As a graphic designer, you are always searching for new inspirations and tools to improve your skills and speed up the design process. The online world now provides an array of design tools to improve your workflow and efficiency – putting more money in your pocket each month from satisfied clients. Here are the top 10 online design tools grouped by categories to improve your graphic design business.
Image Manipulation Websites
1) Aviary.com
Aviary.com is a powerful online resource offering image editing, vector editing and a variety of other tools. The website is well designed and is known for its user friendly format. While, as a graphic designer, you may not use certain portions of the website such as the music creator, most sections are very valuable for the design process.
2) GIMP.org
Another top online image manipulation program is GIMP.org. This website deserves a spot among the top online design tools because it features, among other things, image perspective manipulation, channel mixing, and cloning.
3) Pixlr.com
The Pixlr.com image editor is the last image manipulation program making the top 10 online design tools list. This program features an interface similar to top graphic design software applications and is very user friendly – making it a great resource for all experience levels.
Stock Photo Websites
4) iStockphoto.com
iStockphoto.com is widely used in the graphic design community and features an extensive stock graphic library. The cost per image on iStockphoto.com is higher than other stock photo websites but the image quality is worth the higher cost.
5) Bigstockphoto.com
Lower cost photos and illustrations are available on Bigstockphoto.com if you can’t afford more expensive stock image websites. The quality of images is still high and you can browse extensive image galleries. As with most stock photo websites, you must purchase a credit bundle before downloading your first graphic.
6) Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com is comparable in price and quality to iStockphoto.com and contains, among other resources, photos and illustrations. Browse graphics by category or keyword to quickly locate a particular subject.
7) Stock.xchng
If you are working on a tight design budget, Stock.xchng is a great option because it offers free stock images for download. While the image qualities are lower than fee based websites, it’s still a wonderful free resource.
Graphic Design Training
8) Lynda.com
As a graphic designer, you must always be acquiring new skills. The Lynda.com tutorial library offers top notch free and fee-based training videos on a variety of design software programs to aid in the learning process.
9) Kelbytraining.com
Another top training website is Kelbytraining.com which offers a variety of graphic design tutorials, DVDs, and books. This resource is constantly updated with the latest software tutorials and can be a great resource to stay on top of the graphic design field.
10) Tuts+
The Tuts+ network is the final online design tool earning a spot on the top 10 list. From vector tutorials to creative sessions, this resource offers a variety of learning materials to improve your graphic design skills.
To be successful designer, you must always learn new skills and try new things. Hopefully these top 10 online design tools will be helpful outlets for improving your graphic design skills.
Sonia Mansfield is the content editor for PsPrint and editor for the PsPrint Blog. She likes to write, do yoga and make nerdy “Star Wars” and “Simpsons” references. PsPrint is an online printing solutions company, which you can follow on Twitter and Facebook.
