Sumo3D is an online tool for creating 3D models, objects and animations with a built-in library including a set of 3D polygonal meshes, colors, textures. 3D models can be modified using code.

Sumo3D is available online for free, but you can download the app and get access to other Sumo products by subscribing to the Pro plan for $9 a month.

Blender

Blender is an open source platform for creating 3D objects, one of the best in its category. The platform offers a variety of modeling tools, sophisticated brushes, realistic photo-rendering, and Python scripts.

As a free platform, Blender nevertheless encourages monthly or one-time donations. You can also become a member of Blender Cloud for $11.50 per month to receive training materials, useful resources, and additional tools.

Clara.io

Clara.io is a free online graphic design program that is known for its 3D modeling tools. The platform provides high quality rendering, a full suite of 3D tools, and collaborative teamwork. The free version gives you only 2GB of memory and one hour of rendering per month. To remove the restrictions, you can subscribe to one of their plans, which start at $10 per month.

Paint3D

If your device is Windows-based and you want to experiment with 3D models or 2D images, Paint3D is a great option. It is an improved version of Microsoft Paint with an upgraded interface and an expanded set of tools. It is available as a free application on Windows 10 computers.

Daz Studio

With Daz Studio you can create high-quality 3D images and videos. It is a free 3D graphics creation platform supported by Windows and macOS. The application allows users to create characters and scenes down to the smallest detail, adjust lighting and camera angles and end up with a very realistic picture.

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Vecteezy is an editor for working with vector graphics directly in your browser. This tool is quite easy to use and does not require any additional skills. You can use both ready-made images and create your own design. The only format that the platform supports is SVG.

The program offers complex transitions, keyboard shortcuts and other useful features. Although it’s not the most advanced graphic design software, it’s great for hastily editing.

Vecteezy can be used for free or take out a subscription plan to include unlimited downloads, access to vector graphics libraries, and an ad-free version. An annual plan will cost $9 per month and a monthly plan will cost $14.

Renderforest Graphic Maker.

Graphic Maker is new from Renderforest, which is an online platform that allows you to create quality materials with graphic design quickly and without hassle. The platform includes a huge library of themed design templates that can be customized in a couple of clicks.

Renderforest is a great solution if you need to create quality designs quickly, even if you have no design skills.

Cloud storage is built into the platform, so you’ll always have access to your designs. An iOS app is also available to users, and an Android version is already in development. The free plan offers unlimited image export, but a limited number of designs, while the flexible subscription plans offer premium designs, the option for full color customization and link access. That’s all for $6.99 a month.

Sumopaint

Sumopaint is a drawing tool and image editor available right in your browser. Sumopaint includes a wide selection of design tools – brushes, text, original effects and other elements for working with photos or drawing. The online tool is free, but a downloadable version is also available for Pro plan holders ($9 per month) and Edu ($19 per month).

Sumo has another app that may come in handy for graphic designers, Sumophoto. As the name suggests, it’s for photo editing, so the tools here are geared towards them and include various filters and effects. The interface is pretty simple and a beginner should be able to cope with it.

Visme

If you’re looking for an online editor with a simple interface, Visme is the right choice. The platform is easy to navigate, making Visme a great solution for beginners. It offers interactive elements, icons and other widgets to help visualize data in a few clicks.

The app includes ready-made templates for presentations, infographics, graphic design for social media, and more. Premium templates offer more storage space and integration with other services. Prices for subscription plans start at $15 per month, and custom plans are also available.

Gravit Klex

Klex is a free graphic design program with a simplified set of tools that is suitable for both beginners and professionals. Ready-made templates make the process of creating images with graphic design faster and easier; they will be useful for employees for corporate projects, bloggers, social media managers, etc.

Many effects and filters, fonts, gradient fills, as well as stickers and stock images are available in the program. More advanced features allow you to recolor images, control shadows and saturation, and add a watermark to the design.

All features are free, but you will need to create an account to log in to Gravit’s cloud storage.

Snappa

Snappa already has a good reputation as a fast and easy graphic editor. The editor offers ready-made templates available in different formats, unlimited access to stock photos, a background removal tool, various effects, vectors and shapes.

