Canva is an innovative online graphic design platform based in Sydney, Australia. Launched in 2013 by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams, it boasts 100 million users and a diverse product range, including Canva, Canva Pro, and Canva for Enterprise. The platform is known for its user-friendly features like drag-and-drop design, photo editing, and custom templates.
Seeking alternatives to Canva? Explore options like Adobe Express, Affinity, Figma, Photoshop, and more to cater to your graphic design needs.
Adobe Express
Stepping into the design space as a worthy Canva alternative is Adobe Express. Previously known as Adobe Spark, Adobe Express relaunched in December 2021 as a cloud-based tool, serving high-quality designs with the back of AI technology. This comprehensive application is accessible via both mobile and web.
Adobe Express Top Features
- AI recommended templates: Thousands of AI suggested templates available for various projects, allowing superb customization.
- One-click quick actions: Tasks like image conversion, video reversal, and image resizing can be achieved with a single click.
- Background removal technology: AI aids in removing backgrounds from photos and recommending seasonal templates or fonts.
- Project management tool: Keeps a record of all designs and grants permission controls.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Brand Manager | A tool dedicated to managing your business brand efficiently and effectively. |
| Graphic Editor | Deliver quality designs by inserting, removing, replacing, moving, and editing elements. |
| Social Media Scheduling | An integrated feature allowing the setting of post timing for social media marketers. |
Adobe Express Limitations
- Limited availability of premium features under the free version.
- Complex functions and features may require a learning curve for some individuals.
Adobe Express Pricing
Adobe Express is free to download and use, but the premium membership, costing $9.99/month, unlocks more advanced features and access to an extensive royalty-free Adobe Stock collection.
Adobe Express Use Cases
Use case 1: Professional Graphic Designing
The wide variety of AI-recommended templates and a sophisticated graphic editor cater to professional graphic design needs, producing standout content.
Use case 2: Marketing
Adobe Express is perfect for marketers, providing tools for creating engaging ads, posters, and social posts combined with the ease of social media scheduling.
Use case 3: Education
Flexible creations make Adobe Express a go-to for educators. The tool supports effective teaching by aiding in the creation of visually engaging presentations and other content.
Affinity
When it comes to exploring alternatives to Canva, Affinity comes into the limelight as a robust design software launched by Serif Europe. Part of the revered “Affinity Trinity” along with Affinity Photo and Publisher, it’s a credible Adobe Illustrator alternative compatible with multiple file formats.
Affinity Top Features
- Vector pen and shape-drawing tools, enabling a seamless creation and manipulation of illustrations and logos.
- Supports non-destructive editing, granting you the flexibility to experiment without tarnishing original art.
- Real-time effects and transformations, offering instant visual feedback and supporting iterative design.
- Capable of handling multiple color models (RGB, LAB, CMYK, and Grayscale).
- Designer, Pixel, and Export Personas enabling smooth switching of workspaces as per project needs.
| Key Feature | Advantage |
|---|---|
| 8000 undo actions | Less worry about mistakes derailing your progress |
| Multiple strokes or fills on single objects | Enhanced creative control and artistic flexibility |
| Flexible tool showcasing bar | Easier navigation and increased efficiency |
Affinity Downsides
- The iPad version of Affinity Designer needs a separate purchase.
- An initial learning curve might be experienced due to the extensive features.
Affinity Pricing
Pricing is quite comprehensible. There’s no subscription, just a one-time payment of USD$69.99 for Windows or macOS, USD$18.49 for the iPad version, and USD$164.99 for the entire suite on all platforms.
Affinity Use Cases
Use case 1: Professional Illustrators
Affinity’s vector pen and shape-drawing tools combined with the ability to apply multiple strokes or fills on single objects provides illustrators with everything they need to turn their concepts into compelling visual stories.
Use case 2: Game Developers
Affinity becomes a go-to tool for game developers because of its non-destructive editing capabilities. Coupled with 8000 undo actions, trial-and-error becomes a fruitful process when designing complex game elements.
