Advertisement Adobe Illustrator might be the gold standard when it comes to vector software for the Mac, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to create crisp artwork, diagrams, and concepts. We thought it was about time we compiled a list of our favourite raster image editors for Mac OS X., and they provide some compelling alternatives. If you’re looking for vector software to take on your next design project, design an icon or simply because you’d like an introduction to the world of vector imagery, you might want to start with one of these first. Differ from raster images in one key area: they use mathematical expressions to draw the lines, shapes and colours you see as an image. The best example of this is seen when scaling up a raster, which “stretches” the image to the point where unsightly pixelation occurs. Conversely, vector graphics can be scaled up and down infinitely, as the software merely re-draws the image based on the new instructions. This makes vectors incredibly useful for design purposes, creating icons and logos which will need to be scaled to a number of sizes (and which in future can be scaled beyond current requirements).
Vector graphics use simple shapes, lines and curves based on vectors (also known as paths or strokes) and the current standard comes in the form of the format, or.SVG files. Photoshop, Paint.NET and the GIMP are not vector editors, and instead specialised software like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW is required to design, render and export these graphics to traditional raster formats for use on the web, with existing projects or in print. Vectors are great for creating diagrams, charts, posters, magazines, and scaleable artwork.
(Free) Inkscape is probably the best free tool for editing and creating vector images. With a long history of development and a keen fanbase that mostly comprises of Linux users, Inkscape works on all three major operating systems and costs nothing for the privilege.
Using the When most people think open source, they think Linux. But Mac OS X has its share of quality open source programs as well — and a bunch of them aren't available for Linux or Windows., Inkscape’s progress is often a lot slower than rival commercial efforts as a result. Don’t let that put you off, however. The software prides itself on full compatibility with the W3C.SVG standard, which includes support for a number of advancements in vector graphic technology (clones, markers and alpha blending to name a few). Despite the user-friendliness of the program, newcomers to the vector world may feel a little out of their depth and that’s where the extensive documentation and come in. Mac users may need to depending on their version of macOS (the Inkscape project currently “requires” it in the download instructions), and despite the current version being a little outdated by this stage it still works like a treat. Verdict: The best freeware open source vector editor out there, and the closest you’ll come to Adobe Illustrator if your budget is $0.
Best Technical Drawing Software For Mac
(Free) Boxy is a new breed of modern vector graphics editor designed to provide similar functionality to Illustrator and Inkscape. It’s made using and for the modern web platform, hence SVG — the web’s current format of choice for scaleable web images. The app works on a variety of platforms, and includes its own Mac app (or you can run it inside a web browser if you want). The app includes support for the importing or.SVG files,.PNG,.JPEG, and.GIF and integrated support for the Google Fonts library.
Transform, grouping, and painting are all supported with pre-set shapes, support for gradients and patterns, and boolean operatings like unite, subtract, intersect and exclude. Verdict: A refreshing free entry to the vector graphics category, built on web technology. Lightweight, free, and begging to be played with.
(Free) Just like Boxy SVG, Vectr is a free vector editor built on web technology. Not only can it be downloaded for all major operating systems, it also runs in the browser and provides a surprisingly responsive and capable interface.
The app is promised to be free forever, and even includes free accounts for syncing your work with other computers and platforms. It’s a strictly 2D affair, and its application is mostly focused on creative and illustrative purposes: business cards, logos, brochures, posters; rather than flow charts and diagrams. Best of all Vector includes a comprehensive user guide as well as tutorials, so you can learn to use it effectively in very little time. Verdict: Free, web-based tool with downloadable offline versions and excellent support via tutorials and user guides.
(Free) LibreOffice is a popular open source alternative to Microsoft Office, and it comes with its own drawing program appropriately named Draw. Unfortunately it isn’t as feature rich as Inkscape (above) but it does have a few interesting features. Look what I made in LibreOffice Draw — Literallie (@xxyy) The app seems more aimed at users who want to create flowcharts and other diagrams, but also has the ability to create technical drawings, brochures, logos, posters and more.
Image memory card reader dpc r1 driver for mac. You can work with objects, group them, manipulate 3D objects and color as you see fit. Draw is a great choice for those looking to create network diagrams, visualize ideas, design flow charts, and more — all without a high degree of artistic skill.
