As a graphic designer in this modern age, it's nearly impossible to work competitively without graphic art software. Just like a painter with his brush, or a wizard with his wand, graphic art software is what will help you deliver those stunning designs that translate your message to your target audience.
Thankfully we now have an abundance of tools that make the process easier than ever. Software such as CorelDRAW features a plethora of components, each one tailored to add a little pizzazz to your design.
To help make your selection easier, we shall look at all you need to consider when choosing a graphic art software, so you can get the most value for your money.
Graphic art software is simply a computer application that allows you to edit or create computer graphics. This can be anything from web graphics, clip art and logos to icons. Generally, the software is applied in multimedia design, graphic design, image editing, as well as the making of technical illustrations.
Some well-established software can handle a variety of these tasks all at once. With that one software, you can produce amazing illustrations and photo-realistic vector art backed with all the gradients, blends, calligraphy and caricatures that make the design complete.
As it stands, we have multitudes of graphic art software out there, with new ones popping up each day. And this can make it hard for novice designers to make a selection. However, there are a few fundamental factors you can consider that will guarantee satisfactory results.
Let's take a look.
Of course, as a beginner, it might be a little hard to use a new software for the first time. And after all, what good is it if you can't use it?
Therefore, your priority should be finding a platform that is easy to navigate through. The very best software usually feature intuitive user inter phases that allow you to easily locate and use all the tools you need without spending too much time.
It is important to remember that, as with any new task, it might take some time to get used to your new software. And no matter how complicated it seems at first, it will eventually get easier as you continue practicing.
Each software comes with its own unique set of features. For instance, advanced applications like CorelDRAW allow you to directly upload to WordPress, making the integration seamless and easy. Other features you can check for include drag and drop, among others.
In most cases, you'll have to go for a paid version of the application to access the very premium services and features. The good thing is that a majority of software today come with free trial periods to give you a taste of the whole thing. This might be a good place to start before committing to the full version.
If you are only doing graphic art as a hobby, you needn't worry about file formats. You'll probably be just fine with the default format of the app.
However, if you are working professionally with clients, you might need software that can output graphics in different formats, depending on the one the client is comfortable with. The most common ones include JPEG, PSD, Raster Graphics, Vector Graphics, CDR and SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics).
Operating system compatibility is another major factor you should consider. For the software to run, it first needs to be compatible with your computer.
Now, while Windows-compatible software is the most common out there, some of the more advanced software like CorelDRAW have versions compatible with Mac. What's more, the latest version of the application runs as smoothly on a Mac as it does on PC.
On the other hand, there are some, which only work on one OS. You should try and avoid such as they might limit your use.
Ultimately, when choosing which graphic art software, it is important to consider most, if not all, the factors above.
If you are looking to explore and have fun with your design, we recommend that you check out CorelDRAW. Besides checking all the ticks above, it has an especially friendly user interface that makes it easy for new users.
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