Use case 3: Web Designers
With its ready support for common file formats and ability to switch between vector and pixel workspace, Affinity allows web designers to conjure up visually arresting and technically fault-free designs. Its flexible tool showcasing bar makes the design process even smoother.
CorelDraw
Step into the world of CorelDraw, a powerhouse of professional design, offering a buffet of tools for vector illustration, layout, photo editing and typography. CorelDraw is critical across multiple sectors, shining in both large corporations and nifty small businesses.
CorelDraw’s Exceptional Features
- Advanced Design Capabilities: Equipped with an AI-assisted PowerTRACE, CorelDraw takes bitmap-to-vector trace results to an unmatched level.
- Customizable Workspace: Enhancing the design workflow, it offers a flexible design space, multi-page view, and multi-asset export.
- Color Consistency: Ensure your designs maintain their aesthetic across different media for optimal print and web design output.
| Subscription Model: | Access to new features, exclusive cloud-based features, apps, content and support for all latest technologies. |
| Non-destructive Editing: | Preserve your original work while you make changes to bitmaps and vectors. |
| Mobile Editing: | With CorelDRAW.app, take your projects on the go and collaborate effective with clients and colleagues. |
CorelDraw Limitations
- Pricing may not align with individual user needs and industry standards.
- Some user reviews mention a steep learning curve, particularly for novices.
CorelDraw Pricing
CorelDraw aims to meet your specific requirements with its subscription model and one-time purchase options. However, it’s essential to align the pricing with your needs and industry standards.
CorelDraw Use Cases
Web Design
CorelDraw champions in creating spectacular web designs with its color consistency and targeted brand identity creation tools.
Large-format Printing
Make a gargantuan impact with large-format printing, achieved seamlessly through multi-page view and multi-asset export.
Digital Advertising
Create captivating digital advertisements with CorelDraw’s advanced design capabilities and versatile vector illustration tools.
Webflow
Discover a world of design possibilities with the design-led platform, Webflow. An eCommerce platform that transforms complex coding tasks into an intuitive, user-friendly interface for creating exceptional digital experiences.
Webflow Top Features
- Customized end-to-end customer experiences with a broad range of design control.
- Integrated payment processing via Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
- Ramp up your SEO efforts with the blog feature and customizable product fields.
- Automated shipping processes, inventory sync, and automatic tax calculation thanks to its extensive integration capacity.
- Secure hosting platform with an SSL certificate and low hacking risk.
| Advantages | Features |
|---|---|
| Design Freedom | All-in-one design tool that eliminates the need for coding with CMS for blogging and custom marketing pages. |
| Efficient Management | User-friendly order management dashboard, integration with native interfaces or Zapier apps, and automated functionalities. |
| Learning Resources | Webflow University offers comprehensive video tutorials for effective use of the platform. |
Webflow Limitations
- Transactional fees apply through Stripe.
- While there are some automation features, some processes might still require manual work.
- Limited offline sale possibility.
Webflow Pricing
Webflow is priced competitively starting at $29/mo when billed annually, ensuring value for money in delivering a quick and efficient website creation process.
Webflow Use Cases
Use case 1: Web Designers
Webflow simplifies the design process with live prototyping, offering web designers the exact expectations of the customer experience.
Use case 2: eCommerce Businesses
From customizable product fields to robust payment processing, businesses can ensure a seamless digital shopping experience for their customers.
Use case 3: Content Creators
With easy integration with MailChimp and SEO control, content creators can leverage Webflow to create engaging marketing pages, blogs, and emails.
Procreate
Craving a cloud-based platform for your digital illustrations and sketches? Then, turn your gaze to Procreate. Functioning beyond aesthetics and design, this iPad and iPhone-exclusive solution offers more than you can imagine. But remember, perfection often comes with a price tag, and here, it’s the mandatory use of an Apple Pencil for efficient functioning.
Procreate Top Features
- Animation Assist:This time-lapse recording tool breathes life into your creations.
