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Illustrator, as a number indicates, is one of the most famous illustration and graphics programs that can be installed on our computer. Also known as Adobe Illustrator by the firm that develops it, or simply AL, it is one of the favorites of those people who work making designs in offices or from their homes.
Among its capabilities, we can mention those of generating drawings, logos, advertising campaigns, artistic samples and many others. Its versatility is precisely one of the elements that differentiates it from other software that is part of the same field.
Now, without questioning its value as a visual content production tool, one of the negative aspects of this system is that it is paid for. That is, we can only use it for free as a trial for 7 days before it is completely deactivated.
That forces, on more than one occasion, to have to look for certain options similar to Adobe Illustrator. That is why, below, we want to show you several of the best today.
6 Alternatives to Adobe Illustrator
goes up
Unlike the previous one, Gravit is not only one of the best graphics creation and editing applications, but it also offers free editing. Limited in some of its functionalities, but perfect to solve our urgent projects.
This is one of the most famous cross-platform Illustrator software like Illustrator, you can only install it on Windows operating PC, or even Mac OS X, Linux and include Chrome OS devices.
All you have to do to benefit from its features is to have an Internet connection and register on its official site. When you do, you'll get access to a personal cloud storage space, to save your illustrations and download them anywhere.
Another of its strong points is the possibility of teamwork, something ideal if you are carrying out an initiative together with your colleagues. In this way, the modifications that each one makes to the file will be saved, making progress in less time.
- free seedlings
- Special templates for social networks
- Video tutorials on your page
- Pro version for expert users
SVG Edit
Probably not as shiny as the previous one, here's a more free Illustrator-like program that has its fair share of adept developers. With a decade of life, a differentiating factor is that we can run it from any modern browser, although if you feel more comfortable, there is no problem in being able to download it.
The general functions of this utility are not too far from those of Gravit, although its initial catalog of templates and pre-designed documents is smaller. This is solved by allowing us to import external graphics, very interesting if it comes with previous works.
Not a minor issue is that we don't need to listen to each other here, and if you especially value open source applications, let us point out that we are in the presence of one, so you can damage all the tweaks you want if you have technical knowledge.
Similarly, we believe that due to its somewhat more rudimentary interface and the lack of its own tutorials, it is a service that could cause certain problems for users who are just beginning to generate or manage graphics and illustrations.
Vector
Vectr is an online design system that is limited to the essential services expected to appear in vector graphics editing, but its aesthetic is clearly superior to that of SVG Edit. We can use it via an Internet connection or also install it on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and also Chrome OS computers, so its size is wide.
On this occasion, if you need to register previously, and you can advise its use more than anything for those who think of generating icons. We say this because their offer in this regard is endless, while the templates and images run in just seconds.
Beyond the fact that we can share links that lead to the illustrations or graphics we are working on, our colleagues or friends who enter them will not be able to make changes to the projects, but only see their progress.
Anyway, we think it's not bad for those with little experience in the matter.
ink landscape
For a large part of public opinion, at least in the world of design specialists, Inkscape is the best alternative to Illustrator. It is also open source and we don't have to pay to use it and we can avail it on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
If this is an accustomed to the software that has justified this article, there are very few elements that you will miss in an approach to it. One of them is the digital brush palette, but you can be sure that everything else is there.
Its potential is really infinite and it shows that we always have to invest money to obtain great results in graphics and illustrations. For example, you can work with digital tablets or export HTML5 canvases.
In general terms, it will be a platform suitable for professionals, which requires a considerable period of adaptation until you know how to take advantage of it with everything it brings, but the one that is more in a position to replace the payment options of the category.
- Additional extensions
- Maximum customization
- Wide compatibility of file formats
- Allows you to edit Illustrator projects
chalk
Undoubtedly a step below Inkscape, like most of those mentioned here, Krita is also a free and open source application that can help us draw or paint in the digital field.
Functional on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, its sober Resources section draws attention, since it is not only possible to import brushes and textures packages from other artists, but also share those that we have created with the community.
Adobe Illustrator drawing
Our reference, for those who have no doubts, has the version oriented to both iOS and Android mobile devices of the Adobe system. As her older sister, she focuses on vector design, although with the advantage of running it from our phone.
Thanks to it, you can make illustrations with different types of brushes, such as changing the opacity, size and color of graphics. If you are one of those who use layers, it allows you to add up to ten simultaneously, and if something does not convince you, you just have to undo it.
As if all that weren't enough, Illustrator Draw has its own social network, in which artists from all over the planet participate. There we can go through our productions so that they can see them and mark us if they would do any retouching, what they liked, etc.
- Expand x64
- Completely free
- Permission to submit projects to other Adobe programs
- Compatible with stylus devices
Illustrator-like pages for everyone
Until some time ago, starting to create our own designs and illustrations was not easy at all. Before using that inverter in a state-of-the-art computer and at least one not cheap program that allows us to obtain first-rate products.
Now, with the constant proliferation of free solutions, and even many of them online, this has changed. This class of tasks are no longer reserved for a select few, but can be carried out by anyone with just a PC or from a mobile phone.
