The designers in the past are limited to use on a few tools available. The companies manufactured and designed excellent graphic tools for content creators as the world evolved.
Anyone passionate about graphic designing can make the most of today’s design tools.
Graphic tools are not limited to the PC or Mac systems. You can easily download and install them on iOS and Android smartphones.
Moreover, you can easily find graphic tools for Windows and Linux OS. The market is full of many design tools, and it sometimes becomes challenging to pick the right software.
We have compiled this extensive guide to help solo entrepreneurs to pick the best graphic tools in 2022.
Let’s take a look!
Adobe Illustrator
Platform: Windows and Mac OS.
Adobe illustrator is an old but gold software for graphic designing. It is used by almost everyone who is creating content online. The software is a great help in designing logos, infographics, icons, artwork, and more! Adobe Illustrator allows you to sketch free-hand or use tools to draw anything of your choice.
The software is impressive as you can mark an object’s size into a vector image. It works uniquely. The software utilizes mathematical formulas for seamless resizing rather than pixels.
It offers a 7-day free trial and is available for iOS and Windows. The paid plan starts from $20.99/month. You with pay monthly or annually. It is a bit expensive, but the most user-oriented software on the market.
Features:
- Adobe Sensei is used for auto-extracting to match the colors in a photograph.
- The extensive library includes 90 million pictures and icons and thousands of typefaces.
- Creative Cloud helps to organize your tasks from any location.
- Data merged in statistical data.
- Social media marketing guidance through tutorials.
Pros:
- Integration with other Adobe software.
- User-oriented interface.
- Freedom of choice. You can design how you feel comfortable.
- Wide range of vector design tools.
Cons:
- Resource-heavy
- Expensive
- Difficult learning
Adobe Photoshop
Platform: Windows and Mac OS.
Adobe Photoshop has been the industry standard for a long time. It is a top pick among graphic designers and other content creators. Its picture editing tools cater to everyone from the newbie to the expert, with a user-oriented interface and many well-written lessons. You have complete control over it, from the panel size to the artistic effect.
Photoshop, like Adobe Illustrator, provides a free seven-day trial. Surprisingly, Photoshop is a less expensive Adobe software. Photoshop trial has 100 GB of cloud storage, while the Lightroom trial contains 1 TB. Adobe Fresco is the paint application that comes with Adobe Photoshop. Adobe Spark is another excellent additional tool that comes with Adobe Photoshop. It is a storytelling engine. The teamwork across the programs is exceptional.
Features:
- Eye-catching tools are considered to be a suite of creative tools.
- Distraction-free layout
- Smooth workflow and designing.
Pros:
- Free mobile applications with a subscription service.
- There is an extensive collection of stock photos, layouts, fonts, videos, and icons.
- Excellent connectivity with other Adobe applications.
- Multiple file types, including JPG and PNG, are supported.
Cons:
- Resource-demanding
- Complex learning curve
Canva
Platform: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS.
Canva is a one-stop platform for designing a wide range of projects, web designs, and more! It has a unique drag-and-drop feature that makes planning very easy for beginners. To start with Canva, you just have to log in with your Facebook or Gmail. You can edit images and layouts and remove backdrops and fonts.
While there are limited features available on the free version, and for particular items, you will have to buy premium items. Canva is getting famous because of its extensive library. You can get samples and templates to use for your business. Surprisingly, you also get cloud storage.
Features:
- User-oriented layout with drag and drop the pictures and elements.
- Sharing is easy, as you can collaborate and share your work.
- Social Media Sharing to create and transfer directly to social media.
Pros:
- Easy learning
- The free version is available
- The paid version has unlimited features
- Extensive tutorials
Cons:
- Restricted features in the free version
- Un-editable downloads
Affinity Designer
Platform: Windows and Mac
Affinity is another professional designing tool for entrepreneurs who are starting. It can be put into the same group of editing software as Adobe Creative products. As it has impressive features and is budget-friendly.
Moreover, the extensive toolbar it offers lets beginners edit the images and design posters. This used to be a Mac product, but recently they also launched a version for Windows.
You have the freedom to choose from exclusive bundles of illustrations, fonts, and much more!
Features:
- CAD tools and supports 2D
- Collaborating Tools
- Import and Export data
- Management of design
Pros:
- Cost-effective.
- One-time payment.
- Easy to use
- Practical layout for beginners.
Cons:
- A bit confusing in the beginning.
GIMP
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
This free photo editor has become popular in the past few years. The user interface and features are perfect for beginners. This software was first launched in 1996; since then, it has grown and updated to become the best and most potent. The users can edit pictures as they like.
This editor has color adjustment tools, including hues, saturation, and contrast. It will let you edit the photo without much effort. The interface is easy to understand and use. You do not need additional training or anything to get started. Moreover, brightness control is a simple process to perform. It will make your picture look good and not fake.
Features
- Fully-featured painting.
- Animation and file handling.
- Extensive manipulation.
- Layers and channels for editing.
Pros
- Easy-to-use interface
- Excellent color enhancing tools
- More than 150 filters and effects are available
- Free to use
Cons
- Susceptible to bugs and glitches
- Limited storage space
Tracking the best graphic design tool in 2022
When searching for the best graphic design tool for your business, you’ll come across everything from free and website-based products to fully-featured image editing tools with steep learning curves fit for professionals and beginners.
When deciding about the best suitable software for yourself, evaluate your current needs and the features you expect to enhance. Many graphic designing software is costly, especially for those with premium plans.
Real-time interaction and version record are the most valuable features to operate successfully with their audience. Each of the above-reviewed software has something unique, and they are perfect for designing if you are a content creator.
Let us know which one is your favorite?
FAQ
What exactly are graphic tools?
A graphic tool is a software application or platform that uses visual effects to enhance any information.
Why do solo businesses need a graphic designing tool?
These tools help design and build a unique outlook of your brand and something your audience will remember you for. That is why you always need a good quality graphic designing tool to start your new business to design web pages, social media posts, and much more!
Which is a better graphic designing tool, Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator?
Adobe Illustrator is best for clean, graphical illustrations, while Photoshop is better for photo-based illustrations.
Which tool is best for beginners?
Adobe Illustrator is the best tool to get started in this field of design as it has a standard learning curve and takes less time to understand the features.