Vector graphics programs. Vector and raster graphic editors

For a long time, creation/editing tools were difficult to access for webmasters, bloggers and content marketers. Firstly, special software was often expensive, and secondly, it was too complex for ordinary users (not designers). Now the situation is better - you can find different ones in the public domain, not much inferior to the original. We’ll talk about one of them today - this program Vectr .

Use this free vector editor on a regular PC or browser to create vectors and other graphics. This is truly cross-platform and easy-to-use software: you can use applications for Mac, Windows, Linux or Chromebook; By registering online, in just a few minutes you will begin to realize your design ideas.

Vectr is a handy tool and is widely used for annotating, editing images, and drawing mockups and diagrams. In addition, it can be used for:

• logos;
• watermarks;
• and website layouts;
• social media banners;
• icons;
• ...and almost any other type of 2D image.

The program allows you to create scalable vector drawings using simple, intuitive functions. It is not difficult to learn, it is perfect for those who are just starting to get acquainted with vector and for whom the basic capabilities of working with illustrations are enough. In essence, it is somewhat reminiscent of a slightly stripped down and simplified version of Adobe Illustrator.

How Vectr works (features and functions)

When you start delving into the features of this software, the first thing you will encounter is a whole set of interactive tutorials. With Vectr's tutorials, you'll learn how to create and edit paths, rotate and scale objects, use workspace tools, and manage layers. They are located in the “User Guide” and “Tutorials” sections. There are many video guides on their Youtube channel.

To get started, simply upload or drag and drop an image into Vectr. You can import files in EPS, AI, SVG, PNG or JPEG format - this greatly simplifies the process of switching from other (paid) alternatives, such as Illustrator.

The interface is carefully thought out and conveniently organized, so beginners will not have any difficulties due to unnecessary functions. The page and layer tabs in the top left corner give you control over the process of creating projects. On the right side of the interface there is a filter panel. You can make your illustrations even more interesting, for example by changing the angle, adding shadows, borders or a blur effect.

Once the design is complete, the program allows you to export your designs to PNG, JPEG or SVG. A quick note: SVG is the only scalable vector format that can be opened in other applications, while bitmap PNG and JPEG are better suited for the web.

It’s very cool that a lot of useful information and practical tips are devoted to beginners in the training section. The team behind the free vector editor Vectr provides step-by-step instructions for solving the most popular design tasks: creating icons, logos, typography, menus, collages, infographics and much more. Look for all texts in the “Tutorials” section. We recommend starting with an article that describes the first 10 steps in Vectr.

Benefits of Vectr

As conclusions, we collected all the positive features that it has:

• It is similar to, has a set of all the necessary familiar tools for creating a beautiful design or editing existing graphics.
• There is a grid and setting of alignment lines for greater convenience.
• Import/export supports different formats: AI, EPS, PNG/JPEG and SVG.
• Cross-platform: there are versions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook + online.
• It is possible to send a unique URL for colleagues/customers to view the project.
• The history of changes allows you to quickly return to past developments.
• The software is completely free.
• Synchronization is available - in the desktop PC version, up to 100 corrections are allowed offline, which, when a connection appears, are automatically synchronized with your online account.
• The software product is easy to learn and therefore ideal for beginners. Although, in principle, pros will also find useful features in it.

All this makes Vectr one of the best free vector editors, containing the minimum necessary for comfortable and efficient work. I was pleased that there were many useful guides for the program that even novice users can understand. If you wish, you can take a free online course on Vectr (about 45 minutes of video). Download the software to your computer or try it online; the best way to learn is to practice.

Have you encountered Vectr before? What other software do you know on the topic and would you recommend?

And creating drawings on a computer uses raster and vector editors, which differ in the way they encode (format) and present graphic information.

Raster graphics editors

Editors that use a dotted (pixel) representation of an image are for this reason called raster (bitmap, bitmap), and they are intended for processing digital photographs or scanned images.

Raster images are essentially a matrix, or grid, of usually rectangular colored dots (pixels) on display device screens and monitors or on paper. The main characteristics of these are dimensions in pixels (image bit depth), color model/space (CMYK, RGB, YCbCr, XYZ, etc.) and resolution (number of image pixels per unit area or length).

Classic examples of a raster editor, of course, are the unsurpassed (so far) Photoshop program and Microsoft's "old man" - the Paint editor.

Vector graphic editors

To create complex drawings with precise, complex and clear boundaries, they mainly use a vector editor, one of the main tools of which is Bezier curves, which allow you to draw curves (broken, straight and smooth) in segments with precise placement of node (anchor) points and control over the shape each segment.

A Bezier curve can be represented as the result of progressive refinement of the shape of a polygon, built by sequentially connecting control points that determine the shape. The curve, moving from the starting point of the polygon to its end point, is attracted, like a magnet, to intermediate reference points that determine the shape, through which it itself does not pass.

Due to their special properties, ease of definition and ability to manipulate, Bezier curves are widely used for modeling smooth lines in computer graphics.

