadays, more than the words,
the site has to look interesting too. With eye-catching visuals and gripping
content, the user gets convinced to stay on the website and use it, especially
in the case of e-Commerce sites. The
graphics play a major role in creating the outlook of your website. As a
graphic designer, this is your territory. In order to make such intriguing
visuals, you will require a graphic design software that will help you
improvise the images, models, and text that is to be shown on the website. If
you’re a newbie in the field of graphic designing, check out this 6 Essential
software for graphic designers (both paid and free) that will render a
professional look to your website graphics
The road which led to photo editing was never so
interesting. The automatic options infuse life to your images making your work
‘the talk of the town’ even if you are a newbie. With Photoshop you can easily
combine multiple images and even remove unwanted objects from the image. It
offers basic features like perspective correction, channel mixing, and clone
stamp tool. Photoshop runs on both Windows and Mac. Photoshop is also
considered as one of the best graphic design software for beginners as it comes
with simplified options like:
o Basic: Cropping,
straightening, rotating and flipping.
o Auto-Fix: One touch
adjustment.
o Blemish Removal: Ability
to remove any spot or dirt from the image.
o Colour: Slide controls
to enhance the colors of the image.
o One-Touch filter: 20
eye-catching effects to choose from.
o Image Rendering:
Panoramic image option.
o Borders: Add your
personal touch.
o RAW photo support: RAW
format support.
o Sharing: via sites like
Facebook, Revel, Twitter, Tumblr, and more.
Pros
o
Video editing is smooth.
o
The crop tool is quite effective.
o
Performance is highly improved.
Cons
o No perpetual license.
o The interface is
crushing.
o Some tools lack progress
bar visibility.
GIMP or GNU Image
Manipulation Program is the perfect alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
The professional tools make it ideal for not just graphic designers but
photographers as well. The photo manipulation feature is highly enhanced. The
flexibility of the tool allows you to create crystal-clear graphics. Once you
begin using GIMP, it will definitely achieve the pedestal of being your main
desktop publishing tool. The interface is totally customizable and the full-screen
mode allows you to view and edit at the same time. Yes, not all the extensive
features are available. Still, there are many features that will provide you a
great experience. GIMP runs on GNU/Linux, OS X, Windows and other OS. Being a
cross-compatible graphic design software, it has a strong support community.
This is, hands down, one of the prime choices when selecting graphic design
software for beginners.
Pros
o The UI is bright and
modern.
o Very easy to use.
o Comes with single
windows usage.
Cons
o Have a few bugs.
o Struggles with Cintiq
tablets in the initial stage.
If you want to use vector art to create logos,
sketches, typography, icons or even complex illustrations for videos or mobile
then Illustrator is the tool for you. You can create artwork with seamless
alignment by drawing pixel-perfect shapes. With Illustrator designing could
never be faster. Illustrator comes with its own plugins that help in making a
blank web page into a brilliant looking web page. Some plugins are made for
older versions of Ai and have a zest of new features for new versions like Creative
Cloud, making it an ideal graphic design software. Being part of Creative
Cloud, you get to use the app on both your desktop and Mac.
Pros
o
Touch-type tool is awesome.
o
The Free Transform tool is very simple to use.
o
Availability for Windows and Mac.
Cons
o
The price is high.
Inkscape, an alternative to Ai, is a
professional tool ideal for vector art lovers and graphic designers who use SVG
file format. The tool is perfect for Windows, Linux, OS, and Mac as well. It
doesn’t matter whether you are a professional or just a person who wants to
create vector images for a personal blog. In terms of sketching, coloring or
making illustrations Inkscape is very easy to use. With the Ghostscript
extension .eps files are easily readable. It also comes with awesome features
like:
o Ability to directly edit
the source code.
o Keys to move screen
pixels.
o Edit clones on the
canvas.
o Edit gradients.
o Fill paint-bucket with
one click.
Pros
o
Absolutely free.
o
Endless Filters.
o
New effect tools as a bonus.
Cons
o
Extremely slow.
Are you an aspiring web designer and looking for
a graphics editor that gives you the ability to create infinite designs without
any restrictions while honing your skills at the same time? If so, you might
want to check out CorelDraw, a vector graphics editor, that is hands down one
of the most popular Industry Standard editors presently. CorelDraw has some
cool productive functions and such an ease of use that no other vector editor can
match up to.
The tools give you full control so you can get
fast and dynamic results. With CorelDraw version X5 and above, you get an
inbuilt organizer (Corel CONNECT) also.
With tools like Twirl, Smear, Repel and Attract
– vector object editing was never so easy. The Alignment guide enables you to
position objects as per your requirement. CorelDraw works smoothly with large
files in Corel Photo-Paint, making it a must-have in the graphic design
software list. It also supports apps like Barcode wizard, Duplexing wizard,
Bitstream Font Navigator, etc.
Pros
o
The interface customization is ideal.
o
The design is very fresh.
o
The training videos are very helpful.
o
Choose from perpetual license or subscription.
o
The right-click gives awesome vectorization.
o
Shaping docker gives maximum usage.
Cons
o
No Mac version.
o
Tools are hard to learn for newbies.
o
Navigation is not easy.
o
Navigation board is not visible.
o
The freehand brush is hard to use.
Backed by the Adobe brand, InDesign is the
business leader for creating clean layouts for desktop and mobile devices
alike. Adobe InDesign is ideal for layout design usage like online magazines.
Whether you want to create layouts for printed books, brochures or digital
magazines Adobe InDesign is the tool you need. The flexibility is great as it
allows you to easily drag-drop isolated layers and you can resize images with
ease. Being part of Creative Cloud you get easy access to the desktop app for
PC and Mac. You also get the comparison app Comp CC available for tablets and
Smartphone devices including 29 desktop apps and 10 mobile apps.
