04.11.15 8K

Every day, people are confronted with many different images: a picture, a photograph, or a scanned drawing that was used in an advertisement or on a product label. All of these images were created from scratch by the person who used graphics programs(editors):

What is a graphics editor?

Program " graphics editor" - This software, which provides the user with three main functions:

  • Creation;
  • editing;
  • viewing graphic files.

Digital images are divided into three types:

  • raster;
  • vector;
  • three-dimensional.

Editors are also divided into groups depending on what type of graphics they are designed to process:

  • raster graphics editors;
  • vector graphic editors;
  • hybrid graphic editors.

Hybrid graphic editors, as you might guess, allow you to work with raster and vector images.

The difference between raster graphics and vector graphics is that a raster image is a set of pixels of different colors and shades, which forms a graphic image. A vector image is a set of objects that have characteristics appearance: shape, size, color, line thickness, fill color.

Popular graphic editors

There are a large number of programs for working with images, two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphics, drawings, both for professionals and for ordinary users. Below are the most popular ones.

  • The first graphic drawing program was Microsoft Paint. This is the simplest, but at the same time multifunctional software for editing raster images, which is included in the operating room Windows systems :
The main disadvantages of this editor are the lack of layers and transparency support; you cannot set the size when creating an image; no gradient fill. This software product is not intended for solving complex problems in graphics processing.

It is suitable in cases where you need to quickly crop an image or combine one of several, or draw a simple picture.

The program has many functions that help solve problems from processing photos and creating collages to developing designs for web pages. But, of course, there are more powerful and specialized graphic design programs.
  • Adobe Photoshop is the most popular raster graphics editor, which has several tools for working with vector images:
Most users use the program as a photo editor, unaware of its “3D” capabilities. On this moment extended Photoshop version Can be used for web design and video creation.
  • Autodesk 3ds Max is professional program, which is focused on working with three-dimensional graphics, namely creating 3D objects of various shapes and complexity, and giving them a realistic look. Having mastered the tools of this editor well, you can create images that are difficult to distinguish from photographs. Also in the package you can work with animation, create game and cartoon characters, and simulate movements. This program is great tool for interior designers. Below is an interior designed using 3ds Max:
  • MyPaint is a program for artists who are beginning to get acquainted with the craft of drawing pictures and creating any other graphics on the computer. This package has a simple and convenient interface that is not cluttered with functionality such as selection, filters, scaling. That is, there is a set just for drawing:
The big advantage is the unlimited canvas size and a huge set of brushes, with the ability to customize them. MyPaint supports the mode of working with graphics tablet.
  • Corel Painter is very popular among artists. Of course, this program can work with a graphics tablet, since it is designed for creating digital painting and has over 200 different tools for this. The editor also implements functionality for working with layers and masks. A huge advantage of this product is the ability to create your own tools.

Drawing programs

When discussing the topic of graphic editors, one cannot fail to mention drawing programs.

  • Autodesk AutoCAD is a popular graphics program for drawings. This editor supports two and three-dimensional design, has a large number of professional tools, supports working with cloud storage, Excel tables, there is the possibility of collective design. The program is suitable for a wide range of users, as it has many add-ons and a user-friendly interface necessary to solve the assigned tasks. The big disadvantage of this product is the high cost, which is justified by the quality. Therefore, AutoCAD is an indispensable tool in the design field:
  • KOMPAS is another well-known program for creating drawings that uses a three-dimensional model of an object as a basis, and when it changes, the two-dimensional drawing dynamically changes. The editor is an excellent competitor in terms of quality and set of tools for AutoCAD, but has the same drawback - high price. Also, both of these packages can “stress” the computer due to high performance requirements.

Graphics programs for Mac OS

All of the editors listed above, with the exception of Paint, 3ds Max and Compass, have versions compatible with the operating system Mac system OS. This is not a problem, since it will not take much time to find similar graphics programs for Mac that are not inferior in functionality to versions for Windows.

