What are the most commonly used graphic design too

#1

What are the most commonly used graphic design tools, and how do they differ in terms of functionality, ease of use, and suitability for different types of design projects such as branding, web design, print media, and digital illustrations?

#2

Branding
Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Affinity Designer

Web Design
Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD

Print Media
Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, CorelDRAW

Digital Illustrations
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Affinity Designer

Less mainstream
Branding
Inkscape, Vect, Canva

Web Design:
Webflow,Dreamweaver, Framer - or plethora of Online web builders

Print
QuarkXPress, Affinity Publisher, Scribus

Digital Illustrations
Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, Krita, Fresco

#3

Different graphic design tools each have their own vibe, strengths, and quirks. For example, some programs are vector-based these are brilliant for logos, branding, and any design where you need to scale your work endlessly without losing quality. On the flip side, raster tools work with pixels, so they’re perfect for detailed photo editing or digital painting, but they come with fixed resolutions. That means they’re great for digital projects or print work, as long as you keep an eye on resolution/size.

Then there are tools that mix in coding, HTML, CSS, and other web languages which are tailored for building websites and creating interactive content. And when it comes to digital illustrations, you often find a blend of both vector and raster techniques, depending on the look and feel you’re after.

The learning curves can be all over the place too. Some tools are designed to be super intuitive and easy to pick up, while others require a steeper dive into features and functionality. And, let’s be honest, the tutorial scene online is a mixed bag. You’ll come across plenty of advice from amateurs chasing clicks rather than offering solid guidance, so it pays to be discerning about where you learn your tricks.

Let’s take logo design as a single area to illustrate the difference between bad advice and good advice.

Imagine you’re trying to create a logo. Some tutorials online might promise that you can whip up a stunning logo in just ten minutes with a few drag‐and‐drop moves. That’s the bad advice, it oversimplifies the process, suggesting that there’s a magic button you can push, without stressing the fundamentals. It often glosses over important aspects like the balance of shapes, the effective use of negative space, and the subtleties of proportion and colour. These quick-fix solutions might look impressive in a flashy video, but they usually lead to generic designs that lack thought and depth.

Now, good advice takes a more measured approach. It acknowledges that while vector-based tools are great for logos, allowing you to scale your design to any size without losing quality, creating a truly great logo requires time, experimentation, and a solid grasp of design principles.

Good advice will encourage you to sketch out multiple ideas, consider how the logo works in different contexts, and iterate until you nail down a design that feels both unique and balanced. It might even suggest finding a mentor or following well-curated, detailed tutorials that have been tried and tested by experienced designers.

The key nuance here is that bad advice promises instant perfection and shortcuts, whereas good advice sets realistic expectations and emphasises learning fundamentals to create work that stands out.

#4

I forwarded the question to Grok 3 :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: :

Graphic design tools are essential for creatives, offering diverse options for professionals and novices alike. Below, I’ll detail the most commonly used graphic design tools, including Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher, focusing on their functionality, ease of use, and suitability for projects like branding, web design, print media, and digital illustrations. These insights reflect industry standards and user trends as of early 2025.

  1. Adobe Photoshop

  • Functionality: A raster-based powerhouse for photo editing, layering, and detailed manipulation. It offers extensive brushes, filters, and plugin support.

  • Ease of Use: Steep learning curve due to its complexity; beginners may struggle, but it’s intuitive for seasoned users.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: Great for textured logos and visuals, though vector work is limited.

    • Web Design: Ideal for mockups and assets, less suited for responsive layouts.

    • Print Media: Excellent for high-resolution images in magazines or posters.

    • Digital Illustrations: Top-tier for detailed, painterly artwork.

  • Standout Feature: Pixel-level precision and photo editing.

  1. Adobe Illustrator

  • Functionality: A vector-based tool excelling in scalable graphics, typography, and precision drawing for logos, icons, and illustrations.

  • Ease of Use: Moderate learning curve; requires understanding of paths and anchors but easier than Photoshop for vectors.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: The go-to for scalable logos and brand identities.

    • Web Design: Strong for icons and UI elements, not full layouts.

    • Print Media: Perfect for crisp designs like business cards and brochures.

    • Digital Illustrations: Ideal for clean, line-based or stylized vectors.

  • Standout Feature: Vector scalability without quality loss.

  1. Adobe InDesign

  • Functionality: A layout-focused tool for multi-page documents, with precise typography and grid systems. Integrates seamlessly with Photoshop and Illustrator.

  • Ease of Use: Moderate; intuitive for layouts but less versatile for general design.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: Useful for brand guidelines or catalogs, not logo creation.

    • Web Design: Limited; mainly for static asset exports.

    • Print Media: Industry standard for books, magazines, and flyers.

    • Digital Illustrations: Not suited; lacks drawing tools.

  • Standout Feature: Mastery of multi-page layouts.

  1. Canva

  • Functionality: A web-based, drag-and-drop tool with templates and a vast asset library. It’s simple but less robust than professional suites.