You can also use Behance and Typekit services
that enable you to connect your workflow between photography, videos, designing
and web or app development. With Adobe Creative Sync you can share or sync all
your work between your desktop and mobile apps so you can work efficiently.
Once you join as a member you will get the latest updates and new features with
installation decision being solely yours.
Pros
o
The combining of text and graphics becomes easy.
o
The learning curve is very low, ideal for newbies.
o
The features that come with InDesign are unbelievable.
Cons
o
Limited tools for creating graphics.
o
The graphics tools are not as powerful.
o
The adjustment of photos is limited as this is not a photo-editing
software.
Bonus Tools
This graphic design
software offers a powerful tool for not just photo designing an editing but,
one can also use it for producing creative logos, animations, posters and more.
Just because of its oodles of illustrative features, it has been ranked as the top
graphic design software by Toptenreviews. By
providing a rating of 9.2 out of 10, the site has given it a marker of being
the best in its league.
It has a low learning curve making it
approachable by both graphic designers as well as beginners. With this
full-featured software, one can even work on intricacies very easily.
One can not just work on 3D animations, add
effects to the images but also, create vector illustrations.
Pros
o
Can create a customizable workspace based on your preference.
o
Provides extensive support an option to share.
Cons
o
Lacks some photo effect features like panorama merging, HDR
imaging etc.
8. Xara Xtreme
This software offers a wide variety of photo
editing features and illustration tools. It has extensive features that can
assist you in maneuvering color and texture of your images. You even have the
possibility of removing any distortion caused by the lens, whatsoever.
The main page offers the basic tips and
guidelines so as to understand the functioning of the design software. It has
certain masking tools available as well.
The resizing of images can also be done without
having to put the quality at stake. This software has a pretty robust support
page that addresses user’s issues and provides solutions for the same.
Pros
o
Tools are available for both vector and raster images.
o
Can export directly to any social media website.
Cons
o
No history log available; use of undo button to reverse actions.
The Paintshop Pro 9 is the latest version
released by the Coral team. It is a seemingly impressive photo editing tool
that even helps in photo management. It even possesses professional grade tools
that can be easily used by both professionals and newbies. It provides video
tutorials and other forms of support forums to better the understanding of the
software.
It has more than 90 creative filters that can be
used to improve the texture and color of your image. It is compatible with
image files like RAW, JPG, TIFF, PNG, GIF, PSD and PDF.
Pros
o
Auto edit option.
o
A supporter of batch processing, i.e, multiple files can be edited
at the same time.
Cons
o
Only compatible with windows.
This graphic design software provides an easily
navigated and friendly interface. The Corel PhotoImpact X3 provides one with a
wide collection of designing and editing tools made easily accessible to you.
This can make it appear tricky, hence, it has been divided into eight operative
fields. ExpressFix or Full Edit mode serve the purpose of editing the photos.
ExpressFix provides the option to adjust exposure, color, skin tone and focus
with just a click. Whereas, Full Edit has the editing options like portrait
touch-ups, enhancements and effects.
It has an interesting combination of both basic
and advanced tools. It holds the compatibility with 32 file formats inclusive
of RAW, JPG, TIFF, PNG, GIF, PSD and animated GIFs.
Pros
o
Availability of panorama and HDR imaging tools to create visually
captivating effects.
o
It offers an extensive support system.
o
It has the main docked panel to hold all the other panels and
swiftly hide and show them as per requirement.
Cons
o
Limited sharing features.
o
Sluggish development in its software.
o
Apart from the above-mentioned graphic design tools which had
broad.
11. Cyberlink
Features
o
A bunch of tools to offer under these tabs, namely, Library,
Adjustment, Edit, Layers, Slideshow, and Print.
o
A pen tool to draw colored pixels on photo layers.
o
History log: serve the purpose of undoing the unwanted changes.
o
Provides a strengthened support system like support forums,
telephone support, video tutorial, user guides, etc.
12. Sumopaint
Features
o
Options like Classic Layer Effects, 3D effects, Light Effects,
Edge detection etc provides it an edge over other apps.
o
Offers professional painting tools; over 300 brushes, Animated
Brushes, and advanced options like scattering and random rotation are also
available.
13. Vector
Features
o
Not just a standalone app but a web-based app as well.
o
It has a low learning curve.
o
Its basic graphics editor is free.
14. Google Sketch-up
Features
o
A 3D modeling software with full of ease.
o
Can conveniently customize everything.
o
One can stretch, rotate, copy, paste & even draw lines and
shapes.
o
One can add model views to pages by using the Pro version.
15. Cinema 4D
Features
o
It comes in four levels: Prime, Broadcast, Visualize and Studio.
o
Involve 3D animation without any formal training.
o
Amazing support for materials and textures.
o
Accessible user interface.
o
Smooth learning curve.
Features
o
Allows an intrinsic zoom-in experience.
o
Functions in any color space like RGB, CMYK, LAB, Greyscale.
o
Possess CMYK workflow along with ICC color management.
o
Compatible with macOS and Windows.
Features
o
Availability of numerous standard photo editing tools.
o
One can draw their own designs or use the software’s pre-designed
templates.
o
Better sharing options to offer.
o
With 3200% as the maximum zooming option. It has a lot of basic
editing tools at hand.
o
It offers to import and export options as well.
18. Paint.net
Features
o
A tabbed document interface is used to manage multiple images.
o
Highly responsive and said to be one of the “fastest image editor
available”
o
Has layers for enriched image composition experience.
o
Intuitive and a creative user interface.
