Choosing the Right Graphic Design Software
Today, there are
so many different graphic design software programs to choose from, with
options to suit every budget or experience level. So choosing one, when you have no experience with them can be an overwhelming task.
You have to spend the time learning how the thing actually works. Make the wrong choice and you've wasted precious time and have to start all over again from the beginning.
The following list, while not comprehensive, gives you at least some guidance into the most popular options currently on the market.
I would love to be able to categorize these accurately based on difficulty or ease of use but 'easy' is relative. If you are a brand new user with no experience at all, likely you're going to find even the easiest program a little bit challenging. It all depends on where you are starting from.
PHOTOPEA
I
recommend this one as a compatible option for Photoshop
files. It looks and feels a lot like Photoshop when you
are using it though it doesn't have ALL the features that Photoshop has
(obviously) but it's great for creating basic design layouts with lots
of editing tool options. If you have any experience with Photoshop or PS
Elements you'll feel at home with it. There are thousands of online
tutorials for Photoshop and simpler actions will easily transfer over to
Photopea.
PIXLR
This is also a lot like Photoshop in how it looks
and feels. Recently revamped there are now two options; PixlrX and
PixlrE.
PixlrX is super basic and only has very limited editing options. Great
for projects where you are just adding a text overlay, cropping or
making minor photo adjustments. PixlrE is the advanced option that mimics
Photoshop and has a robust selection of design and drawing tools.
While it will open photoshop files, it doesn't seem to be able to handle
larger sized files very well and doesn't keep layers organized in
folders, so complex files end up very messy. Photopea works better here.
CANVA
This
design program is a closed system editor. What that means is, you can't
create and save native files the same way as regular software programs.
Files 'in progress' can only be saved inside Canva and you can only
download finished projects in flattened form such as PDF, PNG or JPG.
Designers offering Canva templates therefore will always label their
products specifically as Canva templates. If a designer (like me) does
not mention Canva in the product details... a Canva specific template is
not included.
You'll only be able to use my PNG format files here, which is fine for simpler projects. Canva is very user friendly and reasonably quick to learn. Just note that the free version of Canva has very limited tool options.
SUMO PAINT
It
has a nice selection of tools for beginners and a friendly navigation.
This is not one that I have personally tested, but it comes highly rated
for what it is and is the most likely candidate for me to recommend as a
beginners graphic design tool with an easy learning curve.
It is only compatible with image files such as jpg and png and has a more limited selection of tools than some of the more advanced software options but otherwise a perfect option for the occasional simple project.
GIMP
This is definitely not one of my favorites, but it's been a few years
since I last tried it and I'm adding it to the list because it is a
popular free software with advanced editing capabilities. It is very
similar to how Photoshop works and has all the tools you could need for
either drawing or graphic design. I didn't find it particularly intuitive but luckily there are
loads of helpful tutorials available as Gimp has been around for quite
some time now.
While it will open Photoshop files it doesn't support all features so some files may not function properly.
INKSCAPE
This downloadable software is a vector graphics editor and a
comparable
substitute for Illustrator. It opens any
vector based files with full functionality intact. It has a steep
learning curve but plenty of tutorials can be found online to get you
started.
While you can use it for any type of graphic design projects I don't
recommend it for beginners unless you're prepared to spend some time
upfront learning how to use it.
MS WORD
I list this here only
because so many people insist on using it, largely because they have it
and are comfortable using it. You can do simple design projects, but
keep in mind this is a text editor, not a graphics editor, so there are
big limitations. My PNG window files work perfect here though, just
insert as image into any blank document.
MS POWERPOINT
Personally I would choose this over Word any day. Page setup is a
little trickier (set page size first) but the tools are far more design
friendly so you get just a bit more flexibility. I recommend using the
same PNG window files here as well.
MS PUBLISHER
You have to buy this separate, it's not included in the MS 360 office
pkg, but if you design regularly and want a simple + easy to use
program, this one is aces. Admittedly, I haven't used it myself for a
long time, but when I did I loved it because it was intuitive and had
the same sort of feel as all the other MS programs. You can go from no
experience to design whiz very quickly.
PAINTSHOPPRO
From the software brand Corel. For PC users only, one time purchase
and very affordable. Corel used to be very popular but has been
overshadowed recently by the plethora of newcomers on the market. This
is still a very good quality software program however with loads of
features.
PICMONKEY
This is an
online editor that requires a monthly subscription. I haven't had a
chance to try this yet but it is popular among my clipart customer base.
For the money, there are more comprehensive choices, but I suspect the
attraction will be ease of use and the ability to use anywhere anytime.
PS ELEMENTS
Adored by the scrapbooking community this program has fallen in
popularity only because so many other options abound but it has nice
affordable one time only price tag and is moderately easy to use. You'll
find many tutorials and it's compatible with it's big sister Photoshop.
PHOTOSHOP
Offered via a monthly subscription (get the cheaper photographers
pkg) this program takes some time to learn but online tutorials abound
as it has been around a very long time. I use this almost exclusively in
my own work. Recommended for those who require a robust program that
does it all and will get regular use from it.
AFFINITY DESIGNER
One time payment and very affordable. I only recommend going this
route if you plan to be a serious designer and need top rated software.
There is a steep learning curve for any vector based programs.
As you can see, this list is by no means comprehensive. I've included only programs that are suitable specifically for graphic design, rather than those specifically and only for drawing or photo editing. There are probably hundreds more programs and apps that offer very niche actions that may be a perfect fit for your own needs. Apps for mobile are constantly being created. Online tools come and go. And existing programs are updated or expanded.
If you are still unsure which route is best for you, ask your peers online in any forum groups you're part of for their recommendations or experience. Everyone will have a different perspective or opinion and you may glean something more through those conversations.
Happy designing
Shawnna