- Customizable Brushes and Effects: Tailor these elements as per your artistic whims and fancies.
- Rectify Image Colors and Adjust Filters: Cure your chromatic aberration grievances and blur images for a realistic feel.
- Typography Incorporation: Modify your text style and integrate typography to elevate your design.
| Additional Features | Inclusivity Features |
|---|---|
| shape drawing platform | Support for VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and AssistiveTouch |
Procreate Limitations
- Limited layering depending on the canvas size and quality.
- Exclusivity to iOS devices may exclude potential users.
- Maintenance of accessibility with increasing functionalities could pose a challenge.
Procreate Pricing
Procreate positions value over affordability. Its one-time license fee stands at $9.99, with no available free trial version or free usage. However, the quality and vast range of features justify this price tag.
Procreate Use Cases
Use Case 1: Digital Sketching
Procreate flexes its muscles in the digital sketching domain, offering a near-irreproachable rendering of your creative visions. It’s canvas customization feature and user-friendly selection tool provide intricate control over every stroke, every detail.
Use Case 2: Illustration
Where words fail, Procreate succeeds. It’s perfect for illustrators looking for a robust platform that allows extensive design and color control. Furthermore, Procreate’s Photoshop brushes import feature means illustrators won’t miss their favorite tools.
Use Case 3: Animation
For those enchanted by the world of animation, Procreate’s time-lapse recording feature, Animation Assist, could be a game-changer. Also, the motion filtering feature ensures smooth strokes every time.
Microsoft Designer
Introducing Microsoft Designer – the AI-driven graphic design app that’s seeming to give Canva and Adobe Express a run for their money. Simmering with interconnectivity amongst the Microsoft 365 software suite, and an intriguing fusion of AI-generated imagery with user-added pictures, this application takes simplicity to a new plateau.
Microsoft Designer Top Features
- AI-driven graphic design capabilities, formulated to generate unique artworks from textual descriptions.
- Suggestive and relevant template options, empowering simpler design endeavors.
- Interconnectivity with Microsoft 365 software suite whilst planning future integrations across Microsoft applications.
- Unique DALL-E 2 feature from OpenAI for generating custom images based on user’s text prompts.
- Automatic image options, supportive text, design suggestions discerned from the user-descriptions.
- Auto-generation of written captions and hashtags for social media posts.
- Customizable design resizing ability for up to 20 divergent social media layout dimensions.
| Microsoft Create | Cloud Autosave | Photo Editing Tools |
|---|---|---|
| A new platform planned to house all Microsoft’s creative applications. | Designed to automatically save your designs in the cloud. | Offers useful tools for background removal/replacement, and fill and selection expansion. |
Microsoft Designer Limitations
- Lacking collaboration support, unlike Canva and Adobe Express.
- Restricted project type selections compared to Canva’s variety (like slide decks, websites, etc.)
- Limited to basic features in the initial free version, unlike the fuller version offered in the paid Microsoft 365 plan.
Microsoft Designer Pricing
The Microsoft Designer application comes free in a limited capacity, while the fuller version forms part of the paid Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plan, which starts at $69.99 a year.
Microsoft Designer Use Cases
Use case 1: Social Media Graphics and Posts
With the ability to generate attractive graphics and written captions or hashtags automatically, Microsoft Designer makes a formidable tool for creating engaging social media content.
Use case 2: Ideation Phase
Throughout the initial ideation phase, the supportive assistance of Microsoft Designer can streamline workflows, thanks to its suggestive templates and AI-powered image generation.
Use case 3: Unique Graphic Design
If you’re aiming for uniquely tailored designs, the AI attribute of Microsoft Designer provides an optimal solution by creating custom images based on textual descriptions.
Adobe XD
Behold Adobe XD, the paragon of UX design, a versatile tool opening the path to limitless digital design experiences. Graceful yet powerful, it seamlessly blends flexibility, speed, and consistency, making it indispensable in today’s intricate digital landscape.
