Did you know that there are an estimated 30 million active users who subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud? Additionally, there are another 30 million users who hone their illustrative and digital art skills in Procreate, a digital design app for iPad and iPhone. It’s safe to say that with an abundance of design software available to creatives today it can be difficult to decide which one to invest your time and energy into.
From vector graphics software to digital illustration software, we curated a list of digital programs you should consider essential to add to your artistic practice. With industry-standard and budget-friendly options in mind, we are confident you will discover software you can use as an illustrative designer.
What’s the difference between illustration and illustrative design? Learn more here.
Industry Standard Software
Adobe Creative Cloud is one of the most widely-used creative suites across the globe. In fact, one of Adobe’s programs, Photoshop, has become so popular that the name is now synonymous with image manipulation, even if the image wasn’t manipulated in Photoshop itself. Another industry standard software, Illustrator, is a program popular among digital designers. Let’s dive into these two programs to learn about their cost, use cases, and history.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator was first released to the public on March 19, 1987. Since then, it has exploded in popularity in a variety of industries from advertising to architecture. Creatives in these industries can use the software to create logos, vector illustrations, blueprints, marketing material, and more. New to designing? We highly recommend Adobe Illustrator for beginners because of its vast support system and knowledge base in the classroom and online.
Cost: Adobe Illustrator costs $22.99 a month at its stand-alone price. But as a RMCAD student, you get access to the whole Adobe Creative Suite, included in your semester fees.
Use: Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based software which means that designs are infinitely scalable and will not be limited by the number of pixels or resolution. The software is utilized in roles such as graphic designers, digital illustrators, UI/UX designers, and illustrative designers, to name a few.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop hit the public market on February 19, 1990, three years after the release of Illustrator. The software is equipped with tools to manipulate images with almost infinite possibilities. Illustrative designers can use the tool to develop unique digital assets for an organization or even get a project ready for print.
Cost: Adobe Photoshop costs $22.99 a month at its stand-alone price.
Use: Adobe Photoshop is an image manipulation software that is used by photographers, graphic designers, illustrative designers, or anyone in a design role. It has a wide variety of uses from creating Hollywood blockbuster advertisements to retouching skin tones to creating brand new art.
Vector Graphics Software
If you’re looking to stray away from monthly subscriptions, these next two vector graphics software might be worth considering.
CorelDRAW
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a direct competitor to Adobe Creative Cloud. In fact, the two have been in direct competition since CorelDRAW’s release in 1989, just two years after Adobe Illustrator was released. The CorelDRAW Graphic Suite features many programs comparable to Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
Cost: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite costs $22.42 a month or a one-time fee of $549.
Use: From creating vector illustrations to raster graphics, CorelDRAW’s suite will have everything you need to complete complex projects. This software is best for freelancers or small businesses that prioritize cost-efficiency and have no need for Adobe’s proprietary AI files.
Inkscape
Inkscape has been a leader in the free software market since its release on November 6, 2003. Inkscape is a vector-based illustration software that can produce professional-quality designs ready for digital and print. Additionally the software is open source, allowing the community to look at its code and even implement improvements to the software.
Cost: Inkscape is free of charge.
Use: Because Inkscape is not an industry standard software, the primary users of the software are professionals who use it as a secondary tool. It is a vector-based software which means you can create crisp text and designs that can be scaled infinitely.
Raster Graphics Software
A raster graphic is made up of pixels that can display a wide range of color and shading. Unlike a vector, this style of art cannot be scaled without losing quality. Common programs that we recommend you add to your toolkit are Affinity Photo 2 and Procreate.
Affinity Photo 2
Affinity Photo 2, the second generation of this raster-based software, released in 2022 to great success. It is a combination of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom packaged up in an intuitive user interface.
Cost: Affinity Photo 2 costs a one-time fee of $69.99.
Use: Affinity Photo 2 provides users the ability to manipulate images, edit photos, and create new raster designs. Leading companies around the world use the Affinity suite such as Miele, Simpsonhaugh, and Hok. You will typically find photographers, graphic designers, and illustrative designers using the software.
Procreate
Considered a top software for comic book artists and children’s book illustrators thanks to its robust feature set, designers of all kinds can come to appreciate what Procreate has accomplished in the world of raster graphics. Released in 2011, the app made for iPadOS was a hit for illustrators and digital designers alike.
Cost: Procreate costs a one-time fee of $12.99.
Use: Some would consider Procreate to be an industry standard for digital artists today. From its accessible price to its easy-to-use user interface, all types of artists use Procreate. You can find artists creating digital drawings, comic books, children’s books, and more with the application.
3D Illustration Tools
Although many artists choose to pursue 2D illustration, we can’t count out those who want to add a new perspective to their art.
Blender
Blender has come a long way since its release in 2002. Being open source since its inception, the software has a large community behind it consisting of online tutorials, community support, and software updates.
Cost: Blender is free of charge.
Use: Common creative roles that use Blender include graphic designers, 3D illustrators, and game art designers. Blender supports the entire 3D design pipeline from modeling to rendering a completed design.
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D by Maxon is a professional 3D animation and rendering software. The software was released in December of 1993 and has since become a household name in many different industries.
Cost: Cinema 4D costs $81.91 a month.
Use: Typically used by game designers, illustrators, and architects, Cinema 4D caters to 3D designers who are looking for the best capabilities with an easy-to-understand user interface.
Specialized Illustration Software
Clip Studio Paint
When asked about the best comic or manga drawing software, Clip Studio Paint certainly comes to mind. Created in Japan in 2001, the software boasts excellent brush packs, lettering capabilities, and even powerful 3D design capabilities.
Cost: Clip Studio Paint costs a one-time fee of $237.
Use: From manga studios to comic book giants such as DC Comics and Webtoon Studios, Clip Studio Paint has solidified itself as a reputable graphics software over the years. Common career paths targeted with this software are video game animators, comic book illustrators, and manga artists.
Krita
Krita boasts a powerful 2D animation and digital illustration workflow. Although targeted towards freelance and budget-conscious designers, Krita is a valued software among designers and animators.
Cost: Krita is free of charge.
Use: Our last open source software on the list, Krita is used by “comic book artists, illustrators, concept artists, matte and texture painters and in the digital VFX industry,” Krita writes on their website.
Choosing the Right Software for Your Needs
There are many factors to consider when choosing your next design software. For example, are you a student? Professional? Hobbyist? These considerations will all have an impact on what you might choose. A large corporation might choose Adobe because of its popularity and abundance of talent with the software whereas a freelancer might use a more budget-friendly option like Inkscape or Procreate.
Assessing Your Specific Needs
Be very careful when assessing your design software needs so that you don’t run into any trouble down the road. Here are some common factors to take into consideration:
- Will you be working with a team?
If you are working with a team, it might benefit you to use the industry standard software for your project, such as Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Do you or your client need an AI file?
Because Adobe’s AI files are proprietary, if you work in a software other than Adobe Illustrator, you will not be able to provide an AI file to your client or collaborators.
- Will you be working with vector or raster graphics?
Depending on your speciality, vector or raster graphics might be more applicable to your project. Be sure not to purchase the wrong software for your needs.
Budget Considerations
Many softwares out there today are on a subscription basis which means that you will be paying for a software license on a monthly or yearly term. If your budget is low, it might be best to consider going with a free or low-cost software such as Blender, Inkscape, or Procreate.
Ready to Learn How to Use Design Software?
Are you interested in learning how to use top design programs on a professional level? Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design offers a portfolio-based Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustrative Design both on-campus and online. If you’d like to discuss which program is right for you, request information today.