The free version has limitations: you can download three designs a month, but for $10 a month you can connect more downloads and features, and for $20 a month you can enable team collaboration.

BeFunky

BeFunky is designed to help users edit photos, create collages and graphic designs without the hassle. The platform offers many ready-made design templates, but you can also start creating images from scratch.

Basic editing tools and templates are available in the free version, but you can plug in additional features such as object and background removal, art effects, retouching tools and more. The price is quite affordable at $6.99 per month, and it drops to $4.99 per month if you choose an annual plan.

DesignBold

DesignBold is what you need if you don’t want to delve into editing and retouching, but rather create designs simply and quickly. The online editor with design templates includes more than 1,000 design options, even in the free version. But if that’s not enough for you, you can plug in 4,000+ premium templates and other features with the Pro subscription plan for $7.99 per month.

Stencil

Stencil is a social media graphic design platform that provides a fast and clear editing, scheduling and publishing process for social media. The platform’s tight integration with Buffer allows users to schedule their content to be published immediately.

The huge Stencil library of 5,000,000 free images is fully provided by the partners – Unsplash, Pixabay and Pexels, so there will definitely be no shortage of quality stock photos. This platform is available in both free and paid versions. A subscription plan will cost from $9 per month.

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Working with vectors is not as intuitive as working with bitmaps. You need to understand all the terms of outlines, Bezier curves, fills, and gradients, and your first attempts to use vector editors will probably be much more frustrating than mastering any other digital art software. However, some vector editors are more user-friendly and can help you get started with helpful tutorials. Today, we’ve compiled the best vector editors available on the market. The review includes both professional packages and free applications.

The best paid vector editors

Adobe Illustrator

Systems: macOS, Windows, iPad.

Suitable for professional designers.

Pros: Industry standard vector editor, useful tools with artificial intelligence.

Cons: Creative Cloud subscription required.

If you are serious about creating vector images, there is really only one choice: Adobe Creative Cloud. Created for professionals, it’s simply the best vector editor you can get today. But if you want to excel at graphic design, you need to know how to get the most out of it. The initial learning curve can be a bit steep, especially if you’re new to creating vector images, but once you learn it, Illustrator will reward you with all the tools you might need, as well as give you plenty of advanced features to quickly edit your existing illustrations.

Affinity Designer

System: macOS, Windows, iPad.

Suitable for professional designers.

Pros:

• fantastic price,
• A good set of tools.

Cons: Not as many features as Illustrator.

Working with Serif Affinity Designer is almost as enjoyable as working with Illustrator, but much cheaper. While this editor can’t do everything that Illustrator can, it’s easier to handle, looks nicer, and tends to run faster. Also, you don’t have to worry about compatibility because it works fine with AI and PSD files. It will also help you capitalize on features that Illustrator doesn’t give you, such as scaling from one to a million and infinite repeats. But the biggest plus is the more attractive price as a one-time payment rather than a permanent subscription.

CorelDRAW .

System: macOS, Windows.

Suitable for designers of all levels.

Pros:

• Versions for all users,
• A strong set of tools.

Cons: Pro version is expensive.

First released in 1989, CorelDRAW has been a member of the vector race for almost as long as Adobe Illustrator. And it still remains a serious competitor.

Today the package is available in three versions:

• CorelDRAW Essentials – an easy-to-learn vector editor, perfect for beginners;
• CorelDRAW Standard – designed for enthusiasts and home business;
• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite – designed for vector graphics professionals and includes typography and collaboration tools that you will definitely need.
• Both Essentials and Standard are available for a one-time fee, and in the case of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, you can either buy the current version directly or subscribe for a year.

Sketch

System: macOS.

Suitable for application designers.

Pros:

• easy to use,
• Great for designing user interfaces and icons.

Cons: Mac only.

There are many powerful and full-featured vector editors out there. But if you work on a Mac and all you need is an editor to create user interfaces and icons, Sketch might be better than a heavyweight like Illustrator. With a smaller feature set and a much more user-friendly interface, it’s much easier to handle than most of the vector editors in our review. You’re unlikely to use it to create detailed vector graphics, but it’s ideal for rapid prototyping applications and web sites. A license for Sketch will cost you $99 for a year, and you can continue to use it after the license runs out. However, if you want to upgrade the editor, you need to renew your subscription.

