In 2024, graphic design has many software options for various needs. Both pros and beginners can find what they need. We’ve made a list of the best software for print design in 2024. These choices are judged on features, price, if they work well with other software, and how easy they are to use. You can find vector graphics, photo editors, or layout designer tools easily.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a top tool for graphic design. It’s used to make logos, art, infographics, and icons. A standout feature is how it turns basic images into scalable vector art. It also identifies fonts in designs easily.
This program offers a lot for working with text. There are tools for making unique, hand-drawn fonts. And, it keeps web links in PDFs, making them easy to use.
Despite its great features, Adobe Illustrator can be hard on computers. Plus, it costs money to use. But, it works on many devices. So, it’s a popular choice for many designers.
Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is great for personal projects or new graphic designers. It’s budget-friendly and easy to use. With tools like Adobe Illustrator, it feels familiar.
It has a cool color management system for accurate colors. Plus, it has tools to save time and boost productivity.
It’s a one-time purchase, so no subscriptions. You can also zoom in and out easily for detailed work.
It has an X-ray view to see work’s structure better. This helps with making precise adjustments.
There are a few downsides to Affinity Designer. Some find starting out a bit confusing. It also doesn’t have cloud services, which might be a problem for some.
Affinity Designer works on Windows, Mac, and iPad. It’s ideal for both hobbyists and professionals. It offers a powerful, easy-to-use platform for your designs.
Procreate
Procreate is top-notch art studio software. It’s made for iPad and works with Apple Pencil. It’s filled with the latest features and is easy to use. This software gives you everything you need for digital art.
Procreate shines in making 3D art. You can see your art in real-time with augmented reality (AR). This means you can try different views and make your art stand out. Plus, Procreate has lots of tutorials to help boost your creativity.
In Procreate, you get lots of tools for your art. There are over 200 brushes that you can change to fit your style. It also has easy ways to pick colors, so your art can be vivid and eye-catching.
Everyone from pros to beginners can use Procreate. It’s got amazing brush control and lets you work with others by sharing PDF files. Procreate makes everything easy for artists.
But, Procreate is only for iPad. And you have to buy it; there is no free version. And some people might not like the layers feature as much. Still, for many, Procreate is the best choice for creating art on an iPad.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the go-to software for editing images and for designing. It is loved by graphic designers for its powerful tools and features. These tools help them turn their ideas into stunning visuals.
The software is easy to use and comes with many tutorials. This makes it great for both new users and experts. They can easily change and improve photos and designs.
Key Features
- Photoshop has tools that save time and make work easier for users.
- It has a generative fill feature that uses AI to create new patterns fast.
- Teams can easily work together on projects and share files with its collaboration tools.
- Editing is intuitive with tools like layers, masks, and filters. This lets users fine-tune their images.
Pros
- It comes with a big library of images, templates, fonts, videos, and icons for designers.
- The software’s interface is user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to use.
Cons
- Photoshop needs a lot of resources, so it runs better on powerful computers.
- It’s not cheap, since it’s available through a subscription. This might be expensive for some people or small companies.
Adobe Photoshop works on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. This means users can edit images on their device of choice. Its many features continue to make it the top choice for those in graphic design.
Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is a great alternative to Adobe Photoshop. It’s budget-friendly and offers powerful editing tools. This makes it perfect for both small touch-ups and big effects on photos.
Key Features
- HDR merge: With HDR merge, users can turn several shots of a scene into one stunning image.
- Raw editing: It lets you edit raw images with a lot of flexibility, bringing out the best in your photos.
- Layer editing: Affinity Photo has many layer editing tools. This makes it easy to adjust specific parts of your design.
Pros and Cons
Here are the good and the not-so-good about Affinity Photo:
- Pros: It’s light and quick to work with. A 30-day trial lets you try it free. Plus, you can make your own brushes for unique art.
- Cons: The software lacks ready-made templates. It’s missing keyword tagging for images, making sorting a bit harder. Yet, it keeps improving with frequent updates.
Affinity Photo works on Windows, Mac, and iPad. This means it’s for everyone from pros to those just into personal photos. Its great features and price set it apart from Photoshop.
Canva
Canva is a design tool for anyone who loves to create. It’s great for making infographics, web designs, or cool T-shirts. You don’t need to be a design expert to use it. Canva’s easy drag-and-drop system is perfect for beginners.
