A prodigious entity in the sphere of image creation, graphic design, and photo editing, Photoshop was birthed by Adobe through the dedicated efforts of Thomas and John Knoll in 1988. Initially a prerogative of Macintosh users, it has since become accessible to Windows and macOS platforms, making its way into the heart of professional digital art creation.
Photoshop Top Features
Intuitive Layer-based editing system permitting image generation and alteration with translucent overlays.
Versatile toolset comprising Color Balance, Levels, Curves, and Blending Modes.
Enhanced capabilities in text, vector graphics, 3D graphics, and video editing or rendering.
Numerous plug-ins offering expanded or accelerated features.
Latest version (Photoshop 2022, version 23.3.1) introduces an object selection tool, an updated keyboard shortcut for paint and brush settings, and an advanced transform warp.
Feature
Details
Brushes
Customizable brush options for intricate work.
Clone Stamp, Healing & History Brush
For repairing images and duplicating or erasing image areas.
Dodge, Burn & Sponge Tools
Used for lightening, darkening and adjusting color saturation respectively.
Photoshop Limitations
Limited to raster graphics, potentially reducing image quality upon resizing.
Steep learning curve, particularly for novices.
Requites subscription as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, which might not be accessible to everyone.
Photoshop Use Cases
Graphic Designers
Packed with an array of tools, Photoshop allows these professionals to manipulate images to create impactful graphics.
Web Developers
Creating mockups, designing web graphics or altering image dimensions, Photoshop serves as a reliable assistant to this audience.
Photographers
Whether for basic touch-ups, advanced color grading, or generating composite images, Photoshop provides robust support to photographers.
GIMP
A preferred tool amongst illustrators, graphic designers, and photographers, GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. As an open-source software, GIMP offers the ability to create and edit various kinds of artworks, photos, and paintings.
GIMP Top Features
Photo Enhancement and Digital Retouching: These features fine-tune images to produce high-quality outputs.
Preview Mode: Allows instant viewing of edits for immediate adjustments.
Customizable Interface: Provides flexibility for users to rearrange the layout according to their preferences and workflow.
Multiple File Format Support: Enables users to work with and export in various file formats.
Channel Mixer: Eliminate lens tilt effects and distortions for improved image quality.
Tool
Function
Crop Tool
Enables precise editing of active layers
bucket fill tool
fills a selection with a specific color or pattern
selection tools
enables the selection and editing of specific regions within an image
GIMP Limitations
Its vast features may result in a cluttered interface, which can be overwhelming for beginners.
It only offers partial compatibility with Adobe file formats.
Recent versions do not include the Lanczos image scaling algorithm, causing some users to stick with version 2.8, the last version with Lanczos support.
GIMP Pricing
All of GIMP’s functionalities are available free of charge, making it a cost-saving choice for users.
GIMP Use Cases
Use Case 1: Ad Creation
GIMP’s expansive set of tools and capabilities makes it a perfect match for creating engaging and visually attractive advertisements.
Use Case 2: Flyer Design
With its customizable interface and extensive format support, GIMP is ideal for designing attention-grabbing flyers.
Use Case 3: Photo Editing for Beginners and Professionals
Despite its complex interface, GIMP offers in-depth documentation to guide users and is therefore suited to both professionals and beginners in photo editing.
Illustrator
Illustrator, from the house of Adobe, is a powerful tool for vector graphics and animation software that enables designers to draft everything from mobile graphics to product packagings. A potential alternative to Piskel, Illustrator has a collaboration feature, with which you can collaborate on files, track versions, and make image modifications.
Illustrator Top Features
Artboards: Allows graphic designers to create, export custom banners in JPG, PNG.
Editing Capabilities: Supports adding layers, cropping images, combining shapes, and inserting shadows for special effects.
Custom Font Creation: Helps designs letterforms, fonts with custom weights, widths, slants.
Integration: Seamless transition between Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Fresco through Adobe Creative Cloud integration.
Feature
Description
Free-form Gradients
Create designs with custom gradients
Type Toolkit
Offers over 18,000 fonts, type on path, variable fonts, color fonts
Compatibility
Works seamlessly with Apple Pencil, SVG files, PNG, OpenDocument, PDF, PSD file formats
Illustrator Disadvantages
Learning Curve: Though feature-rich, Illustrator has a high learning curve, especially for beginners.
Resource Consumption: It is known for heavy resource consumption.
Illustrator Pricing
Illustrator is available at $19.99/month for individuals and $29.99/month for businesses. It also offers a 7-day free trial. However, there is no free version.
Illustrator Use Cases
Use case 1
Professional and semi-pro illustrators can make the most of Illustrator for crafting sophisticated designs with free-form gradients, shapes, and custom fonts.
