The Best Software For Professional Graphic Design

Most businesses today require the services of a Graphic Designer, ranging from small and medium businesses to multinational corporations. The need for graphic design in business is enormous, starting from social media content, advertisements, business cards, brochures, menus, banners, product packaging, and much more.

A Graphic Designer is someone who has expertise in designing and creating visual designs using graphic design software or software. The main task of a Graphic Designer is to produce works in the form of illustrations, images, logos, or design layouts according to the needs of clients or companies for various purposes, such as to market products or services, to increase brand awareness, or for other promotional purposes. Graphic Designers must also understand design principles, including color selection, typography, layout settings, and aesthetic factors that can affect the overall design.

Adobe Photoshop is software developed by Adobe Inc. and is one of the most popular and well-known software in the world for graphic design and image editing. This software was first launched in 1990 and has undergone many updates and improvements.

Adobe Photoshop allows users to create, edit and manipulate images and graphic designs in a professional manner. There are many features and tools in Photoshop that can be used to create digital artwork such as creating graphic designs, editing images, creating illustrations, creating animations and creating designs for social media and the web.

1. Layers: Photoshop allows users to create images in several separate layers and allows users to make edits to each layer easily.

2. Brush Tool: Adobe Photoshop provides various types of brushes that can be used to create effects and textures on images.

3. Selection Tool: Photoshop has a variety of selection tools that can be used to select specific areas of an image or layer.

4. Filters and Effects: Photoshop provides many filters and effects that can be used to create effects on images such as blur, sharpen, and so on.

5. Pen Tool: Photoshop allows its users to make image selections from paths or lines drawn using the pen tool.

6. Adjustment Layers: Photoshop provides layers to make image adjustments in certain areas without destroying the original image.

Adobe Photoshop also supports various file formats such as JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and PSD (Photoshop's native file format). Apart from that, Photoshop can also integrate with other design and editing software from Adobe such as Illustrator and InDesign.

Adobe Photoshop comes in two versions, namely Photoshop for desktop and Photoshop for mobile devices such as the iPad. There is also a version of Photoshop for the web called Adobe Photoshop Express which can be accessed via a browser.

However, this software also has drawbacks, namely the complexity in using and learning the features offered. Therefore, to master Photoshop well, it takes time and dedication to learn its features.

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphic design software developed by Adobe Inc. This software is used by graphic designers and illustrators to create logos, illustrations, web designs, and print designs such as brochures, magazines, and books. Adobe Illustrator was first launched in 1987 for the Apple Macintosh and later adapted for Microsoft Windows in 1989.

Adobe Illustrator uses a vector format that allows users to create images that can be enlarged or reduced without losing graphic quality. In addition, vectors also allow users to create objects with sharp and precise edges and make it easier for users to edit images.

1. Pen Tool: Adobe Illustrator provides a pen tool that allows users to create accurate and precise shapes.

2. Artboard: Illustrator has an artboard feature or virtual design media that makes it easy for users to create various designs in one document.

3. Live Trace: Adobe Illustrator provides a live trace feature that allows users to convert raster images to vector images.

4. Gradient Tool: Illustrator has a gradient tool that allows users to create color gradients on objects.

5. Symbols: Adobe Illustrator provides a symbol feature that allows users to create objects that can be used repeatedly in designs.

6. Type Tools: Adobe Illustrator has a variety of text tools for formatting or editing text in graphic designs.

Apart from that, Adobe Illustrator also supports file formats such as EPS, PDF, SVG, and AI (Illustrator's native file format). Adobe Illustrator can also be integrated with other graphic design and editing software such as Adobe Photoshop and InDesign.

Another advantage of Adobe Illustrator is the ease in producing high-resolution logos or illustrations without losing image quality. However, like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator also has several weaknesses, namely the complexity of using and learning its features. Therefore, learning Adobe Illustrator also requires the same amount of time and dedication as Photoshop.

CorelDRAW is a vector graphic design software developed by Corel Corporation. This software has the same function as Adobe Illustrator, which is used to create vector graphic designs such as logos, illustrations, web designs, and print designs such as brochures, magazines and books.

CorelDRAW was first launched in 1980 by Corel Corporation. This software continues to experience development to date, with improved features and performance that are updated regularly.

1. Interactive Features: This feature allows users to produce designs more quickly and efficiently through features such as the Live Sketch Tool, Live Trace, and Live Paint Bucket.

2. Pen Tool: Just like Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW has an accurate pen tool to create precise and precise shapes and objects.

3. Corel Font Manager: This tool enables easier use of fonts by providing sorting and classification of fonts in one convenient environment.

4. Smart Drawing Tool: This feature makes it easier to create certain objects in graphic design, such as shapes and curved lines.

5. Corel PHOTO-PAINT: CorelDRAW is equipped with vector and raster image editing software, namely Corel PHOTO-PAINT which allows users to edit images in detail or enhance designs with gradients, effects, and color settings.

CorelDRAW also supports file formats such as AI, EPS, PDF, SVG, and CDR (CorelDRAW's native file format). In addition, CorelDRAW is also integrated with several database software and other programs such as Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, and Corel Painter.

Another advantage of CorelDRAW is the ease of use and understanding in terms of vector accuracy and the ability to produce high quality vector graphics. However, like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, CorelDRAW also has a weakness, namely the complexity in using and learning its features, which makes novice users have to learn consistently and continuously to get used to it.

Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create designs online with various templates provided. Canva offers ready-to-use images, design elements, and fonts, so users can create designs easily without having to build one from scratch.

Canva was launched in 2013 by Melanie Perkins, Cliffton Obrecht, and Cameron Adams, and has quickly become a popular design platform today.

1. Templates: Canva has a variety of structured templates for various types of graphic designs such as posters, greeting cards, presentations, social media to videos.

2. Design Tools and Elements: Canva offers a variety of design elements such as shapes, timelines, icons, photos and videos that are ready to be used in graphic designs.

3. Fonts: Canva has quality fonts that are easily accessible and can be used for free to spice up your designs.

4. Collaboration: Canva allows multiple users to collaborate on one design document by sharing design files and providing access to multiple users.

5. Ease: Canva is very easy to use even for users with no in-depth knowledge of graphic design.

Canva also has a paid version that gives you access to additional features such as vector graphics, saving your favorite fonts and removing the background from images.

The advantages of Canva are its ease of use, quite complete templates to help speed up the creative process, and access to various design elements that Canva has prepared itself or those from third parties. However, the drawbacks are limitations in fairly simple graphic design and limited ability to create high-quality vector graphics.

Overall, both CorelDRAW and Canva have their respective advantages in helping users create graphic designs. CorelDRAW offers the ability to create precise and high-quality vector graphic designs with the latest features. Meanwhile, Canva offers convenience and speed in creating graphic designs with complete and varied templates, and is easily accessible for users who don't have in-depth knowledge in graphic design.

So, depending on your needs in creating graphic designs, both CorelDRAW and Canva can be the right choice to help speed up the creative process and produce attractive graphic designs.