No designer’s toolkit would be complete without a good SVG editor. Luckily, there are plenty to choose from. In this article, we run through some favorites.In computer graphics there are two main types of image: vectors and rasters. A raster, also known as a bitmap, is an image which is made up of a fixed number of pixels. Bitmaps are great for detailed images like photos, and all digital cameras produce bitmap images for this reason. The majority of images in use on the internet are bitmaps.
The most common file types for raster images are JPG, GIF and PNG.Vector graphics work differently. Vectors are based on a mathematical formula with two-dimensional points which are joined to each other with lines and curves to form shapes.
Let your creativity run free with Justinmind. It’s free!Because they’re made in this way, they are infinitely resizable, always delivering smooth edges, without digital artifacts, and smooth color gradients. While not so suitable for photos, used in design. SVG is the standard vector format for use on the internet.To create and work with SVG files, you’ll need a vector graphics editor. Here are 11 awesome free and paid SVG editors for Windows, Mac, Linux, Web, iOS and Android.
There is even more potential in pairing a top editor with the right – so let’s find the perfect fit for you.Free – available for Windows, macOS, LinuxInkscape is a really popular SVG editor that’s free to use and available cross-platform. Perfect for illustrators, designers and web designers, Inkscape has powerful tools for object creation and manipulation. Inkscape lets you work in freehand, with shapes and with text, and it supports a range of output formats including PNG, OpenDocument, DXF, PDF, EPS, sk1 and more.Free – available for Windows, macOS, LinuxSketsa SVG Editor is a free cross-platform SVG drawing application.
It includes multiple tools for content creation, allowing you to easily draw, manipulate and edit objects. It also includes a source editor with syntax highlighting. This lets you view and edit the underlying SVG XML source code for maximum control.$9.99 – available for Windows, macOS, Chrome OS and as a web appBoxy SVG is a really nicely designed SVG editor aimed at both professional web designers and developers, and non-technical users who are just getting started with SVG graphics. Because it uses a Chromium-based rendering system, it renders SVG documents in exactly the same way as your Chrome browser for desktop or mobile. It packs in tons of additional features, including Google Fonts integration, Open Clip Art Library integration, and you can even.Free (paid Pro version: €99 per year) – available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS and as a web appCorel’s Gravit Designer is a powerful SVG editor with a lot of extra features compared to some of the other options on the market.
Aimed squarely at designers, it’s perfect for creating illustrations, screen designs, presentations, animations and high quality icons. It can even be used to create 3d simulations.$99/year – available for macOSOne of the more popular tools among web design professionals, Sketch is a powerful design tool that lets you create and edit vector images, prototype your designs and even create your own fonts. While it’s quite expensive, it’s a full design solution with an excellent user interface.!Free – web appVecteezy is a simple-to-use vector editor and creator aimed at design beginners, but powerful enough for professionals to use it as well.
It has all the features you’d expect in an SVG editor, and includes lots of templates and illustrations to get started.Free – available for Windows, Linux, Chrome OS and as a webapp. Paid version on the way.Vectr is a free graphics editor which makes it easy to create vector graphics. Its simple user interface design hides a surprisingly powerful and yet easy-to-use piece of software. Work with multiple shapes, paths and text tools to create simple vector images and icons. Like some of the other apps, it’s also available to.Free – web appFor a completely free and minimalist online vector editor, check our Method Draw. It lets you create and edit vector graphics files with all the tools you’d expect, but not so many of the extra bells and whistles in some of the other apps listed here.
We think it’s ideal for making something really quick while you’re focusing on other aspects of your design project.$6.99 – available for iPadDrawing on the iPad gets better and better, so we thought we’d include a couple of iPad-specific SVG editors. Inkpad is a tool for creating vector graphics on your iPad. Featuring unlimited layers, flexible typography effects, and a wide range of import and export options, Inkpad is a full professional SVG editor that you can carry around anywhere. Plus it works great with the Apple Pencil on iPad Pro.$7.99 – available for iPhone and iPadDesigned specifically for drawing with your finger, iDesign makes it easy to create 2-dimensional vector graphics on your iPad or iPhone. Its specially-designed offset handles help you move and position objects without your finger blocking your view.