Use case 2
Web designers can employ Illustrator for creating and exporting custom banners for their websites.
Use case 3
Graphic design enthusiasts can utilize Illustrator’s wide array of features to learn advanced design techniques and enhance their portfolio.
Procreate
A cloud-based solution for digital sketches and illustrations, Procreate caters to both design and aesthetics. From time-lapse recording using the Animation Assist tool to image color-correction, Procreate is compatible with iOS devices and optimized for use with the Apple Pencil.
Procreate Top Features
Customizable brushes and effects for a tailored work experience.
Text style modification and typography incorporation.
Quick Shape feature for eased shape drawing.
Ability to import Photoshop brushes.
Integration possibility with Adobe Creative Cloud.
Feature
Description
Animation Assist
A tool for creating time-lapse records.
Paint Filter Adjustment
Offers chromatic aberrations and realistic blur effects.
Motion Filtering
A Stabilization feature that smooths out strokes.
Procreate Limitations
Limited layering governed by canvas size and quality.
Exclusive to iPhone and iPad platforms.
No free trial or version available.
Optimal functionality requires specific device specifications (RAM, fast processors, large screen sizes).
Procreate Pricing
Procreate comes with a one-time license purchase of $9.99.
Procreate Use Cases
Use case 1
Procreate excels at facilitating digital sketching and illustrations, making it the perfect tool for artists and graphic designers.
Use case 2
With the incorporation of typography and text style modification, Procreate is also useful for individuals working on visual branding and media content creation.
Use case 3
Thanks to its user-friendly interface and low entry barrier, Procreate opens pathways for beginners interested in exploring digital art on their iOS devices.
Clip Studio Paint
An all-in-one graphic design software known for its prowess in digital art creation, Clip Studio Paint is a top pick for professionals merging design and illustration.
Clip Studio Paint Top Features
Vector drawing with pen pressure sensitive line art.
Customizable brushes, modifiable post-drawing, emulating a variety of styles like pen, pencil, watercolor, and oil paint.
Efficient layer management featuring searchable layers and bulk management using layer folders.
Superior 3D support for accurate drawing, allowing import of 3D data as reference.
Supports a wide range of file types including PNG, JPEG, PSD, SVG, and has powerful file management with Clip Studio Paint format for extensive layer management.
Unique Features
Description
55,000+ Brush Materials
Materials site offers over 55,000 brush materials for downloads offering varied expressions.
Workflow Customization
Shortcut keys customization for improved workflow. Importing Photoshop brushes available.
Cloud Backup
Files backup option available on Cloud with history tracking.
Clip Studio Paint Limitations
The latest updates require an upgrade pass or a switch to subscription licensing, making it a bit demanding for some users.
While it supports many file formats, Clip Studio Paint format is recommended for extensive layer management, demanding a learning curve for new users.
Though the software offers a comprehensive suite of tools, beginners may find its numerous features slightly daunting initially.
Clip Studio Paint Pricing
The pricing is competitive compared to similar software. The PRO version is billed at $3.51/month and the EX version at $71.99/year.
Clip Studio Paint Use Cases
Use case 1: Professional Design and Illustration
For professional designers, illustrators, and concept artists, Clip Studio Paint’s strong vector drawing capabilities, diverse brush styles, and efficient layer management make it a preferred choice.
Use case 2: Animation
Animators leverage Clip Studio Paint’s robust 3D support and cloud backup feature for creating and safeguarding complex projects.
Use case 3: Comic Creation
With tools dedicated for sketching, inking, tones, textures, coloring, and word balloons, Clip Studio Paint is specifically designed for creating comics, making it ideal for comic artists.
Canva
Launched in 2013, Canva is a revered online graphic design platform used by over 100 million users. Its plethora of products tailored to businesses of different sizes and varied purposes makes it a compelling Piskel alternative.
Top Canva Features
Drag-and-drop design for easy creation.
Photo editing, to tailor visuals as you deem fit.
Packed with custom fonts, frames, shapes, grids, icons.
High-quality pre-built templates for logos, posters, infographics, and more.
Internal data can be leveraged to create custom charts and diagrams.
AI-powered assistant
Mobile app accessibility
Canva’s Magic Write, launched in 2023, turbocharges your copywriting process.
Available on iOS and Android for design on the go.
Canva Limitations
In May 2019, Canva suffered a significant data breach affecting around 139 million users, posing potential security concerns.
Despite its vast feature set, Canva may pose a steep learning curve for first-time users.