  • Paint Pad. Many users who decide to get acquainted with Mac OS are faced with the fact that after installation operating system They do not find any graphic editor in its composition. There is a solution, and it's called Paint Pad - it's the same raster editor, like Paint .
  • Cinema 4D is a program similar in functionality to 3ds Max. It is worth clarifying that Cinema 4D also has a version for Windows. The program works with three-dimensional graphics and animation:

The most advanced graphics editors, like those from Adobe, cost a lot of money. But there are free and quite worthy alternatives, the capabilities of which will be enough for most. Creative Bloq, a publication for photographers and designers, chose The best free graphic design software the best among similar programs and services.

Free vector editors

Designed for creating and editing logos, interfaces and other scalable graphics.

Gravit Designer - formerly known as Gravit - is a full-featured vector editor. It is suitable for any task: from interface and icon design to working with presentations, illustrations and animation.

Gravit Designer's neat, intuitive interface can be customized. The editor contains a ton of tools for creating beautifully detailed vector images. Among them are non-destructive (cancellable) functions for working with Boolean operations, the Knife and Path Graph tools, plus a variety of fill and blending modes, as well as a powerful text engine.

If you need to access your work on the go, cloud service Gravit Cloud allows you to return to your project on any device.

2. Vectr

  • Platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Linux.

Vectr offers all the features you could need to create vector graphics, plus plenty of options for using filters, shadows, and . This is enough to handle most everyday design tasks. Particularly useful are the collaborative editing and synchronization capabilities, which allow you to work whenever and wherever you want in tandem with other people.

  • Platforms: web.

If you need to quickly create or edit a simple SVG file, there are several that are just as good for the task Adobe Illustrator. Among the best of them is SVG-Edit.

This editor is built entirely on HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript and does not use servers to process data. SVG-Edit code is open source. Therefore, if you wish, you can download it and modify it to create your own version of the editor.

SVG-Edit has all the basic tools of a vector editor. But it only supports SVG format.

This powerful editor offers many tools and features that are often not available in other similar programs. These include alpha blending, object cloning, and markers.

Full support for various color models makes Inkscape a worthy Adobe Illustrator for both web and print design. Despite the simplicity of the interface, this program can create incredibly complex works.

Features that deserve special mention include raster-to-vector conversion, variable-width stroke creation, and support for Illustrator files.

Free raster editors

Designed for creating and editing any non-scalable drawings and photographs.

1. GIMP

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, .

Free graphic editor with open source code. GIMP comes with a rich set of features for painting, color correction, cloning, highlighting, enhancements, and more. The GIMP interface differs from the most popular Photoshop, but it takes a long time to search necessary tools you will not have to.

The GIMP team has taken care of compatibility, so you can work with all popular image formats without any problems. In addition, GIMP has a built-in file manager, similar to Bridge from Adobe programs.

  • Platforms: Windows.

If you're on Windows and don't need as many tools as GIMP, Photo Pos Pro may be your ideal editor. The latter is designed with image editing in mind and copes well with typical tasks such as adjusting contrast, lighting and saturation. But Photo Pos Pro is also suitable for more complex manipulations.

This program boasts a very friendly interface and detailed help that helps beginners understand. If you want to make Photo Pos Pro even more functional, there are many extensions and plugins at your service.

3. Krita

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Another open source editor. Krita has been around since 1999 and is constantly evolving to meet the needs of concept artists, illustrators, visual effects, detailing and texture specialists.

The program includes a set of a wide variety of brushes and supports many plugins: from advanced filters to auxiliary tools for working with perspective.

Among the most interesting features- brush stabilizers that smooth out lines, a looping mode for creating seamless patterns and textures, and a pop-up palette for quick selection colors.

4.Pixlr

  • Platforms: web, iOS, Android.

Pixlr offers over 600 effects, overlays, and frames. In this service you can do everything you would expect from: resize images, crop them, remove red eyes, whiten teeth and much more.

If you're familiar with Photoshop, you'll get the hang of the web version of Pixlr very quickly. The interfaces of these editors are very similar.

  • Platforms: Windows.

Paint.NET is an alternative Paint program, built into everything Windows versions. But don't let the similarity of names fool you: Paint.NET is a much more advanced and useful editor.

The development team is focusing on ease of use and improving Paint.NET's photo editing capabilities rather than its graphics design capabilities. However, Paint.NET allows you to control perspective, manipulate pixels on the canvas, clone selections, and so on.