If you’re looking to create artwork then Inkscape might be a better choice, but if you’re looking for an office-friendly all rounder then Draw is a good choice. Verdict: Lacks the polish of Inkscape, and it’s more focused towards diagrams and charts. If you already use LibreOffice, you might already have it installed. (Free) DrawBerry won’t wow you with its Illustrator-beating features or extensive help documentation, but after downloading it just to see if it still works on the latest version of macOS, it still may be worth a punt. The app is very lightweight (at only 3.8MB to download), and though it lacks features and hasn’t had an update since the days of OS X 10.5 — it still works! The key to DrawBerry’s appeal lies in its simplicity.
Illustrator’s UI looks like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise by comparison, and while seasoned vector veterans will be pining for the advanced features that are absent here, if you need a simple logo for your low-to-no-budget project, you can do a lot worse than DrawBerry. Unfortunately,.SVG support isn’t great, so this one is best for coming up with your own designs rather than rendering files you find on the web. Verdict: Despite being ancient and lacking in features, it still works, it’s still free, and it might just do the job if you don’t need a hefty vector editor. ($29.99) Pixelmator is one of our favorite alternatives to Adobe Photoshop, and in 2013 it introduced support for vectors. Dubbed “Vectormator” the app provides limited support for vector drawing with shapes and lines, but stops short of adding full.SVG support. This has lead some people to claim that Pixelmator isn’t really a proper vector app, so be aware of this before you buy. There are a range of in-built shapes and tools for mapping out vectors, though professionals and users who are used to the advanced features seen in Illustrator will probably be left wanting more. Vector mode is activated using the command+shift+v shortcut, allowing Pixelmator to essentially blend raster and vector imagery into one file.
New users should check out the of the Pixelmator website in order to get up to speed with the software. Verdict: No.SVG support means that Pixelmator stops short of being genuinely useful for a lot of users, but it’s still a great app that can perform many common tasks and it’s cheap to boot. ($29.99) Previously known as, Autodesk Graphic is a successor to one of the best lightweight vector editors on the platform. It’s $5 more expensive than it used to be, but it still maintains a robust feature set with full support for the import of.SVG,.PDF and.EPS (Illustrator) formats, as well as layered.PSD import and export for Photoshop users. Featuring a good range of tools for drawing and sketching, support for layers, workflow tweaks like an in-place colour picker as well as dimensioning for technical drawings, Graphic makes for a great budget vector graphics editor. There’s also an ($8.99) which uses iCloud to sync with the Mac client, so you can work on and access your designs on the go.
There really is a lot to love about Graphic, especially at such an attractive price point. The only thing that really lets it down is the lack of a free trial, so maybe have a look at before you buy to ensure it’s the right app for you.
Verdict: A proper vector editor first and foremost, Graphic excels where Pixelmator falls short. If vectors are your thing, Graphic is a good choice. ($59.99) After the glowing reception received by raster and RAW editor Affinity Photo, Serif Labs introduced Affinity Designer to take on the vector market. It’s specifically targeting Adobe Illustrator’s subscription model with a one-off fee of around $60 (the website differs from the Mac App Store, which occasionally knocks 20% off the price too). Affinity claims to have the best Photoshop.PSD import engine around (I’m not sure Adobe would agree) with support for.PSD,.PDF,.SVG,.AI (Illustrator format), Freehand and.EPS file formats to boot. There’s 16-bit per channel editing, support for slices, realtime masks, adjustment layers, and graphics tablet support.
That’s alongside all the usual basic features expected from such a package — a great pen tool, node editing, curve editing, smart shapes, flexible text, and several workspaces that target web, UI or UX, print and concept art. You can even use raster-style effects for the best of both worlds. Verdict: A serious alternative to Illustrator, with no subscription fees. Worth the price of entry for those who need a professional tool at a mid-tier price. ($99.99) The most expensive product on this list, Sketch bills itself as a professional vector program for designers.
Looking at a few of the examples on the official site, that’s not hard to believe. The program is built for ease of use, just for macOS, with the aim of producing high quality vectors. There’s even a ($4.99) that allows you to preview your designs live on your device, as you work.
As you’d expect from a $100 professional-level app, Sketch has all the bases covered – an advanced UI, layers, excellent text rendering and a slew of grids and guides to help you build and design to your heart’s content. Import from.PDF and.EPS (Illustrator), learn the ins and outs with and even get a helping hand with your project by downloading like iOS development kits and icon templates. Unlike Autodesk Graphic, Sketch offers a 15-day free trial so you can try before you buy. Verdict: Sketch is up there with the best of the best vector image editors for macOS, complete with excellent management and organizational tools, and a price tag to match. See Also: Alchemy is a bit of a wildcard. It hasn’t been updated for quite some time (2014), and it’s not a program designed for creating finished artwork.