Adobe XD Top Features
- Adaptable Interface: Enables design of engaging experiences and another dimension of possibilities – websites, apps, voice interfaces, and even games.
- Integrative Strength: Works in harmony with familiar tools like Photoshop for expanded design possibilities.
- Prototype Magic: Builds interactive, animated prototypes, a unique feature defining Adobe XD.
- Efficient Collaboration: Shareable URL and commenting feature promote process transparency and teamwork.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto-Animate | Employs high-resolution photography to craft visually appealing web experiences. |
| Repeat Grid | Accelerates design workstream by allowing rapid grid creation. |
| Voice-Enabled | Incorporates voice command and speech playback, making the interface comprehensible for designing voice-assisted tools. |
Adobe XD Limitations
- The tool, compelling as it may be, requires a slight learning curve and some prior knowledge of design software.
- Given the multitude of features and tools, a novice might find Adobe XD overwhelming at first.
Adobe XD Use Cases
Use case 1 – E-commerce platforms
The application of Adobe XD transcends to digital marketplaces. The Pawtastic, an e-commerce UI Kit, exemplifies its prowess. With its proficiency in mental modeling, Adobe XD aids in creating intuitive, seamless shopping experiences.
Use case 2 – Mobile Applications
Adobe XD’s adaptability enhances the design process for mobile applications, offering instant viewing of designs on mobile devices. This expedites prototyping and iterations, making it an ideal tool for mobile UX/UI designers.
Use case 3 – Voice Interfaces
Adobe XD strides in designing voice-assisted tools with its unique voice command and speech playback features. It holds great potential in crafting engaging, user-friendly voice interfaces, thus serving a futuristic design need.
Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer bursts onto the scene as an award-winning vector graphics software developed by Serif, spanning platforms from Windows and macOS to iPad. Loved by professional illustrators, web designers, and game developers alike, this software caters to a myriad of creative pursuits, right from concept art to UI designs.
Top Features of Affinity Designer
- Live, responsive, and fast functionality enhancing real-time designing experience.
- Unique one million percent zoom capability for fine pixel perfect designs.
- Innovative layer groups and color tagging, along with live outline view.
- Diverse tools including raster brush texture, single pixel edit, pixel layers clip, and more.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Exports | Digital, print, merch, marketing materials, and digital publications. |
| File type compatibility | Highly compatible with JPEG, PDF, SVG, PSD, PNG, TIFF, GIF, DWG/DXF. |
| Platform-agnostic file format | Smoothly work across different devices on same projects. |
Downsides of Affinity Designer
- No vector eraser included in Designer Persona.
- Does not export as AI.
- Missing a natural perspective grid feature.
Affinity Designer Pricing
Get the Windows/macOS version at a one-off payment of $69.99. The entire suite on all platforms is available at USD$164.99 with the Universal License. The iPad standalone version comes at an affordable $18.49.
Affinity Designer Use Cases
Concept Art
For concept artists, Affinity Designer brings a fresh perspective to digital artistry, endowing illustrators with versatile, precision-based tools for their creations.
Print Projects
Affinity Designer eases the process of print projects, offering a seamless, end-to-end CMYK workflow that’s perfect for print design.
UI Designs & Mock-ups
With its robust suite of features and ease of use, Affinity Designer excels in crafting highly refined UI designs and mock-ups—a must-have for all web designers.
InDesign
The aegis of Adobe, InDesign unveils a mesmerizing palette of graphic design capabilities inscribed in its essence. Coded for versatility, it serves as the bedrock for ebooks, posters, webpages and almost anything printable or publishable on the digital canvas.
InDesign Top Features
- Robust text editing
- Acute subject detection
- Multi-language configuration
- Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud and Experience Manager
| Version | Feature |
|---|---|
| Current (2023 – 18.0) | Auto Style, support for various formats |
| Past | SVG support, variable fonts, enhanced performance |
InDesign Downsides
- Limited backward compatibility
- Earlier versions showed compatibility issues with Mac OS X Leopard
- Potential for tool organization confusion across Adobe products
InDesign Pricing
Enchantment comes with a price. InDesign unfurls its capabilities at a starting price of US$20.99/month.
