Your creative flair is limited only by your medium of expression. Though art has gone digital these days, this statement still holds. The software or device you use will play a huge part in your overall creative output.
The same applies to designers as it does to artists. So getting the right software to harness your creativity is a real challenge, especially on iOS.
Fortunately, Apple products are geared for performance so compatibility is all you have to worry about.
In this piece, we’ll highlight some of the best graphic design apps for Mac. We will highlight both free and paid apps you can get on iOS.
Why Mac for Graphics Design?
The thing about Apple products is their incredible functionality. That, coupled with astonishing performance and usability, makes Apple products the best for graphic design.
So you don’t have to worry about anything lagging. Plus, once you’ve sketched on your iPad, it will automatically synchronize with all your other Apple devices.
Best Graphic Design Apps for Mac
If graphics design is your drift, here are some of the best apps for graphic design on iOS. Remember, these apps aren’t limited to your Mac only, you can synchronize them with all your other Apple products.
1. Quitter (Free)
Quitter is an App by Marco Arment. Marco Arment co-created Tumblr and Instapaper. So you should expect a lot from this App,
Quitter quits all distractions that take you out of your creative zone. As an artist, your phone’s probably blowing up with notifications. Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
You probably need your full focus to bring out your best work. It can be hard to achieve that when you have notifications from all other apps, including those you don’t use.
With Quitter, you can set a period of inactivity for each app. Meaning, that specific app will be inactive for the period you specify.
To be clear, quitters don’t delete any apps. It just keeps them inactive for a while so that you can concentrate on your work.
2. Pixelmator
Pixelmator takes full advantage of Mac’s retina display. As the name suggests, you can put every pixel to use with Pixelmator.
Pixelmator is ideal for those final touch-ups because there’s beauty in detail. If you’re familiar with Adobe Photoshop, then Pixelmator will be a breeze for you.
Pixelmator is easy to use, and you can really polish your work with this App. Pixelmator is available on the App Store for $5. Trust us, it will be worth every penny.
3. Tayasui Sketches
You probably are familiar with the Sketches App on iPad. Tayasui Sketches is a refinement of the sketches app with added playfulness. It’s not limited to the iPad, you can get it on your Mac too.
Tayasui Sketches comes with inbuilt stylus support. It also synchronizes with all your other devices. So you can complete the sketch you did on your iPhone or iPad on your Mac.
It also has some pretty nice featured tools, including the smart ruler, smudge tools and a variety of wet and dry brushes.
Do you need some layering? Then Tayasui Sketches has you covered. You also get a couple of preset canvases where you can work your magic on.
What’s great about Tayasui sketches is that it’s free to download on the App Store.
4. RightFont
When in need of the best font manager, then RightFont should be your preferred choice. If fonts are your drift, you probably got a couple of them scattered among various devices.
Art is a messy job, but sometimes we need a bit of organization. Font manager manages all your fonts across various devices.
We bet you also spend a lot of time sifting through your multitude of fonts. Sometimes you don’t ever remember whether you did that font or what time you did it.
RightFont is a simplified form of a font manager. You don’t even have to go through countless fonts. You can even manage your fonts on your iPhone while enjoying the park breeze.
Browse through all the available fonts in their specific classes. This app categorizes fonts according to weight, width, or your most recent fonts.
All that and you can integrate it with other graphic design apps like Sketch and Adobe apps. You can download Right Font at a one-time price of $49.5 on the App Store.
5. Adobe XD
This list wouldn’t be complete without an Adobe app. Adobe XD is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to design
Unlike previous Adobe apps, Adobe XD has whittled down its interface to the most used features. So you don’t have to sift through the toolbar for twenty minutes to get what you want.
Also, you won’t spend an eternity learning the software. If you’re already familiar with a few design apps, then Adobe XD will be a breeze for you.
You’ll need just a few minutes, and the prototypes and wireframes will come pouring out. It’s minimalist interface design, and incredible functionality makes Adobe XD a graphics designer must-have.
What’s more, this app is free to download on the App Store. Quick side note, the XD abbreviate experience design.
6. Gimp
Gimp is a pretty popular photo-editing software. GIMP abbreviates GNU Image Manipulation Software. In simple terms, Gimp is a Photoshop software.
What makes GIMP such a great photo-editing software is because it is frequently updated and highly supportive. If you’re familiar with the Photoshop basics, then Gimp will be pretty simple.
Basic operations like photo retouching, image resizing, and the likes are super easy on Gimp. Similarly, Gimp handles more complex tasks like creation.
Advanced users can get extensions and filters with Gimp’s unique scripting interface.
Expand Your Creative Horizons With These Apps
Hopefully, you now have a good understanding of what graphic design apps for Mac you should look to enhance your creative intuition.
For best results, try one or a combination of these apps, especially if they allow cross-app integration. Don’t be afraid to spend a couple of bucks on these apps. We guarantee it will be worth every penny
For more informative reads, please check out our other pieces.
