Invented at the MIT Lincoln laboratory by Ivan Sutherland, vector graphics brought in a new dimension of images. Utilizing polygons to illustrate images, vector images promised and still delivers non-pixelated images, irrespective of its scale or size. The foundation of vector graphics are from the word itself. It uses vectors which are run through various areas known as points or nodes, these have a position on the Y axis and X axis of a work plane. These also judge the way the route is lead and can also be given attributes to be unique not only in place but in shape, colour, stroke etc. Thus, you need to know about the best Free Vector Software out there.
Soon after the invention of Vector graphics, the world of media changed as every consumer and supplier of any media were hungry to create and use images which never got pixelated. Listening to the outcry for resources, software developers rushed to their aid to create suites of application which would harness this magical technology. One such developer was Adobe but in particular, their software named Illustrator. Developed in 1985 as an Apple exclusive product, Adobe illustrator stood the test of time and criticism proudly.
Contents
- 2 Top 6 Best Free Vector Software
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Introduction
Bringing the best in the class editor for vector graphics, they soon became an industry standard and even digressed to create software for Windows which even today is used by the major population of the media world. Currently available under the name Illustrator CC 2018, they provide a stable station for any graphic designer to work in.
Boasting a cloud server specially for their users, Illustrator CC 2018 packs in the best class performance, online storage, the ability to use a lot of artboards and so much more to make any graphic designer just drool. But unfortunately the pricing of such a product is not deep neither is it justifiable to a point, this is because of the new payment strategy utilized by Adobe.
Coming under a monthly subscription fee of nineteen dollars for an individual, the consumer will feel the need to question the efficiency and effectiveness of the program for his or her utilization. Hence making many users refrain from using Adobe as there are cheaper or even free alternatives floating on the internet. There are also circuit designing sofwares out there. But like all Free Vector Software out there, the quality of such products is questionable.
Top 6 Best Free Vector Software
Gravit Designer
Initially known as Gravit, this free vector software is the best free vector download software ever. It is number one on our list. This is because it provides an ever growing and in-depth toolbox which we can compare to even Adobe’s Illustrator which you will have to pay.
The best part is that you don’t even have to download it as it can even run on your browser without the loss of features. The application also has a beautiful GUI which welcomes the user to keep creating artwork after artwork without distracting him/her.
It also has a cloud service which allows you to access your imagery from anywhere and everywhere. Hence, there should be no question that this should be your goto application if you can’t afford the paid software.
See also: 8 Best Audio File Editor Software | Free Download
Vectr
Ranking number two on the list is Vectr Free Vector Software. This free vector graphics software is for the people who love to collaborate in work. Vectr provides a rich and diverse toolset for any graphic designer. It can also run on your browser just like the number one on our list. But the unique part is that it allows many users to come together and work on a single project, in sync and in live.
This service is available even if you are using the browser version. Even if your teammates are using the installed standalone version. Its also has a simple and easy to use GUI which anyone can get a hold in ten to fifteen minutes. Also, these reasons make Vectr take its justifiable position in the second in our ranking.
SVG Edit
Coming in at a strong third place is SVG Edit Free Vector Software. This free vector design software is very lightweight and is one of the most straightforward application a graphic designer can use. The application provides a detailed toolset which can execute the job as good as Adobe Illustrator. The application has a foundation on HTML5, CSS3, and Javascript, hence allowing it to have no back-end processing.
The best part is it’s an open source application. This will allow coders and the like to modify the script to their own liking. Unfortunately, there exists no standalone version of it and can only work in a browser. Alternatively one can use some of these drawing tools instead. Irrespective, being basic and simple has its perks, hence allowing us to give it a well deserved third rank on our list.
See also: 4 Best Free & Paid Game Optimizer Software for Windows
Inkscape
Coming last on our list but certainly not the least is Inkscape. This is a free vector software. It offers very good integration, a simple interface and a mediocre at best toolbox for editing. It clearly lacks advanced features like alpha blending, cloned objects, and marking extensions.
The other disappointing aspect of this software is that inkscape download is easy to install on windows. It is hard to for Mac, but it’s still possible. Looking at the advantages and disadvantages of this product has allowed us to justly give it a ranking of being fourth on our list.
Boxy SVG (Free)
Boxy SVG is developed using modern platform and is a modern vector graphics editor. It is a very versatile software with support to many basic and advanced features. The software allows the user to use a wide range of transformations, groupings and painting options.
It supports you to import images in many different formats such as .JPG, .PNG, .SVG, .GIF etc. The user can download the software or can also use it inside the web browser. It is available free of cost and is the best canvas for crazy young painters and designers.