The arsenal of tools that every vector graphics editor has includes “Fill”, “Text”, “Pencil” and a basic set (the so-called primitives), which form the basis of most graphic designs.

Fill, as in raster editors, paints limited areas with a given color (or gradient).

The text created by the corresponding tool is then converted into curves, ensuring that the created image is independent of the fonts that are (or are not) present on the computer used for viewing.

The pencil allows you to manually form a line using a large number of anchor points, which are then removed using a special function that simplifies the curve.

Strengths and weaknesses of vector graphics

The images that the vector editor allows you to create have a number of significant advantages over raster images, the main of which are the following:

• increasing or decreasing vector drawings has absolutely no effect on the clarity of borders and contours;
• vector image files, all other things being equal, weigh less;
• vector images that are not complicated by raster objects use less volume than similar raster images;
• vector images are scaled and transformed without loss of quality, since they are built using mathematical descriptions of objects, lines and circles;
• any vector editor allows you to adjust individual components of the drawing without affecting the remaining elements of the image, so the objects of the drawing can overlap without interfering with each other;
• In some cases and under certain conditions, a raster image can be converted to a vector image.

As for the disadvantages of vector representation of graphic information, the main one is associated with the “straightness” of the main components of vector drawings, and nature, as we know, avoids straight lines. Therefore, the vector editor “refuses to accept orders” to create picturesque, realistic paintings.

raster images

The main advantages of raster editors are the simplicity and ability to create photorealistic images, since, thanks to the matrix principle of image construction, each pixel can be given any of the millions of shades of color.

The main disadvantages of raster graphics are the limited possibilities of scaling and transformation without loss of quality, as well as the relatively large weight of files with their excessive dependence on image quality.

Review and comparison of vector editors

Today, designers, artists and ordinary users cannot complain about the lack of software resources that allow them to realize their creative ideas and ideas. This also applies to vector editors, the main criteria for the advantages of which for some is functionality, and for others - availability (paid/free).

Among the free programs, the most popular are Dia, OpenOffice.org Draw, sK1 (fork of Skencil), Inkscape, Xara Xtreme for Linux, Skencil (formerly Sketch), Sodipodi, Expression Design, Pivot Stickfigure Animator and Alchemy.

Of these, only the vector image editor sK1 (fork of Skencil) works on Linux, the Xara Xtreme and Skencil programs work on Linux and OS X, the Expression Design and Pivot Stickfigure Animator editors are designed for Windows, and all the rest are cross-platform.

The most popular and functionally “cool” programs are, of course, paid. This list includes the editors Adobe Flash, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe FreeHand (Windows, OS X), as well as CorelDRAW and Xara Designer PRO (Windows).

Who is the cutest in the world?

If the vector editors asked the mirror “who is the cutest in the world,” it is possible that, having answered: “you are beautiful, no doubt,” the mirror would add: “but the vector editor Coreldraw is the cutest of all…”. In any case, a good half of users, including professionals, would agree with this.

The Coreldraw editor is included in the graphics package, which since version 10 has been called Coreldraw Graphics Suite. In addition to Coreldraw, this package includes the graphics editor Corel Photo-Paint (raster), the raster-to-vector conversion program Corel Trace, the animator Corel R.A.V.E and Corel Cupture for transferring images from the computer screen directly to a file or in Windows.

The Coreldraw editor owes its great fame not only to its amazing functionality, but also to its huge library of ready-made images, as well as the powerful training and tips system built into the program. In addition, the editor has tools that have no analogues among his “colleagues”.

Such programs are called vector editors.

We will look at three free vector editors:

Inkscape

This editor is the most powerful free one at the moment. It is the main competitor to paid solutions such as CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and Adobe Illustrator.

Inkscape is characterized by a lot of tools, a large number of supported and imported formats, good work with colors, and a Russian interface. In my opinion, the ideal vector graphics editor for the home.

For the average user, it seems to me that there is no difference between Inkscape and paid programs.

Serif DrawPlus Starter Edition

The developer of this product, Serif, also offers paid products for vector graphics, web design, etc.

By registering on their website, you can receive free and unlimited use of the program, with the Starter Edition “set-top box” free of charge, but with functional limitations. For example, without tools for adding/deleting pages in a document or working with 3D graphics (the figure shows that some tools are highlighted in pink, these are tools that are available only in the paid version).

Overall, Serif DrawPlus Starter Edition is also quite a powerful application that allows you to create an interesting drawing. The editor saves files in its own format; export to png, jpg, TIFF graphic formats is possible; export to pdf is possible only in the paid version. The program interface is in English.

Aviary Raven

Changes. At the time of writing, this service was not bad at all; unfortunately, in 2013 it ceased to exist, at least as an online vector editor.

This editor does not require installation on your computer, since it is online.

Unlike the previous editors discussed in this article, Aviary Raven has significantly less functionality, but may well be useful for creating a simple drawing. Supports export in several formats, including pdf, png. The program interface is in English.