InDesign Use Cases
Use case 1: Print Industry
In the realm of print, InDesign reigns supreme, churning out stationery, flyers, posters, brochures, annual reports, and books with an effortless charm.
Use case 2: Digital Applications
Beyond the print, in the digital spectrum, InDesign crafts interactive PDFs, digital magazines, and eBooks, deftly blending art and technology.
Use case 3: Collaboration and Page Layout Design
From the cornerstone of collaborations to crafting page layouts, InDesign’s fluid integration with Creative Cloud and Adobe Experience Manager makes it a quintessential tool for graphic artists.
Figma
An embodiment of creativity and collaboration, Figma is a browser-based tool that ascends above the realm of mere design software. Conceived by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace during their collegiate sojourn at Brown University, Figma emerged from an academic dream into a steadfast beacon for user interface and experience design.
Figma Top Features
- Real-time collaboration, a touchstone of Figma’s novelty, nurturing the roots of collective creativity.
- Figma Community, an open courtyard to share and savor design artifacts, adding a vibrant aspect of socialization to design.
- FigJam – a digital whiteboard, injecting the pulse of dynamism into brainstorming sessions.
- OS-independence, an inclusive choice allowing the software to glide seamlessly across OS landscapes like macOS, Windows, Linux, and Chromebook, savoring the versatility of web browsers.
- Integration with Slack, ensuring fluid communication within teams irons out any creative wrinkles.
| Feature | Description |
| Seamless versioning system | Allows teams to review and roll-back to earlier design iterations or make on-demand versions, enhancing the control over design flow. |
| Prototyping and presentation creation | Eliminates the need for external tools, multiplying efficiency. |
| Team Libraries | Centralize and streamline design assets and UI components, ensuring design uniformity across teams. |
Figma Limitations
- Proposed acquisition by Adobe introduced an air of uncertainty, plummeting Adobe shares by 17{66f7997927a862c9f57ec7dffc6a2fe6d405caee7001dff533b976d48fe118b1} and triggering concerns about forceful Creative Cloud integration and unfavorable business model imposition.
- Figma’s valuation was seen as possibly overpriced, inviting comparisons with Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp.
- Facing investigation under EU merger laws, a potential blow to operational freedom and dynamics.
Figma Pricing
Figma stakes its inclusivity claim with a free version, while its feature-packed Professional, Organization, and Enterprise plans command a premium. Designed strategically, these tiers cater to individual creatives as well as expansive design consortiums.
Figma Use Cases
Use case 1: UX/UI Design Collaboration
Thanks to Figma’s real-time collaboration feature and browser-based flexibility, UX/UI teams can co-create and iterate on projects, weaving a tightly-knit design even across geophysics.
Use case 2: Design Standardization
With Team Libraries, design consistency across a large organization becomes a mere reflex, ensuring all design teams tap into a central source of truth for UI work.
Use case 3: Cross-platform compatibility
Figma’s OS-agnostic architecture makes it a cynosure for multi-OS teams who appreciate Chromebook, Mac, Linux, and Windows compatibility without compromising feature accessibility or performance.
Adobe Illustrator: Unleash the Power of Vector Graphics
Pixel perfectionists, unlock your creative prowess with Adobe Illustrator– a dominant force in vector graphics domain. It’s your passport to creating everything from mobile graphics to resplendent letterforms, and product packagings to compelling fonts.
Outstanding Features of Illustrator
- Design sophistication with free-form gradients, shapes, photos, illustrations, typography.
- Bring ideas to life with over 18,000+ fonts, color fonts, type on path and variable fonts.
- Flawlessness with Apple Pencil, and dexterity of point precision.