Amadine

System: macOS, iOS.

Suitable for designers of all levels.

Pros:

• great price,
• user-friendly,
• impressive tools.

Cons: Mac only.

For Apple product users this is a great vector editor with an impressive feature set. Amadine is available for Mac users for $19.99. There are also iPad and iPhone versions, which you can get for $9.99. While this package doesn’t offer the full suite of tools you’ll find in any of the other vector editors, its functionality is more than enough for most designers, whether you want to use Amadine for illustration, graphic design, interface design, or just to create scalable icons. Designed for design professionals and creative enthusiasts alike, Amadine is easy to use, has a customizable user interface and a decent set of tools for drawing and outline editing, and lets you export your work to JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PDF and SVG formats.

Best free vector editors

Gravit Designer

System: macOS, Windows.

Suitable for enthusiasts.

Pros:

• easy to use,
• Lots of useful tools.

Cons: The free version has limitations.

There are currently two versions of Gravit Designer available. You can buy the Pro version for $45 a year with a tempting array of vector tools, color spaces, font options and more, which you can use not only in the browser, but also as a downloadable application. As an alternative, there is a free version designed to work only in a browser, which is more limited in its functionality. Still, it is worth a try. The main problems in the free version – the only color space RGB and the ability to export files only in PDF format with a resolution up to 150 dpi. Import options are also limited, but this editor contains a useful collection of drawing tools, and if you don’t like such limited functionality, you can always upgrade to the Pro version.

Vecteezy

System: Browser.

Suitable for illustrators.

Pros:

• easy to use,
• A lot of ready-made elements.

Cons: You need to have an account to save your work.

Vecteezy is also designed to work in a browser. It offers the same ease of use as Vectr, but is slightly ahead of it in terms of available tools. There is a powerful set of vector and text tools to work with, as well as many ready-made items to use and customize. Vecteezy also lets you work quickly with keyboard shortcuts and some advanced conversion tools. You will need to create an account if you want to save your work. You can export in SVG or PNG formats. And if you like what you create with Vecteezy, you can buy the Pro version with additional features on a subscription basis for $14 per month.

Vectr

System: Browser.

Suitable for design teams.

Pros:

• Ability to work in a team,
• simple vector tools.

Cons: Lacks advanced features.

Vectr is another free browser-based vector editor. It’s an ideal choice if you need a basic set of vector tools and the ability to work collaboratively with other users. Each image you’re working on has its own URL that you can share so that friends or colleagues can access it and get to work. You can export your finished work in SVG, PNG, or JPG formats. Unencumbered by advanced tools, Vectr is incredibly easy to use. The package includes handy built-in tutorials to help you get started almost immediately. You’ll struggle to achieve some fantastic results, but if you need to quickly create a simple vector image, Vectr is just what you need.

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Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editor for working with raster and vector images and videos. The program is optimized for Windows and macOS, and there are also versions for iPad and mobile devices.

Photoshop is loved by novice designers because it has a free trial period, and there are courses and video tutorials online on how to use it.

What you can do with the Photoshop graphics editor:

• Improve photo quality and color reproduction; create collages – fragments of different photos glued together;
• retouching photos; create mock-ups – images that are used to show the customer the product design or corporate identity;
• restore old photos or images;
• prepare the image for printing;
• to process text elements.

Benefits of Adobe Photoshop

The advantages of Photoshop – support for all major file formats, a large set of tools, the availability of a library of effects and filters and the ability to create your own.

Cons of Adobe Photoshop
There are some disadvantages:

• first, Photoshop requires a lot of power from the device, otherwise it can “hang”;
• Second, the official version of the program is quite expensive.
• After a one-year trial period, the cost of a monthly subscription goes up.

Artweaver

Raster-based graphics editor optimized for Windows. The interface is similar to that of Adobe Photoshop. There is a free plan with limited functionality, which is good for novice designers.