  • Ease of Use: Extremely beginner-friendly; no design experience required.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: Good for quick logos or social graphics, limited for complex identities.

    • Web Design: Handy for banners and basic assets, not full sites.

    • Print Media: Decent for flyers or posters via templates, less control over print specs.

    • Digital Illustrations: Minimal; relies on pre-made elements.

  • Standout Feature: Speed and accessibility for non-designers.

  1. Figma

  • Functionality: A cloud-based, collaborative tool for UI/UX design, offering vector editing, prototyping, and real-time teamwork.

  • Ease of Use: Moderate; intuitive for web designers, with a curve for traditional graphic tasks.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: Useful for digital-first brands or style guides, less for print.

    • Web Design: Exceptional for wireframes, prototypes, and responsive design.

    • Print Media: Not ideal; lacks robust print export options.

    • Digital Illustrations: Functional for simple vectors, not detailed artwork.

  • Standout Feature: Collaboration and prototyping in one.

  1. Affinity Designer

  • Functionality: A hybrid vector/raster tool with a one-time purchase model. It’s fast, feature-rich, and a strong Adobe alternative.

  • Ease of Use: Moderate; similar to Illustrator but less cluttered, making it approachable.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: Excellent for logos and scalable graphics.

    • Web Design: Good for UI elements and mockups.

    • Print Media: Strong for posters and layouts with precise control.

    • Digital Illustrations: Versatile for both vector and raster artwork.

  • Standout Feature: Cost-effective with no subscription.

  1. Affinity Photo

  • Functionality: A raster-based editor akin to Photoshop, offering advanced photo manipulation, layering, and retouching tools at a one-time cost.

  • Ease of Use: Moderate to steep; familiar to Photoshop users but requires learning for novices.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: Great for textured visuals or photo-based branding elements.

    • Web Design: Useful for creating and editing web assets.

    • Print Media: Excellent for high-quality photo edits in print projects.

    • Digital Illustrations: Strong for detailed, raster-based artwork.

  • Standout Feature: Photoshop-like power without the subscription.

  1. Affinity Publisher

  • Functionality: A layout tool comparable to InDesign, designed for multi-page documents with precise typography and integration with Affinity Designer and Photo.

  • Ease of Use: Moderate; intuitive for layouts, easier than InDesign for some due to its streamlined interface.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: Perfect for brand books or multi-page guidelines.

    • Web Design: Limited; focused on static layouts, not interactive design.

    • Print Media: Exceptional for magazines, brochures, and books.

    • Digital Illustrations: Not designed for illustration creation.

  • Standout Feature: Affordable alternative to InDesign with tight Affinity suite integration.

  1. Procreate

  • Functionality: A tablet-based app (mainly iPad) for digital painting and illustration, with unmatched brush customization and a natural drawing feel.

  • Ease of Use: Easy for artists comfortable with drawing; less so for technical design.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: Useful for hand-drawn logo elements, not full systems.

    • Web Design: Limited; best for asset creation, not layouts.

    • Print Media: Good for art prints or illustrations within designs.

    • Digital Illustrations: Unrivaled for expressive, hand-drawn work.

  • Standout Feature: Natural drawing experience.

  1. Sketch

  • Functionality: A Mac-only tool for UI/UX design, with vector editing, symbols, and plugin support. It’s lightweight and powerful for digital interfaces.

  • Ease of Use: Moderate; streamlined for web designers, less versatile elsewhere.

  • Suitability:

    • Branding: Decent for digital branding, not print-focused.

    • Web Design: Excellent for UI kits and app design.

    • Print Media: Limited; lacks robust print tools.

    • Digital Illustrations: Basic vector capabilities, not a focus.

  • Standout Feature: UI design efficiency.

Key Differences and Recommendations

  • Functionality: Adobe tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) offer specialized depth, while Affinity’s suite (Designer, Photo, Publisher) provides similar power at a lower cost. Canva prioritizes accessibility, Figma excels in collaboration, Procreate dominates artistic illustration, and Sketch focuses on UI.

  • Ease of Use: Canva is the easiest for beginners, Adobe and Affinity tools require more skill, and Figma and Sketch balance usability with power.

  • Project Suitability:

    • Branding: Illustrator or Affinity Designer for versatility; Affinity Photo for photo-heavy elements.

    • Web Design: Figma or Sketch for digital workflows; Affinity Designer for assets.

    • Print Media: InDesign or Affinity Publisher for layouts; Photoshop or Affinity Photo for images.

    • Digital Illustrations: Procreate or Photoshop for artistry; Affinity Designer for hybrid work.

The best tool depends on your goals, expertise, and budget. Professionals often mix tools—e.g., Illustrator for branding, Figma for web, and Affinity Publisher for print—to leverage their strengths. Affinity’s one-time purchase model makes it a compelling alternative to Adobe’s subscriptions, while Canva and Figma cater to speed and teamwork.