Best Graphics Software

What is Graphics Software?

Graphics Software are used to create, edit, compose, and render images and illustrations. Graphics Software can support free drawing, image and photo editing, and combining and compositing multiple images. They can also be used to convert image file types. Graphics Software includes a variety of brushes, coloring scales, and other tools. Some products are also capable of 3D modeling and animation.

Graphics Software products are versatile and powerful. They can help create many types of visual advertising content or company assets, such as a logo or infographic. Most software include resources for beginners to quickly become comfortable with the programs, such as templates, tutorials, and knowledge bases. Finally, Graphics Software can help with other tasks outside of the program itself, such as PDF and file conversion, screen capture, and file metadata management.

Graphics Software have much in common with 3D Modeling Software and Animation Software, and products in each category may share features. However, Graphics Software focuses on static 2D images, which means it’s more appropriate for the creation of company assets that do not require their graphics to include movement or accompanying audio. While some Graphics Software do include 3D modeling and animation features, products in those two categories have much more robust tools and features to accomplish these tasks.

Graphics Software Features

The most common Graphics Software features are:

• Artboard and paging
• Stock image libraries
• Knowledge bases
• Hand drawing support and brush steadying
• Data merging
• Layer management and editing
• File conversion
• Metadata management
• RGB, CMYK, and HSB color management
• Vector graphics management
• Pixel art capabilities
• Filter management and application
• RAW editing
• GIF editing
• Screen capture
• Design templates
• Social media integration
• Brush templates and customization
• Interface and interaction design
• Text editing and font management
• Smart face detection and editing suggestions
• Version history management
• Tablet and mobile device support
• Customizable panels
• Multiple file format support
• File optimization
• Multi-language support
• Cloud, web, and on-premise deployment

Graphics Software Comparison

When choosing the best Graphics Software for you, consider the following:

Peripheral support. If you’re planning to use a peripheral for your Graphics Software, make sure that the program is compatible. Drawing tablets, for example, will need to be calibrated and their pen buttons will need to be assigned shortcuts. Additionally, if you plan to use VR headsets to sculpt, shape, or otherwise edit your graphics, you may want to determine if a Graphics Software can support these tools, or if Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Software would work best for you. If you’re not planning on using anything beyond a mouse and keyboard, however, virtually any Graphics Software should meet your needs.

Open source vs. paid service. Graphics Software can be broadly categorized into either paid services, usually as part of a larger package that includes separate animation and photo editing software, or as a standalone open-source software.

With paid services, vendors handle updating, troubleshooting, and integration with third-party tools and software on your behalf. However, these services require monthly or yearly subscriptions, and users typically lose access to the program (and file support) if a subscription is canceled.

In contrast, open-source software is free and can be customized to include additional tools and software that are comparable to a paid service. In this case, the user must be prepared to handle updating, troubleshooting, and integration on their own.

Animation. Some Graphics Software can also handle animation, making them efficient all-in-one tools for editing graphics of any kind. However, animation is largely a secondary or auxiliary feature for these programs, or they may be included as part of a separate service package. In any case, if you’re looking to use a Graphics Software for its animation capabilities, you’ll want to determine if it has the tools you need. Otherwise, a product from the Animation Software category may be a better choice for this task.

Computer hardware. Graphics Software can be taxing on your system, as larger and more complex projects (such as 3D image editing or large poster illustrations) will require increasingly more power and memory to process. Make sure that your system has the capacity to use this software for your tasks. If this is a concern, cloud-deployed software can help ease the strain on your system. If you’re only planning to use graphics software for basic tasks like photo editing or simpler illustrations, this will most likely not be a problem for you.

Collaboration tools. If you plan to use this tool to work with others, you’ll want to determine which native collaboration tools you want from the product. All products have basic collaboration capabilities, which usually includes ability to save project files that can be shared among users and tracking file version histories. Some products offer collaboration tools that allow multiple users to share a canvas, make edits, and create notes in real time. These features would be useful for creative or marketing teams working on multiple projects.

Start a Graphics Software comparison here

Pricing Information

There are many free, open-source Graphics Software available. Pricing can be either subscription-based or a flat, one-time fee per version, depending on the vendor. Pricing can vary based on the services provided, as well as whether the product can be sold on its own or if it is part of a larger software package. Pricing schema are typically as follows:

• Subscription: Ranges between $7.49 and $54.99 at the lowest tier.
• One-time licensing fee: Ranges between $150 and $499.

Many paid plans have free trials and demos.

More Resources

The following articles will be helpful in choosing the best Graphics Software for you:

• Best Free Graphic Design Software
• What Makes a Good Infographic?