The set of functions is the same as in Photoshop:

• image editing;
• creating gradients;
• creation of filters for image editing.

Pros of Artweaver

• support for many image formats;
• large library of brushes with the ability to change them;
• there is a free version.

Cons of Artweaver

• outdated interface;
• support for only one operating system;
• The free version is slow and cannot be used in commercial projects;
• the functionality for a large design project is not enough.

Krita

Raster graphic editor with open source code. It can be installed on any operating system. Krita has a large number of brushes and has a brush editor, so it’s great for painting.

In the editor, the graphic designer can create bitmap illustrations and logos, as well as frame-by-frame animations.

Pros of Krita

• it is a free editor;
• huge library of brushes, you can use brushes created by other users;
• it supports many file formats and works with HDR technology.

Cons of Krita

• no tools for retouching images;
• weak tools for working with text.

Photoscape

Free program for image editing and formatting. Suitable for Windows and macOS. Photoscape has a large number of tools for processing photos. Suitable for beginners as the interface is very simple and clear. Photoscape is a free graphic editor for editing and formatting your images.

In Photoscape you can:

• process photos (including batch processing);
• create collages;
• create animations;
• quickly convert files from RAW to JPG.

Pros of Photoscape

• free editor;
• does not take much space on your hard drive;

Cons of Photoscape

• One of the main disadvantages is that the editor has ads. Also, you can’t work with more than one file at a time.
• graphic designer from scratch to PRO
• profession
• graphic designer from zero to PRO

Inkscape

A professional vector graphics editor for Linux, Windows and macOS devices. The tool is free and has open source code. Files are created in SVG format.

The functionality is the same as in previous programs:

• changing the shape and color of pictures and text;
• formatting raster images into vector ones;
• working with drawing tools (ellipse, star, spiral, or gradient);
• collaborative design.

Pros of Inkscape

• free access; rendering: you can draw static elements into 3D objects;
• tool is used in movies, commercials, video games, or to create architectural 3D visualizations.

Cons of Inkscape

• relatively slow;
• exporting bugs can occur.

GIMP

A free raster-based image editor that can be customized. Partially supports working with vector graphics. In it, you can create logos, scale and crop photos, retouch images and convert them into different formats.

Thanks to this application you can quickly perform simple tasks: crop images, remove red-eye effect, crop illustrations and add text to them.

The good points of GIMP are

• a wide range of tools for image processing;
• It is able to open PSD and PDF formats, which are the most often used by clients or other designers.

The disadvantages of GIMP are

• it is not possible to adjust each image layer separately and apply effects to it;
• does not support CMYK color format, which limits the printing possibilities.

Figma

A simple and free online graphics editor that is suitable for drawing vector graphics, web design, mobile application prototyping and logo design.

The program is mainly used for web design, but there are features that are suitable for working with graphic images:

• adjusting color saturation, brightness, contrast; use of Google Fonts;
• arranging design objects with the help of a modular grid; drawing vector shapes.

Pros of Figma

• clear modern interface;
• automatic saving in the cloud and the ability to easily revert to previous versions;
• sharing.

“A lot of designers now work in Figma: the program is easy to use and several people can work in it at once”

Figma disadvantages

• weak text editor you cannot work offline;
• you can’t customize keyboard shortcuts.

Renderforest Graphic Maker

Online service for graphic designers with cloud storage and free version.

The main functions of the service are:

• creating and editing images;
• work with fonts and animation;
• Creation of presentations and intros for videos;
• there is an opportunity to superimpose music on the animation and video.

Pros of Renderforest Graphic Maker

• A wide range of features (animation and video creation, logo development and website and app prototyping);
• very simple and intuitive interface;
• A large number of templates with the ability to sort them by topic.

Disadvantages of Renderforest Graphic Maker

• not enough memory;
• limitations on the format of the video import in free mode;
• the free version leaves watermarks on the files.

Pixlr

This is a cloud-based image editing toolkit that includes several photo editors and a photo sharing service.

Like other bitmap editors, Pixlr lets you:

• retouch photos;
• change the saturation and temperature of a photo;
• work with highlights and shadows;
• Create collages from photos;
• apply filters or special effects.