- Seamless integration with Adobe suite: Photoshop, Fresco and Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Availability on iPad and Mac, syncing effortlessly to the cloud, enabling mobile abilities.
- Open source customization, to create a design experience that’s truly individual.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Radial, grid, mirror repeat | Enable complex pattern creation |
| Blend tool | Allows seamless merging of objects |
| Artboards | Allows creation and exportation of custom banners in JPG, PNG formats |
Possible Limitations of Illustrator
- Consumes considerable resources, potentially slowing your system.
- Presents a steep learning curve, especially for beginners.
- Lacks a free version, but offers a 7-day trial.
Adobe Illustrator Pricing
For those desiring to tap into Illustrator’s world of possibilities, the software is priced at $19.99 per month for individuals and $29.99 per month for businesses.
Who Will Benefit From Adobe Illustrator?
Professional Illustrators
With point precision, color control, and a myriad of fonts, Illustrator proves an invaluable tool for illustrators seeking to achieve mastery in their craft.
Web Designers
Be it creating breathtaking banners or exquisite buttons, Illustrator serves as a comprehensive solution for web designers.
Graphic Designers
With Illustrator’s ability for creating shapes, editing clipping masks, and layering, graphic designers can bring their most ambitious design visions to life.
Photoshop
Meet Photoshop, your go-to software for image creation, graphic design, and photo editing. Developed by Adobe, this venerable tool has been integral to the professional digital world since its inception in 1988.
Photoshop Top Features
- Layer-based editing system: Allows image creation and alteration with multiple overlays that support transparency.
- Advanced tools: From the History Panel and Clone Stamp Tool to Color Balance and Blending Modes, Photoshop’s features cater to various design needs.
- Various graphic formats: Photoshop handles not only raster images but also text, vector graphics, 3D graphics, and even video.
- Extensible capabilities: Through plug-ins, users can unlock new or enhanced features.
- Latest additions: The 2022 version includes object selection tool, updated keyboard shortcuts for paint and brush, and a background image removal option.
| Proprietary formats | PSD and PSB for maximum feature support |
| Other Adobe tools | Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop Lightroom, Photoshop Express, and more enrich the user experience |
| Professional adoption | Used by Graphic Designers, Web Developers, Photographers, and Illustrators |
Photoshop Limitations
- Highly professional, and thus may require a steep learning curve for beginners.
- Possible compatibility issues with different operating systems and hardware configurations.
- Specific to Adobe ecosystem which could be a disadvantage for some users.
Photoshop Use Cases
Use Case 1: Graphic Design
Its extensive tools and features make Photoshop the backbone for creating compelling visuals and print projects.
Use Case 2: Web Development
The versatility of Photoshop aids in crafting intuitive and aesthetically appealing website designs.
Use Case 3: Digital Art Creation
A wide range of brushes, layering capabilities, and other innovative tools help digital artists express their creativity freely.
Lightroom
Lightroom, a spearhead in Adobe’s Creative Cloud offerings, renders efficient solutions for photo editing, organization, and enhances the digital creativity ecosystem. Globally embraced by photographers, graphic designers, and digital marketers, this software spotlights technology’s ability to bridge cultural nuances and foster digital unity.
Lightroom Top Features
- Instantaneous photo editing capabilities with features for adjusting contrast, balancing color, and altering brightness.
- Customizable and built-in presets facilitating on-the-go photography editing.
- Extensive editing functions including white balance, tone curve, HSL, color grading, and lens corrections.
- Organizational tools to save, import/export images, and edit keywords, flags, ratings, tags, and color codes.
- Non-destructive software maintaining original image integrity, saving edited images as new files.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Adobe integration | Broadens learning opportunities and usage of other Adobe software, fostering creative digital skills. |
| Different versions | Lightroom Classic caters to desktop users, Adobe Lightroom prioritizes mobile devices and Apple TVs, enhancing cross-platform accessibility. |
Lightroom Limitations
- Requires monthly Adobe Creative Cloud subscription fee.
