Affinity Designer is a versatile vector graphics software developed by Serif, praised for its user-friendly design and speed. It boasts live, responsive features and a platform-agnostic file format, allowing seamless work across devices. Educational discounts are available, catering to students and teachers.
Looking into alternatives to Affinity Designer, one can explore options such as InDesign, Canva, and CorelDraw for varying graphic design needs.
InDesign
An ultimate design powerhouse, Adobe InDesign is a renowned graphic design software used worldwide for an array of print and digital applications. With prioritization on text editing, subject detection, and multi-language configuration, it presents options galore to create captivating designs, ranging from postcards to digitized versions of your favourite books.
InDesign Top Features
- Quick Performance – Powered by state-of-the-art technology like SVG support and variable fonts, Adobe InDesign ensures your creative flow never halts due to slow rendering.
- Wide Application – Be it stationery, posters or interactive PDFs; InDesign’s versatility helps cater to all your design aspirations.
- Optimized Collaboration – Using Paragraph, Character, or Object Styles along with integration with Creative Cloud and Adobe Experience Manager, collaboration has never been more seamless.
- Up-to-Date – The software replaced Adobe PageMaker and has been evolving since. The most recent iteration (2023 – 18.0) features Auto Style, faster launch times, and more.
- Language Support – With support for multiple languages and Unicode chars, InDesign respects the global nature of design and creativity.
| Compatibility | InDesign scores well on compatibility. It has historical support for OpenType fonts, multi-column pages, and has cross-platform scripting using JavaScript. |
| High Usability Ratings | Highly rated in features by users, InDesign is applauded as the go-to for page layout designing. |
InDesign Downsides
- Limited Backward Compatibility – While newer versions can handle older files, the favour isn’t returned. Bare CS4 version can export to INX format.
- Tool Organization – Certain users have reported issues with tool organization across Adobe products, which may pose a slight learning curve.
- Price – Starting at $20.99/month, it may not be as cost-effective for budget-conscious freelancers or small businesses.
InDesign Pricing
Adobe InDesign comes at a starting price of $20.99/month, allowing you to harness the power of professional design tools without breaking the bank.
InDesign Use Cases
Use case 1
For print industry practitioners, Adobe InDesign levitates design standards with its wide range of applications from stationery, flyers, posters, to brochures.
Use case 2
For budding authors and publishers, harness the capability of creating compelling digital magazines, interactive PDFs, and eBooks.
Use case 3
InDesign’s grasp in the academic and corporate domain is neat. It’s a top choice for crafting impressive presentations and resumes to score the dream job or strike the perfect deal.
Canva
When it comes to the arena of online graphic design tools, Canva–birthed by a group of visionaries in Sydney circa 2013–stands as a definite frontrunner. Harnessing the combined power of drag-and-drop design, photo editing, custom icons and complex grid systems, this platform continues to evolve and serve 100 million users globally.
Canva Top Features
- Effortless Drag-and-Drop Design functionality that reshapes the user’s design experience.
- The Photo Editing feature that offers personalization beyond compare.
- Canva’s repertoire of Custom Fonts, Frames, Shapes, Grids, and Icons that allow the creation of unique designs.
- Diverse range of Pre-Built Templates which save time and jumpstart creativity.
- The Magic Write, an AI-powered copywriting assistant that assists with text content creation.
| The company’s vast range of products | Canva, Canva Pro, Canva for Enterprise, Canva for Education, Canva for Nonprofits |
| Their employer strength | A talent pool of over 3,500 employees as of 2023. |
| Availability on mobile platforms | Yes, Canva has two mobile apps. |
Canva Limitations
- The Data Breach in 2019 which affected around 139 million users.
Canva Pricing
Canva offers a range of cost-efficient plans. Addition to its free options, Canva Pro starts from $12.99 USD per month and Canva Enterprise from $30 USD per month.
Canva Use Cases
Use case 1
As a boon for marketers, Canva’s templates and design options offer a wide array of ways to create striking marketing materials and social media posts.
Use case 2
With its data customization feature, Canva can prove instrumental in crafting complex charts and diagrams–making it a handy tool for analysts and strategists.
Use case 3
For educators and non-profits, Canva offers free access to its rich design tools, thereby aiding in the creation of compelling and attractive content for their respective communities.
CorelDraw
Meet CorelDraw, a star in the world of professional design software. CorelDraw is a powerhouse for vector illustrations, layout, photo editing, and typography, and has carved a significant space for itself across various sectors including retail, e-commerce, engineering, manufacturing, and more. The fusion of advanced technology, new features, and its easy-to-use interface, makes it a software of serious consideration in the market.
CorelDraw Top Features
- Impressive Focus Mode for editing objects in isolation.
- Advanced Print Merge workflow.
- AI-assisted PowerTRACE for impeccable bitmap-to-vector trace results.
- Efficacious application of color to fills and outlines.
- Non-destructive editing of bitmaps and vectors.
- Flexible design space, multi-page view, and multi-asset export.
- Optimal color consistency across different media.
| Feature | Benefit |
| Cloud-Based Features | Exclusive content and support for the latest technologies for subscribers. |
| Mobile Editing | The CorelDRAW app allows editing on-the-go and seamless collaboration. |
| Subscription & One-time Purchase | Flexible payment options to suit individual needs. |
CorelDraw Downside
- Limited compatibility, available for only Windows and Mac.
- High learning curve for new users due to its myriad features.
CorelDraw Pricing
CorelDraw offers a subscription model as well as a one-time purchase option designed to align with user needs and industry standards. However, the specifics of the pricing are not mentioned in the available data.
CorelDraw Use Cases
Use case 1: Brand Identity Creation
With its powerful toolset and color consistency capabilities, CorelDRAW makes it easy for businesses to establish a solid brand identity across various media types.
Use case 2: Large-Format Printing
Known for it’s high-quality output, CorelDraw is preferred in industries such as construction and engineering where large-format printing is commonplace.
Use case 3: Digital Advertising & Web Design
From creating captivating ad visuals to designing responsive websites, CorelDraw’s flexible design space and multi-asset export features cater to diverse demands of the digital space.