With support for layers, a wide range of selection tools and settings like brightness/contrast and curves, Paint.NET can be considered a worthy replacement for Photoshop.

  • Platforms: web.

Sumo Paint works quickly on the web and copes with tasks no worse than desktop editors. But to run it you will need Adobe Flash Player. So Sumo Paint is not for iOS devices.

Sumo Paint's arsenal of settings and features includes pencils, brushes, text, gradients, cloning, shapes and more. All this is always visible on a floating panel like the one you could see in.

Free 3D graphics editors

Designed for working with 3D models, effects and animations.

  • Platforms: web.

SketchUp Free can be called the ideal entry point into the world of 3D graphics. This editor friendlyly introduces the newcomer to the process and forgives him all the mistakes he has made. You can start by simply drawing lines and shapes and then transform them into 3D objects.

If you need some inspiration, you can download free models of various objects from the 3D Warehouse library through the search form on the SketchUp website.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS.

Using Daz Studio, you can customize and move various 3D objects such as people, animals, and objects in space.

You can create unique characters, worlds, various design elements and much more. But Daz Studio lacks the modeling and texturing capabilities available in paid alternatives. For a detailed table comparing editors, see the project website.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS.

Hexagon is a free 3D modeling tool. It has everything you need to create detailed models ready for final rendering.

Among the program's tools and functions you will find the ability to quickly import from Daz Studio, presets for various objects, brushes for manual modeling, UV mapping (applying flat textures to a three-dimensional object), advanced drawing tools and instant ambient occlusion.

Daz Studio and Hexagon programs were created by the same developer and complement each other. Together they form a complete free 3D graphics suite.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, .

Blender is advanced free editor Open source 3D graphics, available for all major platforms.

Developers are constantly developing Blender. It supports all possible operations with 3D graphics: it allows you to model, texture, animate, render and compose.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS.

If you're interested in the art of digital sculpting, try Sculptris from developer Pixologic. It is equally suitable for any level of training. Beginners get a good starting tool, and experienced digital artists get a platform for quickly and conveniently implementing ideas.

Sculptris is based on the ZBrush editor from the same developer - the very popular app for digital sculpture. When you're ready to take it to the next level, you can easily switch to ZBrush.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Houdini is a tool for working with 3D animation and visual effects, which is often used when working on films, television shows and other media content.

The cost of the editor starts at $2,000. But the program developers - Side Effects Software - allow you to use the Houdini Apprentice version for free. Thanks to it you can access all functions full version and hone your skills personal projects. Only Houdini Apprentice is intended for non-profit and educational purposes only.

Hello everyone, Max here. Today we will talk about graphic editors, or rather, I will present you with a small list of these programs. Creative people, designers, artists, illustrators and, of course, webmasters cannot do without these programs in their daily practice (work).

What is a graphics editor? It is a program for editing and improving any digital images. Many users use the well-known Adobe Photoshop to edit images, you can familiarize yourself with it, the price of which is approximately 700-800 dollars, here link, and it also requires certain hardware resources.

In principle, this is quite normal, since this product today is a powerful graphic editor created for professional designers. Ordinary users ( let's call them “non-designers”) use only a small functionality of this program. In this article we will not talk about, but a little about other free graphic editors. And so, let's go.

GIMP

GIMP ( GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an image manipulation program. A free program created for drawing, editing pictures, photos, as well as other raster images and other vector graphics. Has a powerful photo retouching tool. It is possible to convert the photo format.

The program supports thirty different languages, including Russian, and is absolutely free. The developers have created many different themes, plugins for the GIMP program, and also written a huge number of lessons. Here are the sites from which you can download this graphic editor: ProGIMP, GIMPInfo.

GIMP Features

  • converting images into formats such as: GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, TGA, SVG, TIFF and others;
  • individual program settings for the user, it is possible to open an element in a separate tab or in a separate window;
  • adjust contrast, brightness, transparency, adjust the color of the style of brushes, pencils and much more;
  • work separately with layers of one image;
  • change and configure RGB channels;
  • animation graphics in MNG format;

This graphic editor is suitable not only for professional designers, but also for ordinary users. Here link to the official website of the program.

