What’s the Most Underrated Graphic Design Software

Software
#1

Hey designers,

We always hear about Adobe and Affinity, but what are some underrated graphic design tools that deserve more attention? Are there any niche software tools you use that improve your workflow but aren’t as widely known?

Let’s share some hidden gems!

#2

Certainly not underated, but Topaz Labs puts out a line of image/video enhancement AI tools that can be useful - if used properly and responsibly.

HotDoor has some Illustrator plug-ins that are useful. I find CADTools for Illustrator indispensable.

VueScan scanner drivers keep my old desktop scanner(s) useful (especially the one with the light lid.)

PrintWindow is useful for printing disk catalogs (if you have to ask, you don’t need it.)

GraphicConverter is sometimes useful for opening ornery image files when resource forks are broken.

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#3

Hi There

If you are looking for some alternatives, yes there are some but this is not the same as Adobe Products. Take a look for Inkscape, Gimp, Krita, Scribus, Blender and LibreDraw.

Regards
Manuel

#4

Pencil and paper.

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#5

widely known - still underrated - the brain-hand-pencil-system

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#6

As funny and true is Pencil/Paper/Brain - they are not software :stuck_out_tongue:

Pixelmator Pro
Krita
PIXLR
GIMP
Inkscape

Can have their place in doing things mainstream software can’t.

I’d maybe use these as additional side tools to my mainstream suite of Adobe products.

But tend to stay within the Adobe ecosystem for about 99.9% of my needs.

Other things that might be underrated and not necessarily Graphic Deisgn Software - but is learning how to create basic scripts using JavaScript.
I’ve been on this journey for about a year now, and learning how to create my own scripts has significantly improved my workflow, error detection, and general every day to day tasks are now scripted and saves me a tonne of time.

Scripts can be written for Illustartor, Photoshop and inDesign and you can even utilise BridgeTalk scripting to get out of one app into another, perform a task and get back - and it all happens under the hood in the blink of an eye.

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#7

Pencil, paper can be pretty soft.

And the brain is the ultimate programmable software.
Like all software though, the GIGO rule does apply. :wink:

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#8

You can hand a paintbrush to a carpenter, but don’t expect the Sistine Chapel just a really well-built easel.

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