Download free vector editors

A graphics editor is a special program designed for viewing on a computer. In addition, such software allows you to make your own drawings. For the first time, graphical representation of data on a computer was implemented in the 50s of the last century. It was at that time that graphic programs were developed for computers used in the military and scientific fields. Currently, there are three main types of graphic editors - raster, vector and hybrid.

Basic functions of graphic editors

The main functions of graphic editors include:

• can be created in the editor either manually or using special tools (stamps, curves, etc.).
• Converting a ready-made image. Photos and pictures can be moved, rotated and scaled. Also, such programs provide the ability to work with individual parts of the image. For example, a function such as deleting a fragment of an image is usually available. Pictures can also be copied either completely or in parts, and also glued and painted.
• Entering text into a picture. In this case, you can usually use a variety of fonts - both modern and stylized “antique” ones.
• Working with external devices. If desired, the drawn or edited image can be printed on a printer without leaving the program. Of course, the file can be saved to any folder on your hard drive or external drive.

Raster editors

A raster graphics editor is a tool designed primarily for processing ready-made images. This software guarantees the most accurate reproduction of tones and halftones. Consists of many points called pixels. Raster images are characterized by maximum realism. The quality is determined by the number of pixels, as well as their ability to convey color. The more dots of different shades the image contains, the clearer it is. Raster graphics editors have one small drawback. Free scaling of images using them without loss of quality is impossible. The fact is that each picture contains a strictly fixed number of dots. Therefore, let's say that when you enlarge the image, the dots will simply become larger. That is, the picture will lose clarity.

Most often, a raster image is saved in However, most editors also support such common formats as bmp, gif, tif, etc.

Vector graphic editors

A vector graphics editor is a program designed to create high-precision images. These could be, for example, drawings or diagrams. Such pictures are much clearer than raster ones. All elements are described mathematically. Therefore, such a picture can be enlarged without any loss of clarity. However, a vector editor cannot provide such realism of an image as a raster editor.

Vector graphics editors allow you not only to draw drawings manually, but also to convert raster images into diagrams. For this, the so-called tracing method is used. Thus, for example, an ordinary photo can be transformed into a stylish poster. The files in which vector drawings are saved are small in size compared to raster files.

Hybrid graphic editors

In a hybrid graphics editor, you can use both raster and vector tools to create an image. The main disadvantage of such programs is difficulty in using. Therefore, they have not yet received particularly wide distribution.

Raster editor Paint

So, a graphic editor - what is it? This is a very convenient software, an indispensable tool in the work of artists, photojournalists, engineers, architects, etc. Today there are both very complex editors designed for professionals and simpler ones used by ordinary people. The latter also includes Paint, a single-window raster editor available on almost every home computer. Most of the window of this program is occupied by the drawing area. in Paint it is located on the left. The program allows you to freely draw, scale pictures, change their color, erase unnecessary details, and also cancel all these actions in almost one click.

Adobe Photoshop Raster Editor

Like all raster graphics editors, Adobe Photoshop is designed to work primarily with digital photographs. This program was developed as a tool for professionals, but very quickly gained popularity among amateurs. Its main distinguishing feature is a truly unlimited list of tool options. Using this program, it is easy to cut out individual parts of images, create masks, change the proportions of pictures and their individual parts. If desired, you can apply a variety of effects to a photo or picture, change its color, brightness, saturation, contrast, etc.

Vector editor Corel Draw

The working tools of the Corel Draw graphic editor are, first of all, geometric shapes that can be converted into any other images, as well as curves. Using the latter, it is easy to bring a hand-drawn picture to perfection. You can paint over the resulting images using a variety of methods. If desired, it is possible to use both simple colors and various kinds of patterns and textures.

Drawings in Corel Draw are created on a worksheet located in the center of the window. The toolbar is located on the left side.

A graphic editor is a thing that can be useful in a variety of situations. It’s definitely worth learning how to use at least the simplest ones. With the help of such software, you can turn any unattractive photo into a real work of art, make a caricature or draw an interesting picture and send it to friends.

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 beautiful, 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.

When you need to access your work on the go, Gravit Cloud lets you 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 as good as Adobe Illustrator for the task. 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, open source graphics editor. GIMP comes with a rich set of features for painting, color correction, cloning, highlighting, enhancements, and more. The interface of GIMP differs from the most popular Photoshop, but you won’t have to search for the necessary tools for a long time.

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.

Some of the coolest features include brush stabilizers that smooth out lines, a looping mode for creating seamless patterns and textures, and a pop-up palette for quickly choosing 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 to the Paint program built into all versions of Windows. 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 an advanced, free and open source 3D graphics editor 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 same developer's ZBrush editor, the most popular digital sculpting application. When you're ready to take it to the next level, you can easily switch to ZBrush.

• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Houdini is a 3D animation and visual effects tool that is often used when working on films, TV 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 the features of the full version and hone your skills on personal projects. Only Houdini Apprentice is intended for non-profit and educational purposes only.