LibreOffice Draw
LibreOffice Draw is a very good open source drawing tool. It is often used for drawing flowcharts and graphs, but you can also use it for designing posters, posters, logos, brochures and many such basic aspects.
This software is a more basic version with a light interface. It can prove to be a very good choice if you are looking for a software for official charts and diagrams used for office work. It may not prove to be that satisfactory if you are looking for a artistic tool.
Gimp
Autodesk Graphic
Autodesk Graphic is a new version of the previously known tool iDraw. The tool after upgradation has become a bit expensive but it offers support for import of .SVG files, .PDF .EPS formats and also allows import an export of .PSD formats for photoshop users.
The tool provides a good range of tools for sketching and drawing and also provides addtional features such as technical drawing .The tool is also available in an iPad version which also has a support for cloud uploads so that you can access your work anywhere, anytime.
DrawBerry
DrawBerry stand out for being very light weight. It is a simple tool that may not wow you with its illustrator tools but it still makes up into the latest iOS version without any updates since OS 10.5. Inspite of being so simple in terms of features and interface, you may still find it useful when you are just trying to pull out something really basic for your low budget project.
Pixelmator
Pixelmator is not exactly a vector designer but it consist of some of the basic lines and shapes that can help you with basic designing. The vector mode can be activated with few clicks, however advance users will find it short of features as they have been used to getting all of the vector designing tools.
New users can have a look at the tutorial section to explore more about the tool. Despite of all the basic functionality we still feel as if Pixelmator can get your back when you need to get some urgent and simple logos with basic lines and symbols.
Conclusion
Here are some of the best Free Vector Software that can help you to create all those crazy images you always wish existed. You can use these software for professional work as well as for simple everyday work.
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- January 02, 2020
- 18 min to read
Most free photo editors available on the App Store are quite basic, offering just a limited number of filters and allowing you to easily and quickly liven up your photos before posting them on social media.
But if you’re an aspiring or professional photographer, you probably need a more powerful app with a broader set of tools to use your creativity to the fullest. Besides, you probably use your Mac for photo editing because working on a large screen makes it possible to adjust the slightest details.
1. Apple’s Photos (Built-in app)
Apple’s Photos app is included for free on all recently released Macs. It does a good job at organizing your photos, but its collection of photo enhancement tools leaves much to be desired. Hopefully, our selection of the best free programs for photo editing on Mac will help you choose the right app to suit all your creative needs.
2. Luminar (7 days trial)
Luminar is another full-featured photo editor that’s popular with both Mac and Windows users. It can work as a standalone app as well as a plugin for such popular programs as Apple Photos.
Luminar uses Artificial Intelligence to enable sophisticated yet quick photo enhancements. Among these AI features are Sky Enhancer, which adds more depth and detail to the sky in your photos while leaving other areas untouched; Accent AI, which analyzes a photo and automatically applies the best combination of different effects to enhance your image; and Sun Rays, which allows you to place an artificial sun and adjust the lighting to your liking or make the sun rays already in your photo look even more incredible.
Luminar has over 60 filters you can apply to your photos to enhance them in a moment. Luminar also provides a set of powerful tools for cropping, transforming, cloning, erasing, and stamping, along with layers, brushes, and many more incredible features. Luminar supports the Touch Bar on the latest MacBook Pro, making photo editing even more effortless and pleasing.
3. Photolemur 3 (Free Version with watermark)
Photolemur is a relative newcomer on the photo editing market but it has all the chances to win the favor of beginner photographers and hobbyists. Running on Artificial Intelligence, Photolemur is a completely automatic photo enhancer, meaning that it does all the editing for you in no time. It has the simplest interface, with only a few buttons and sliders to adjust the enhancement to your liking and view the before and after results.
All you need to do is choose a photo (or a few) that you want to improve, drag and drop or import them using the Import button, and let the program make enhancements. After it’s done, you can compare the edited version with the original image by using the before–after slider and, if you want, adjust the skin tone or even enlarge the eyes using additional sliders. Pretty easy, huh?
Photolemur also offers a number of impressive styles to touch up your photos and give them a sophisticated and professional look. With this app, you don’t need to stuff your head with photo editing nuances and terms. Just run Photolemur and watch the magic happen!
4. Aurora HDR (14 days trial)
As you probably can tell from the name, Aurora HDR is designed to help photographers enhance their HDR photos, making them even more detailed and beautiful. It’s an ideal tool for editing your photos, with an extensive collection of more than 20 tools including details, tone, mapping, color, glow, and vignette. Each tool has its unique selection of controls to adjust its effects.
Aurora HDR enables you to work with brushes, layers, and masks, and provides a number of automatic AI tools for recognizing and removing noise, enhancing colors, lighting, and details, improving clarity, and adding contrast to dull areas while leaving other areas untouched.