PAINT. NET

The free Paint.NET program is most likely suitable for qualified photographers who do this program universal assistant and promotes comfortable work with camera and scanner. Designed for adjusting raster and vector images.

The program supports many different plugins, powerful tools, support for layers, special. effects, the light weight of the program makes it faster in working with images, and is not demanding on the consumption of computer software resources. Here are a couple of sites dedicated to this program Paint.NET, Pen 2000, forum for communication.

Paint.NET Features

  • support and editing of formats such as: PNG, GIF, JPEG, BMP, TIFF, TGA, DDS, PDN;
  • customizing the layout of interface elements: tools, journal, layers palette;
  • image resizing, horizontal and vertical rotation, cropping;
  • with large image scaling, it is possible to activate the “grid” and “ruler”;
  • built-in effects: blur, red-eye removal, image simulation, patterns;

The program was created under the leadership of Microsoft. Program website Here.

PHOTOSCAPE

This free program is most likely suitable for beginners in the field of processing graphic drawings. A set of tool packages and editors will perform a specific role for a particular photo. The image is viewed by a “viewer” ( from English viewer - viewer).

And if you want to edit or apply some effects, blur, filters, crop a photo, merge an image, you can do this in the program editor. Photoscape also has a tool for creating GIF animation.

Photoscape Features

  • “glue” images into one whole, that is, in the form of a tile;
  • creating GIF animation from multiple images;
  • You can view photos separately using a “viewer”;
  • the ability to divide images into one or several parts;
  • screen capture;
  • ability to print finished works, as well as other photos;
  • converting RAW files;
  • simultaneous work with several images;

The program has been translated into Russian and has an intuitive interface with a “tool bar”, tabs and a built-in explorer.

Most likely for designers and professional photographers this editor less interesting than for ordinary users who edit images, delete something in them, or create something new. You can download Photoscape from official website programs .

PHOTOINSTRUMENT

A free yet powerful digital image editor. The program has built-in powerful tools and effects that are acceptable for expensive retouching systems. The program has a clear and convenient interface for novice photo designers, which is equipped with large menu icons, when you hover over them, hints open.

Photoinstrument features

  • restoration of certain areas of the image, for example, you can remove unnecessary inscriptions on a photo or image;
  • remove red eye effect;
  • drawing with a pencil, brush, spray and so on...;
  • retouch photos, “skin cleaner”, “glamorous skin”, “plastic”;
  • change brightness, contrast, lightening, darkening;
  • cut objects from images, as well as transform them, copy, move them;
  • adjust text on photos;
  • installation of additional plugins;
  • playback of files such as PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, TGA and others, as well as their conversion and editing;
  • create GIF animation;

The interface language is Russian, the program also supports more than thirty additional languages. You can download the program from official website. Big choice tools and various effects will help you change images to the best of your imagination and desires.

PIXBUILDER STUDIO

Free graphic editor for modification color range photos and other images, or cut out a certain object, or blur the desired place in the photo, image. In terms of functionality, the program is more suitable for a professional to perform more complex tasks.

PixBuilder Studio Features

  • working with layers;
  • change color channels;
  • multi-level channel, that is, you can return the picture to its original form;
  • support for popular image formats;
  • resizing the image;
  • changes in contrast, brightness;
  • transformation of certain areas of the image;
  • working with color channels;

The interface language is Russian. You can download the program from official website developer, as well as this link. I hope that from these editors everyone will find something for themselves, but of course if you are a professional designer you cannot do without.

WITH uv age,

Free graphic editors (photo editors) and photo managers: GIMP, Paint NET, PicPick Tools, Picasa, PhotoScape, Inkscape, IcoFX, FastStone Image Viewer, Dimin Image Viewer, XnView, Universal Viewer, NexusImage, IrfanView, Imagine, APViewer.

FastStone Capture is a software product that allows you to take screenshots and also record video from the screen. In addition to the main functions, the application allows users to edit the image, as well as adapt it. Thanks to effects, you can completely change an image, making it unique. You can use the edited screenshot...

DjVu Reader is the most popular program designed for reading djvu files. The application will be useful for students and teachers who read electronic manuals. Many users do not know, but books and magazines saved in djvu format take up significantly less disk space...