Pros of Pixlr

• a large number of opportunities for photo processing;
• The created objects can be published on social networks directly from the program.

Canva

Cross-platform service for graphic design. The editor gives access to a large number of design templates, illustrations, fonts and stock photos.

The basic functionality is like other online editors. But Canva has a lot of ready-made file templates:

• presentations;
• cards;
• business cards;
• posts for social networks;
• videos; logos;
• posters;
• infographics.

Pros of Canva

Canva is loved for its large number of templates – it creates posters, presentations, booklets, and gift certificates. Most of them are free and comply with modern design trends; it is possible to work in the service on different devices.

The disadvantages of Canva

• not all fonts are adapted to Cyrillic;
• in the free version of the program can not change the size of the image.

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Programs for graphic designers

Undoubtedly some of the most popular and feature-rich programs for designers are those from the Adobe Creative Cloud package. They are simple and intuitive. If you have ever used one of the programs from Adobe Systems, it will be very easy for you to understand the others.

Adobe InDesign

Do you need to make a poster, billboard, brochure, flyer, newspaper? Then you need to learn how to work in Adobe InDesign. If you are already familiar with other products from Adobe Systems, you can create pretty good layouts after a week of studying this program.

A small disadvantage – more specialized use of this product. It is used more often by those who work with printing. Despite this, Adobe InDesign will be useful not only for designers who work in the printing press publishing. The program will be useful to designers (and maybe even journalists and bloggers) who design web magazines. It is in InDesign that you can create a great cover and interesting magazine pages.

If you want to work in printing, you have to know how to work in InDesign in addition to Photoshop and Illustrator. Of course, the main graphics are developed in the first two programs, but the text is typeset in the latter.

Adobe After Effects

The trendy design trend, although it has been around for more than a century, is motion design. Have you heard of it? This is about everything that moves in the picture: the animation of photographs, letters, individual elements. Most often, this type of graphics are used to create movie backdrops, advertising or documentary films. Each designer will be interesting and useful to get acquainted with Adobe After Effects, because now animation is really in trend.

The good news is that an experienced designer, once he understands the tools of this program, will be able to edit video sequences, add special effects, animation, create three-dimensional images. And he’ll never be out of a job.

Disadvantages: the price and the fact that you often need to install additional plug-ins.

All of these applications are related to the programs in which work web designers. But you can also add some of the following.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is the perfect program from the Adobe Creative Cloud suite for the web designer. You can create layouts for a variety of websites, adaptive pages and web applications.

A selection of key features:

• you can create your own component blanks if some elements need to be used frequently;
• a convenient system for saving changes – something like version history;
• you can open everything you need in Photoshop;
• work with vector graphics;
• importing projects from other web design programs;
• animation, video, interactivity, and more;
• working on a project in a team.

As for the pricing policy, a freelance designer can personally use it for free, and there are several license purchase options for companies.

Macaw

Macaw’s slogan reads, “Stop writing code, draw it!” The peculiarity of this program is that first the designer develops the layout of the web page, and in the output he gets not only a beautiful picture, but also *.html and *.css files, which can be used by the developer.

Of course, for a good result, the designer must know the basics of layout. Knowing the basics, anyone can easily create a landing page, a stub page, a prototype site. It’s very simple, and most importantly – quickly. The code is relatively clean and clear. It is easy to fix if necessary. And it will still take less time than coding from scratch.

This service also offers:

• the use of components;
• remote preview (your computer runs as a server);
• adaptability;
• positioning, interactivity.

Checkiant Time Tracker

Perfect for graphic designers, web designers, freelance designers and those who work in a team. Keeping track of time spent on tasks is the key to good income and an open relationship with a client or boss.

Checkiant’s simple time tracker is perfect for keeping track of each work day.

And here are a few features of this application:

• An interval system clearly shows how much time you’ve spent on a particular task, client or project.
• Sorting checks by date/client/project.
• Creation of various reports.
• Flexible system of settings, tips for each section of the application.
• Rates history is saved.
• Connected service for video conferences with the team.