Aurora HDR does a great job dealing with difficult lighting situations and creating full-of-life images while being easy to use.
5. Pixelmator (Trial 30 Days)
Pixelmator is a photo enhancer beloved by many Mac users, as it offers a good combination of a modern and simple interface, the ability to work on multiple layers, and powerful features that take photo editing to a whole new level. With so many editing tools, brushes, and effects, you can enhance your photos to your liking. You can choose between two versions of Pixelmator – standard and pro – depending on your needs. The standard version is great for basic photo editing with its selection of essential tools and filters, while the pro version is packed with extra brushes, tools, and effects that let you push your creativity to new boundaries. You can decide which version is suitable for you according to what features you’re looking for in a photo editing app.
6. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 (Trial link)
Photoshop Elements isn’t as affordable as other photo enhancers for beginner photographers. But luckily there’s a trial version available, so you can check it out before deciding whether this app is worthy of your money. Photoshop Elements acquired many powerful features from Photoshop, only Elements is simplified for amateur photographers and enthusiasts. It includes a good number of effects and filters, plus automated editing options for improving lighting, color balance, and exposure, and even opening closed eyes and reducing the effects of camera shake.
In addition to all of these awesome features, Photoshop also offers editing modes for beginners, intermediate users, and experts. Beginners will probably prefer Quick mode, as it focuses on essential tools to quickly enhance your photos by improving color, lighting, and other basic settings. Guided mode provides intermediate users with step-by-step guidance with more professional features like artistic effects, skin tone correction, and background replacement. Expert mode gives you full access to the app’s really powerful editing features and is ideal for creating stunning images.
7. Affinity Photo (Free Trial)
Affinity Photo’s interface may seem overwhelming at first, especially for novices, but when you come to grips with it you’ll find that the app is just what you’ve been looking for. Its numerous professional tools, effects, and filters encourage you to get creative with your photos. Among the coolest features Affinity Photo has to offer is a before and after view to compare the original photo with its edited version.
Affinity Photo works with 15 file types, including common ones like PDF, PSD, JPG, and GIF as well as some less popular ones. The app amazes with its abundance of basic and top-notch editing tools, allowing you to tweak your photos using all possible kinds of instruments. Affinity Photo allows you to edit HDR photos, apply artistic filters and effects, play with masks and layers, and create breathtaking compositions by combining several images in one. If you find its interface a bit much and are afraid of getting lost in all those advanced tools, you should probably look for something more suitable for your level. But Affinity Photo is worth mastering.
8. Google Photos
Google Photos is a popular cloud storage service for photos and videos. It can’t boast countless masterly tools like other photo enhancers that we review in this article, but it includes some fundamental features like filters, color adjustment sliders, and transformation tools.
Although Google Photos may not be that helpful when it comes to editing photos, it does a pretty good job at storing high-resolution images and videos with 15GB of free online storage, compared to iCloud’s mere 5GB (which you can upgrade to 50GB for a monthly fee). If you’re planning to go on a trip and take plenty of photos, then it might be smart to sign up for Google Photos to use that extra storage space when you come back.
9. PhotoScape X (Free)
A relatively new photo editing app, PhotoScape X has been gaining popularity with many Mac and PC users since its release in 2008. Its interface is simple but unconventional, with a number of tabs running along the top of the window. Each is responsible for a specific stage of editing. The Viewer tab allows you to browse and organize your photos. After you pick a photo, you can switch to the Editor tab, which includes a broad set of instruments, filters, and effects and a useful feature that enables you to compare the adjusted photo with the original.
The next tabs, including the Batch tab, mainly concentrate on editing and renaming multiple photos at once. The GIF tab allows you to easily create an animated GIF from a group of selected photos.
The downside of PhotoScape X is a lack of selection tools, so all changes are applied to the whole image rather than to a selected part.
10. Gimp (Free)
Free Graphic Editing Software For Mac Download
Gimp is a free open-source photo editing app that has been on the market for over 22 years and is available for Windows, Mac, and even Linux. Unlike many free apps, Gimp doesn’t have any ads or in-app purchases. Its grey interface might seem a little old-fashioned and it may be a bit sluggish when it comes to complex effects, though.
Free Graphic Editing Software For Mac Os
Gimp offers a vast collection of advanced tools that hardly any free photo editor can boast. It has numerous enhancement options such as clone and heal brushes, layers and channels, accurate selection tools, a number of transformation instruments, and, of course, color adjustment controls. Gimp is one of the most powerful tools for enhancing photos and is beloved by so many users for its price (free) and versatility. But if you can’t come to grips with Gimp’s interface, it may be worth paying some cash for a more user-friendly program.