Top Advanced Illustration Programs

Add your comments and feedback on Advanced Illustration Software Top Picks.

Don’t know how well how anyone has tried to describe, in a couple of pages, how each of these programs “sees” the graphics environment. The “cognitive friendless” of the concepts involved in those views, combined with the menu structures, would give a more specific idea, perhaps, of the learning curve involved in each.
I find one aspect of this site a little ludicrous–clicked on the “compare prices” button above the Canvas heading, and got only prices for literal canvas (type of cloth) item–nothing on the software. And the version searched for, seemingly, was Canvas 9, not now current. An old editor-codger, altho pretty nice guy, I find too much of this cost-and-quality-cutting on the web. Whenever someone lets them get through uncaught or untested, it just reduces the “worthwhileness, carefulness, and trustability” rating of the site, its contents, and the people who create it, in the users mind. I try for higher standards, and true respect is usually given to those who adhere to higher standards. There is that old saying: “You can have it quick, cheap, good–pick any two.”

prc

Sorry about the compare prices error. I have fixed it now.

Hi Sue, I’d like to add another to your list, Serif Software’s Page Plus X2. I’ve used Corel Draw for years, and to me it is the standard for the industry, but I’ve recently acquired Page Plus X2, and for its price, it has more features than some of those you named. I think it is well worth considering for the graphic artist on a budget.

Arden: Isn’t that a page layout program? Or did you mean Serif DrawPlus? I have been meaning to review all the Serif graphics programs, but it seems to slip by me every year. I have only heard good things about them.

Hi Sue

Nice work you do here. Just like to add a small note about “xara Extreme” It is not only a windows program but is also available in native Linux as freeware. It is as you say an excellent program. Especially the price tag in Linux

Regards Pete

Hi Sue,

Thanks for your great articles here, I’ve found them really useful. I’ve been exploring Inkscape – fantastic vector drawing app – available on win, mac and linux, and it’s open source, free as in freedom, and free as in price.

and best of all – it’s native file format is SVG – scalable vector graphics.

http://www.inkscape.org

I’d love to see more vector art how to’s using inkscape – because it’s so accessible – great for advanced work, but also really easy to learn.

cheers
Donna

I use Macromedia Freehand (now Adobe) and feel it’s the best software available for producing technical drawings or just creating line drawings. It’s similar to Illustrator but much more fluid and easier to work with. When I work with Illustrator I find myself pulling my hair out at times. I own both software but feel Freehand allows me to produce work quicker and more easily.