ACDSee is a program designed for viewing images. The application allows you not only to view photos, but also, if necessary, edit them. Surprisingly, ICD can even play audio and video files. Many users consider the program to be a real multimedia combine. In addition to the main features...

NanoCAD is a system designed for design. The application will be of interest to designers and engineers. This CAD platform can be used in various industries. It is noteworthy that, unlike its competitors, it is distributed completely free of charge. The system can be a good alternative to such a giant as AutoCad....

FormatFactory — free program to convert images, video audio from one format to another. The Format Factory program has functions for changing images: rotating, cropping, resizing, signature, etc. The program contains a multilingual interface, including Russian. Format...

Tux Paint is a free painting program designed for young children. At the beginning of development it was created for the Linux OS, but after a while it became available for other operating systems too. Tux Paint has been translated into a very large number of languages. In their...

PhotoFiltre is a compact universal graphics editor for the Windows operating system. There are two versions of this program, free and paid. The author and developer of the program is Antonio Da Cruz. The entire program interface has been translated into approximately 26 languages.

Artweaver free is a free raster graphics editor. It is needed for processing images or photographs. You can also draw various drawings in it. The distinctive feature of the program is that it is supported by tablet computers.

It’s terribly inconvenient when programs that are so needed weigh a lot. But this is not about this graphic editor. PaintTool SAI is a very convenient and economical option.

How many in the whole world creative people who are interested in living because they have a spark of the creator in them. These people are open to perceive the world and, even more, they can think creatively and want to create something unique.

To all the free artists of the new generation creating their masterpieces...

We all draw as children. Then many people stop, but, fortunately, not all. Starting with scribbles, circles and sketchy men, people have been drawing since ancient times, creating real masterpieces. Being able to draw really well is definitely useful. The likelihood that it will make you a great and famous artist, to be honest, is not very high. For this you need something more. But it is more or less possible to earn decent money by combining work and what you love.

So, let’s say you are not an engineer, not a manager, not a janitor or a plumber. Are you an artist. Or a designer. Or a future game designer.

If you are studying any technical specialty, the ability to draw will be an absolutely necessary skill for you in more than 90% of cases. But, fortunately, you are not a techie. “I don’t need to deal with all these CAD systems, I don’t even want to hear about them, I’m a humanist,” you say. Well, very good, but there is also software for you. In fact, the creativity in the work of a real engineer is no less than that of a real artist. It's just a little different. This means that the means of its implementation will also be different.

In this article we will talk about programs used to work with graphics. In such cases, when you do not need to create an exact drawing, but, for example, develop a product design concept or draw a drawing, you will also resort to the help of appropriate automation tools.

Let's look at the most common and popular graphic editors used by artists, designers and other “creative” people, so to speak. What kind of software is this and what does it do?

Graphic editor

Graphic editors are programs necessary for creating and editing images of a wide variety of nature. In nature, there are several methods for creating an image using a computer. There are vector graphics and there are raster graphics. They differ in the way they encode information.

To put it simply, the basis of vector images is a line, while raster images are based on a pixel. Vector images are made up of objects, and those are made up of outlines and fills. Each object is in its own layer.

Images in raster graphics are a collection of pixels. The main difference between vector images and raster images is more high quality images of the first. Accordingly, graphic editors working with vector and raster graphics, different. For vector it is, for example, Corel Draw, known to everyone Paint, Corel PhotoPaint. For raster - Adobe Illustrator.


The variety of graphic editors is very large. With all the breadth of the offer, it’s up to you to decide which graphics editor is best to draw in. In order for the work process to move easily, you need to clearly understand the end result. Knowing the concept, choosing tools to implement it will be much easier.

We told you about popular graphic raster and vector editors, used in work. Now let’s imagine that the long-awaited inspiration has finally come to you and you sit down at your tablet to create a masterpiece. But as always, evil does not sleep - because of an unfulfilled test in mathematics, you need to put art on the back burner and sit down to boring numbers. It is at such moments that ours is ready to come to the rescue, and not allow the Artist inside you to die ingloriously. Do what you love and leave the routine work to us.

Always yours,

Zaochnik