Top 7 Graphic Design Tools to Use in 2024

Irrespective of the nature or size of a business enterprise, graphic design is critical to its marketing campaigns. Whether a business is already active on the web or looking to launch its digital product (such as a website or application), graphic design is critical to creating a powerful brand.

According to Statista, Adobe Photoshop leads the graphics software market with an approximate 42 percent share of the global market, as of February 2024. The top three positions in this market belong to Adobe, with InDesign and Illustrator in the second and third place, accounting for market shares worth about 26 and 12 percent respectively.

If you are looking to develop a WordPress website, it is critical to plan about the graphic needs and the tools you would use to take care of it. Talking of the resources, graphic design tools and software have improved tremendously in the past decade. The inclusion of the latest technologies in the tools has given newer opportunities to the designers, and they are no longer restricted by the features embedded in a tool.

In the current period, it is possible to work with the latest tools as they are more user-friendly than ever. Hence, a small business owner looking to save some money (and having a knack for designing) can easily work on these latest tools to take care of the design needs. For professional designers, these latest tools have been able to enhance creativity and capabilities. Some of the latest developments in the tools can be the inclusion of vector graphics, realistic rendering, or collaborative features (for remote teams) that have made the designing process swifter.

Let us take a look at 7 of the most popular graphic tools that are easy to use and provide the best possible output for your creative needs:

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Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe has been one of the most popular graphic design tools and has been around forever. With time, Adobe’s ability to integrate the latest features and technologies has ensured that it has become one of the most popular alternatives among graphic designers.

Here are some of the most critical features that keep it one of the favorites among graphic designers:

Advanced AI Integration: Leveraging Adobe Sensei, Creative Cloud tools now offer smarter editing capabilities, from auto-refinement of images in Photoshop to enhanced motion tracking in After Effects.

Cross-Application Synergy: Seamless integration across tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and XD facilitates a fluid design process, allowing for effortless asset transfer and cohesive project management.

Versatile Subscription Models: Adobe offers flexible subscription options catering to individuals, teams, and educational institutions. This ensures that designers and organizations of all sizes can find a plan that suits their needs.

Cloud-Based Collaboration: The Creative Cloud suite enhances teamwork through shared libraries and cloud storage, enabling real-time collaboration and feedback across global teams.

Continuous Updates and Innovations: Regular updates introduce cutting-edge features and improvements, ensuring users have access to the latest advancements in design technology.

Adobe supports graphic design, video editing, web development, and video editing. So, if you are planning to develop a WordPress website, this tool could be the best for integrating graphic design services.

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Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer challenges the status quo with its powerful features and affordability, making it a favorite among vector artists and graphic designers.

No Subscription Required: A one-time purchase grants lifetime access, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious designers.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: Available on Mac, Windows, and iPad, Affinity Designer supports a flexible design process across devices.

Comprehensive Toolset: With advanced vector and raster tools in one app, designers can effortlessly switch between tasks without sacrificing quality.

Performance Efficiency: Affinity Designer is known for its speed and stability. It easily handles complex documents, ensuring a smooth design experience.

Sketch

Some of the most important features of Sketch that make it one of the most preferred graphic design tools are as follows:

UI/UX Specialization: Tailored features for interface design, including symbols and responsive layouts, streamline the creation of user-friendly digital experiences.

Collaboration and Sharing: Sketch facilitates teamwork with its cloud-based sharing options, allowing for feedback and iterations in real time.

Extensive Plugin Ecosystem: A robust library of plugins extends its functionality, enabling designers to customize their workflow to their precise needs.

Affordable Pricing: With a competitive pricing model, Sketch offers great value, especially for individual designers and small teams focusing on digital products.

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Inkscape

Vector artists and graphic designers prefer this tool as it is quite affordable and has a wide range of features that no other counterpart offers. Here are some of its most powerful features:

Free to Use: As an open-source tool, Inkscape is available at no cost, making it accessible to designers worldwide.

SVG Focus: Specializing in SVG file format, it offers extensive capabilities for web graphics and scalable designs.

Extensive Feature Set: Comprehensive tools for object creation, manipulation, and text support cater to a wide range of design needs.

Community Support: A strong community provides tutorials, extensions, and updates, continuously improving the platform.

Canva

The overall popularity of Canva has increased rapidly in the past few years due to its huge template library and user-friendly design. Some of the most salient features are as follows:

User-Friendly Interface: Canvas’s drag-and-drop functionality makes design accessible to beginners and professionals.

Extensive Template Library: Thousands of templates for social media, presentations, flyers, and more allow for quick customization and design creation.

Collaboration Features: Teams can work together on designs, share feedback, and make edits in real-time, fostering a collaborative environment.

Free and Paid Plans: With a generous free plan and premium options for more advanced features, Canva suits various needs and budgets.

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CorelDRAW

This is another preferred tool used by graphic and logo designers and has been around for a long time. Some of the most critical features of CorelDRAW are as follows:

Versatile Graphic Design Software: Offers a wide range of tools for vector illustration, layout, photo editing, and more.

Customizable Interface: Users can tailor their workspace to their specific workflow, enhancing productivity and comfort.

Advanced Typography Tools: Extensive text manipulation and font management options allow for creative and precise typographic designs.

Cross-Platform Availability: With versions for Windows and Mac, CorelDRAW supports designers across different operating systems.

Figma

Figma takes collaboration to the next level with its cloud-based design tool, making it a staple for UI/UX projects and team workflows.

Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple users can work on the same project simultaneously, making it ideal for teams across different locations.

Vector Networks: A unique approach to vector editing simplifies the creation and manipulation of complex shapes and layouts.

Plugin Ecosystem: An expanding range of plugins supports a tailored design experience, enhancing functionality based on user needs.

Prototyping and Testing: Integrated prototyping tools allow designers to create interactive demos and user tests without leaving the app.

Here are the tools that you can use to develop a WordPress website. Apart from this, you can also use the tool like Graffiti for your design needs. For more information, refer to Graffiti- the graphics design tool.

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Summing up

So, there we have it: the seven most popular and preferred graphic design tools used by professionals as well as novice designers. These tools can be easily integrated into WordPress website development, help with overall branding, and enhance a business’s presence in cyberspace. Each of the alternatives has its pros and cons. We tried to list the most critical features to help you select the best graphic design tool for your multiple requirements.