Inkscape Vector Graphics Mac
IDesign includes Boolean operations on shapes, and auto-smoothing for paths, to make life that little bit easier.Free (in-app purchase for cloud storage) – available for iPad, iPhone and AndroidIt will come as little surprise that graphics and design software giant Adobe has one of the better designed mobile vector editors on the market. With a simple, modern user interface, Adobe Illustrator Draw makes it easy to create beautiful vector images. And if you already use Adobe products, you’ll find its integration options are second to none. The wrap-upA reliable SVG editor is a must for anyone working in web or UX design. Whether you go for a top of the line professional tool or a free web app, we’re sure you’ll find the right SVG editor in our list.
It's no surprise that many people have been migrating away from Adobe products over the last several years. Adobe has moved to a subscription model that averages $56-$80 a month if a user needs to use more than one Adobe product at a time, something likely untenable for the average hobbyist. With a flood of pay once, use forever software hitting the market, users have no short supply of programs to choose from, especially when looking to replace Illustrator.Affinity Designer (iOS - $20, currently on sale for $16, macOS - $50, currently on sale for $40). Is far and away the most polished and feature-packed app on this list, especially considering you can get it as a mobile app as well. Sure, the desktop Mac and PC apps are good, but the iPad app is an extremely powerful program that gives users the chance to design on the go.Designer functions almost exactly like Illustrator, making it the best one-to-one swap on our list.
Our only major critique of Affinity Designer is that, as of the current version, there is still no feature that is analogous to Illustrator's image trace, which we find to be one of the most useful features of the program.If you are familiar with Illustrator, you'll be able to navigate Designer, though you'll have to work through a certain amount of muscle memory that won't transfer over directly. Artists new to vector design may find Affinity a little daunting due to the rather dense UI. Is one of the more beginner-friendly vector programs we've run across. Its UI is hands down the easiest to navigate out of our list, and thus our pick for anyone who is new to vector graphic design.There are also plenty of user guides for Graphic, which help users both understand the program, as well as vector design itself.Graphic has made extra accommodations for those who are using the program for technical drawings. One step dimensional and arrow-head lines are a breeze, allowing designers to quickly mark up their designs for technical projects.The iOS version of Graphic is also highly optimized for the Apple Pencil, and users can create dynamic brushes to meet their specific illustration needs. It also supports Smart Keyboard shortcuts, which instantly makes the program feel quite a bit more like a full desktop program.Graphic also allows users to import and export PSD, PDF, and SVG files, create their own vector-based brushes, and supports unlimited layers.Amadine (macOS - $20). Falls somewhere between Affinity Designer and Graphic in complexity, and may very well be the best for intermediate users.The UI is quite a bit more pared down from Affinity Designer or Illustrator.
We found it easy to pick up the program without much effort. Amadine has also created a series of tutorials for users new to the program.Most of the mainstay tools you'll find in Illustrator you'll also find in Amadine, including the ability to put text to paths, layer effects, and stroke pressure sensitivity for those using external graphics tablets.
Amadine also allows users to import and export work as JPEG, TIFF, PNG, EPS or PDF file formats.Amadine does not currently have an iOS app, but says that one is in development.Inkscape (macOS - free). Is a free, open-source GNU-based vector program, making it an attractive option for those who are just starting with vector image creation. It is a fairly straightforward take on Illustrator, with most, if not all of the same features available.If you are familiar with Illustrator's UI, Inkscape can be hard to get used to.
There are a plethora of Inkscape tutorials available, both at Inkscape's website and the internet at large. We highly suggest new users utilize them.Fortunately, unlike most other Illustrator dupes, Inkscape does have an image trace feature called 'Trace Bitmap,' which we see as indispensable in a vector program.If you want it to work with macOS, there is a bit of a caveat.
Inkscape will not work out of the box, and must be installed via MacPorts, either as an X11 build or a native Quartz build. The developers of Inkscape highly recommend that any users stick with the X11 build for stability's sake.