A novice designer can choose any of the above applications and discover new talents. A designer with experience can experiment with programs he hasn’t used before. Fortunately, there are now enough programs for everyone and everyone can find something he likes. Just don’t forget to keep track of time, so you know how many hours a day you spend on each project and how much time you devote to learning new skills.

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The most advanced graphic editors like the tools from Adobe cost a lot of money. But there are free and quite decent alternatives, which will suffice for most users. Here are applications for working with vector, raster, and 3D graphics for all occasions.

SVG-Edit

Platform: web.

If you need to quickly create or edit a simple SVG file, there are several online editors that are as good as Adobe Illustrator for this task. The best of them is SVG-Edit.

This graphic editor is all in HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript and doesn’t use any servers for data processing. The code for SVG-Edit is open-source. So if you want you can download it and modify it to create your own version of the program.

SVG-Edit has all the basic tools of a vector editor. But it only supports SVG format.

BoxySVG

A simple tool for creating scalable vector graphics, which will be useful for both novice web designers and developers, as well as professionals. BoxySVG runs right in your browser and handles its tasks as well as desktop editors.

The application features an intuitive interface and high speed. The arsenal of options and features not as great as in professional software, but includes all the necessary tools, including pencils, brushes, text, cloning, forms and more. BoxySVG supports keyboard shortcuts and all popular file formats for exporting finished projects.

Photo Pos Pro

Platform: Windows.

If you work on Windows and do not need as many tools as GIMP, your ideal editor might be Photo Pos Pro. The latter is designed with an eye toward image manipulation, and does a great job with the typical tasks such as adjusting contrast, lighting and saturation. But Photo Pos Pro is also suitable for more complex manipulations.

This program boasts a very friendly interface and detailed help that helps beginners understand. If you want to make Photo Pos Pro even more functional, there are many extensions and plugins at your disposal.

Paint.NET

Platform: Windows.

Paint.NET is an alternative to the Paint program built into all versions of Windows. But don’t let the similarity of the names confuse you: it is a much more advanced and useful editor.

The development team focuses on ease of use and improves Paint.NET’s photo editing features rather than its graphic design capabilities. Nevertheless, Paint.NET allows you to control perspective, manipulate pixels on the canvas, clone selected areas, and so on.

With support for layers, a wide selection of selection tools, and adjustments like brightness, contrast, and curves, Paint.NET can be considered a worthy substitute for Photoshop.

RawTherapee

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

A powerful image editor for working with RAW files, providing access to advanced features. Its abundance of settings makes it rather difficult for beginners to master, but more advanced users will find a lot of valuable features.

RawTherapee will let you change the smallest details of your photos, adjust sharpness and color rendering, remove noise, as well as adjust exposure, white balance, curves and a lot of other parameters. Thanks to the non-destructive tools, the original photo remains unchanged until the work is ready.

SketchUp Free

Platform: web.

SketchUp Free can be called the perfect entry point into the world of 3D graphics. This editor introduces the beginner in a friendly way and forgives any mistakes made. You can start by simply drawing lines and shapes and then transform them into 3D objects.

If you need inspiration, you can download free models of various objects from the 3D Warehouse library through the search form on the SketchUp website.

Blender

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Blender is an advanced free and open-source 3D graphics editor available for all major platforms.

The developers are constantly developing Blender. It supports all possible 3D graphics operations: modeling, texturing, animating, rendering, and linking objects.

ZBrushCoreMini

Platforms: Windows, macOS.

If you’re interested in the art of digital sculpting, try Sculptris from developer Pixologic. It’s equally good for all skill levels. Beginners get a clear starter tool, while experienced digital artists get a platform to quickly and easily implement ideas.

Sculptris is based on the ZBrush editor from the same developer, the most popular app for digital sculpting. When you’re ready to take it to the next level, you can easily switch to ZBrush.

Houdini Apprentice

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Houdini is a 3D animation and visual effects tool that is often used to create movies, TV shows, and other media content.

The cost of the editor starts at $2,000. But the program’s developers, Side Effects Software, let you use the Houdini Apprentice version for free. It gives you access to all the features of the full version and allows you to hone your skills on personal projects. Only the Houdini Apprentice is for non-commercial and educational purposes only.

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