Canva Pricing
Canva aims to address a broad user base with tiered pricing. Canva Free, Canva for Education, and Canva for Nonprofits remain free. Canva Pro starts at $12.99 per month with discounted rates for each additional user. Canva Enterprise is available from $30 per month.
Canva Use Cases
Startups and Small Businesses
With its robust feature-suite and affordable pricing, Canva proves to be a reliable choice, helping startups and small businesses craft vibrant marketing content and presentations.
Education Sector
Canva for Education provides a free platform for teachers and learners to create visually stimulating educational materials.
Nonprofit Organizations
Charities and NPOs can leverage the Canva for Nonprofits program to produce creative content, aiding their critical missions, at zero cost.
Affinity
Introducing Affinity, a captivating alternative to Piskel and an innovative vector graphics software developed by Serif Europe. This state-of-art software is part of the Affinity trinity, which also includes Affinity Photo and Publisher.
Top Features of Affinity
Fosters creativity with dynamic vector pen and shape-drawing tools, complimented by custom brushes support.
Pioneers in real-time effects, stroke stabilization, and efficient text style management.
Offers the flexibility to switch between vector and pixel workspace.
Allows for non-destructive editing, seamless pan and zoom at 60fps, and real-time transformations.
Empowers designers with multiple strokes or fills on single objects and a flexible tool showcasing bar.
Compatible Formats
Color Models Supported
AI, SVG, PSD, PDF, EPS
RGB, LAB, CMYK, Grayscale, PANTONE color swatches
Availability
Undo action capability
Windows, macOS, iPadOS
Up to 8000 times; design history stays even after project is closed.
Affinity Disadvantages
The iPad version requires a separate purchase.
Was initially macOS exclusive, limiting initial reach to Windows users.
Affinity Pricing
Despite its robust features, Affinity comes at an affordable price of USD$69.99 for Windows or macOS versions. The iPad version is available at USD$18.49, and the entire suite on all platforms can be acquired for USD$164.99. All these are one-time payments with no subsequent subscriptions.
Affinity Use Cases
Use case 1: Professional Illustrators
The comprehensive toolset offered by Affinity makes it invaluable for professional illustrators. The advanced vector pen and shape-drawing tools combined with the ability to manage text style boosts the quality of their artwork.
Use case 2: Web Designers
The software’s compatibility with multiple file formats like AI, SVG, PSD, PDF, EPS simplifies the work of web designers. Additionally, the software’s capabilities to support multiple color models is an added bonus.
Use case 3: Game Developers
With the flexibility of switching between vector and pixel workspace, Affinity serves as an ideal tool for game developers. The ease and precision offered by its features can assist game designing to a great extent.
Elements
Derived from the resourceful halls of the University of Colorado Boulder, the Elements suite equips you with phenomenal assets for comprehensive 3D structural analysis and design. Besides excelling in the field of education with the “Basic Elements of Design” course on Coursera, it is a bridge connecting theory to application in a variety of projects.
Elements Best Features
Comprehensive Learning: Provision of a valuable course on Coursera with diverse language subtitles, covering core graphic design principles and software requirements.
3D Finite Element Analysis: Used for the design of various architectures including trusses, continuous beams, frames, masonry and retaining walls.
Work Efficiency: As suggested by the user quote, Bentley solutions facilitate resource and material efficiency.
Shareable Certificate: The course offers a shareable certificate for your LinkedIn profile, enhancing your professional appeal.
Required Processor
1.3 GHz or faster
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 or higher
RAM
2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended
Elements Downsides
Absence of Company-Specific Software Details: Without explicit software design details, users may find it challenging to understand specific aspects of Elements.
Resource Requirements: The usage of Elements requires a significant amount of hard disk space, which may be a limitation for users with limited resources.
Elements Pricing
Pricing for Elements includes options like a 12-month subscription and a one-time purchase with support. Users have the opportunity to choose a Perpetual License with SELECT, which includes round-the-clock technical support, delivered via email on an annual renewal basis.
Elements Use Cases
Use Case 1: Students and Educators
Those seeking to augment their knowledge or impart educational courses can use Elements. The course on Coursera, accessible through multiple language subtitles, is perfect for global learners wanting to delve into the principles of graphic design.
Use Case 2: Architects and Designers
By leveraging Elements’ 3D finite element analysis, architects and designers can use it for designing various structures including trusses, continuous beams, frames, retaining walls, and more.
Use Case 3: Project Managers
With an exceptional focus on efficiency in utilizing resources and materials, as evidenced in Bentley’s user stories, Elements is perfect for project managers aiming for cost-effective design and implementation.
Patrick Daugherty
Content writer @ Aircada. Merging AR expertise with a love for late-night gaming sessions.