It offers lots of images, templates, backgrounds, and fonts. You’ll find everything you need for your designs. Need a professional logo or a stunning social media post? Canva has it all.
Canva has a free version, but some images and graphics need payments. Yet, its prices are fair. With a small fee, you can get special elements and extra features.
It works online and on different devices like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. This means you can work on your designs from anywhere. It’s great for working alone or with a team.
In short, Canva is perfect for people and small groups wanting to design with ease. It combines simplicity with a wide range of design options. Let Canva help you turn your ideas into amazing works.
CorelDRAW
CorelDRAW is a top pick in the world of graphic design software. It’s known for its wide range of tools that fit both experts and newbies. It boasts advanced features that let designers make beautiful art with precision.
Key Features of CorelDRAW
- Support for 100 file formats, ensuring excellent compatibility
- Powerful touch interface options for enhanced user experience
- Unlimited storage for keeping all your design assets in one place
- A full Google Fonts library for easy access to a variety of typography options
- Collaboration tools to streamline the design process and enhance teamwork
Pros and Cons of CorelDRAW
CorelDRAW, like all tools, has its ups and downs. Let’s look at both sides.
- Pros:
- It has great tools for precise designs and illustrations.
- Works with many file types.
- Its touch interface is user-friendly for design work.
- With unlimited storage and Google Fonts, you’ve got everything you need.
- The collaboration tools make working together a breeze.
- Cons:
- It needs a powerful computer to run well.
- For new users, it can be tough to learn.
- It can be pricier than some alternatives.
Overall, CorelDRAW shines in the graphic design world. Its features cater perfectly to professional design needs. Yet, beginners might find it challenging at first. Despite needing a strong computer, it’s treasured for its precision and teamwork features.
Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is top-notch for making magazines, brochures, and eBooks look great. It gives designers a lot of tools and features. This helps them control how their work looks.
This software shines in making text look amazing. It lets designers make beautiful typography and catchy headlines. InDesign helps make text stand out with precision.
InDesign makes it easy to work with other Adobe apps too. This makes designing a smoother process. It boosts how productive designers can be.
Designers love how InDesign lets them make interactive PDFs and eBooks. They can add links, videos, and forms to their creations. This makes digital work more fun and engaging.
It’s good to know InDesign works on both Windows and macOS. But you need a subscription to use it. Sadly, there’s no version for iPad yet.
Adobe InDesign is the best for layout design. It has great control, cool text tools, and works well with Adobe apps. Though you need a subscription and can’t use it on an iPad, many pros choose it for their work.
Adobe XD
Adobe XD is a powerful tool made for designing web and mobile interfaces. It’s designed to be easy to use, especially if you’re already using Adobe’s other tools. It’s great for working together on projects. This makes it perfect for teams of designers.
Adobe XD shines when it comes to making designs that work on any size screen. It has everything you need to create designs that look good and work well on web and mobile.
Key Features of Adobe XD:
- Rapid wireframing and prototyping
- Intuitive design and layout tools
- Interactive design elements and transitions
- Design and preview in real-time
- Advanced animation capabilities
Pros of Adobe XD:
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps
- Excellent team collaboration features
- Leading responsive design support
Cons of Adobe XD:
- Requires a subscription fee
- Limited compatibility with older versions of operating systems
- Steep learning curve for beginners
Adobe XD works on both macOS and Windows, which is great for designers. It offers lots of help like tutorials and a big community of users. This makes it ideal for all kinds of designers. With Adobe XD, you can realize your design dreams, crafting awesome experiences for all devices.
Canva
Canva is your go-to for making branded content look pro. It’s easy to use, thanks to its drag-and-drop feature. Anyone, even if you’re not a designer, can make something beautiful. This tool lets teams easily work together. And sharing your work on social media is a breeze.
What’s great about Canva is how accessible it is. It’s friendly for newbies. There’s a free version to try before you buy. Plus, there’s a step-by-step guide for making awesome designs quickly.
Many love Canva for its huge collection of resources. You’ll find loads of templates, graphics, and images. But remember, some of the fancier stuff might cost extra.
You can use Canva on the web or download it for any device. It suits small business owners, marketers, or creative types. Canva helps you make top-notch branded materials, no design experience needed.