- The pricing may not be affordable for all users, especially if opting for bundles with Photoshop and online storage.
Lightroom Pricing
Lightroom offers an individual license at $9.99 per month. Additionally, it cabins value-added bundles with Photoshop and storage options ranging from $9.99 to $54.99 per month.
Lightroom Use Cases
Use case 1
For photographers, Lightroom bridges the gap between creativity and efficiency, enabling immediate post-capture editing and convenient photo organization.
Use case 2
As for graphic designers, Lightroom adds a dynamic dimension to digital marketing campaigns, web design, and content creation scenarios.
Use case 3
For digital marketers and social media managers, Lightroom fuels engaging content production with quick and effective feature sets.
GIMP
Known as the GNU Image Manipulation Program, GIMP is an open-source image editor that is globally recognized and preferred by illustrators, graphic designers, and photographers for its extensive features and zero-cost use.
GIMP Top Features
- Photo Enhancement: Improves image quality, lighting and sharpness.
- Digital Retouching: Corrects and enhances parts of an image or restores older photos.
- Preview Mode: Allows you to observe changes in real-time.
- Customizable Interface: Adjust the layout and tools to your preference.
- Channel Mixer: Helps eliminate lens tilt effects and distortions.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Multi-File Format Support | Enables flexibility with various graphic file formats |
| Active Layer Editing via Crop Tool | Eases cropping on the specific layer you’re working on |
| Extensibility via Plugins | Customize and expand software functionalities as required |
GIMP Limitations
- Complex Interface: Beginners may find navigation and utilization of tools challenging.
- Partial Compatibility with Adobe File Formats: This may affect file sharing and collaboration in certain scenarios.
- Non-Inclusion of Lanczos Image Scaling Algorithm: Some users may prefer previous versions (2.8) that include this feature.
GIMP Pricing
As truly heartening news, GIMP is an open-source software and is completely free. This means there are no subscription charges, saving you considerable costs.
GIMP Use Cases
Use case 1: Ad Creation
GIMP’s advanced editing tools and multi-layer support make it an ideal tool for creating striking and effective advertisements.
Use case 2: Flyer Design
With GIMP’s customizable interface and numerous artistic tools, designing flyers for any event or cause is not only feasible, but also enjoyable.
Use case 3: Multilingual Support
As GIMP supports 82 languages, it prevents language barriers from hindering creativity and productivity in image editing and design.
Elements
An offering from the highly-regarded University of Colorado Boulder, Elements is a diverse entity that spans a range of technical applications. From an incisive course on Coursera, “Basic Elements of Design”, to the potent 3D structural analysis tool, RAM Elements, this entity garners eclectic interest.
Elements’ Top Features
- Diverse coverage including balance, proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, and space understanding.
- In-depth knowledge imparting through modules on graphic design history, design principles, project expectations, and required software.
- A shareable certificate for LinkedIn profile, augmenting professional credibility.
- A comprehensive 3D finite element analysis used for designing trusses, beams, frames, walls, and footings.
- Supported by Bentley Communities in delving deeper into the software through tutorials.
| Processor Requirement | 1.3 GHz or faster |
|---|---|
| OS Requirement | Microsoft Windows 10 or higher |
| Ram Need | 2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended |
| Screen Resolution | 1024×768 minimum |
Elements Downsides
- Lacks company-specific design details.
- Requires high system specifications for optimal operation.
Elements Pricing
Elements offer a range of pricing options including a 12-month subscription and one-time purchase & support. Additionally, the Perpetual License with SELECT offers round-the-clock technical support.
Elements Use Cases
Use Case 1: Graphic Design
Develop a deep-rooted understanding of design principles, color theory, and mastery over online and print design.
Use Case 2: Structural Analysis
RAM Elements, an integral part of Elements, allows intricate 3D structural analysis for various projects ranging from masonry to steel.
Use Case 3: Skills Showcase
An accomplished certificate from a reputable institution shared on your LinkedIn profile builds professional credibility.