However it is capable of outputting a vector image format, which you can then import into another editor and keep working. The app describes itself as an “open drawing project” which aims to explore new ways of drawing, sketching, and creating digital artwork. It’s a “sketching environment” that is designed to kickstart your project, help you come up with ideas, and brainstorm rather than perfect. For that reason there’s no undo, there’s no ability to select lines or shapes, and no editing. Various modules allow you to interact with the canvas in unorthodox ways: using your voice, using random shapes, using a mirror drawing technique, by drawing blind, and random placement and distortion of shapes. Verdict: A random brainstorming app that’s as fun as it is chaotic. Requires the Java Runtime Environment to work, allows export to vector format for further tweaking.
Experimental and fun. Apps That Didn’t Make the Cut If you’re thinking “there must be more out there!” then you’d be right, but there are a lot of vector apps that didn’t make the cut. We thought we’d list them here so you can dismiss them entirely:. — a free open source version of the premium Windows project, a Mac version was in development at some point. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the project has had an update at all since 2007. — a free vector drawing program for Linux that will run under macOS. Unfortunately no updates since 2010, and you’ll need to compile for Mac from source as no binary is available.
Drawing App For Mac
— a great free package that’s open source to boot, but requires the whole Calligra Suite to be installed to use. Worth a try if you’re unsatisfied with Inkscape or Boxy SVG. Missed Your Favourite? Did we miss any great vector packages for macOS for the designer on a budget?
Let us know if there’s something we should check out in the comments, below! Explore more about:,.
Mac systems, like Windows ones, lend provision for making sketches and/or creating drawings and illustrations by using various specific software effectively. There are quite a number of free drawing software for Mac available these days, which capture the market baxsed on their program abilities to render flexible yet captivating diagrams, guide users towards creating masterpieces in digital format without compromising with the artistic features and styles, and prove as a spontaneous, interactive, and hassle-free software. These free drawing software for Mac are designed such that they effectively polish the creative elements of the user's mind and help in proper technical manifestation of the same, so as to help match industry standards.
The list would include. Dia Diagram Editor Features and functions: The Dia Diagram Editor for Mac excels over its counterparts for the feature of providing technical expertise in drawing patterns and versions. Both technical or IT- proficient people as well as non-technical users can feel at ease and derive utility out of the program. Newer shapes specific to user requirements can also be supported by the editor on writing elementary files in xmxl. Cross-platform operations are supported well. Be it an UML structure or Network diagram, flowchart or Entity-Relationship diagrams, the Dia Diagram Editor handles all with precision. Pros of Dia Diagram Editor: Symbols and obxjects have been predefined and offered as part of an extensive library.
This free drawing software for Macenables professional drawing and design experts to achieve their jobs efficiently, for the program offers sharp rendition of technical drawings and flowcharts. The program provides a proper canvas to work upon. Technical operations starting from edit and scrolling across images, to laxyering and managing accurate magnification ratio in images are all properly handled by the software. Installation of the Dia Diagram Editor has not been reported to cause much chaos, just like the clean process of uninstalling the same. Cons of Dia Diagram Editor: Program requires Save at regular intervals, for the Dia Diagram Editor crashes down often. The colour of the text cannot be altered. Edit or delete operations cannot be performed on selected portions of the text, which is a major drawback.
User comments/reviews: I was looking for a simple app to help generate Flowcharts. This does it perfectly well. It's fabulous. Do you have to diagram something? Don't hesitate—this is your app.
Get it and start diagramming. I use it to create diagrams and export in several formats, such as png and eps. I is simple and easy to use. 123D Make Features and functions: This free drawing software for Macmoves beyond just drawing and provides a sculpted look for images. The program provides a perfect collaboration of 2D and 3D designs and techniques. Image-slicing is a core functionality of the software.
Four distinct techniques that the 123D Make uniquely offer and excel at include the stacked methodology, skills for the curve, radial mechanisms, and the interlocking feature. Pros of 123D Make: Users have the discretion to customize designs upto the nth level. The software makes it possible to communicate between 2D and 3D designs and creations flawlessly. The final produce have an effective real-time outlook. The integration of the product with Autodesk provides for easy export of files in PDF or EPS formats comprising of plan documents for design builds.
Cons of 123D Make: The interface and related concepts pose complications for novice users. Printing or making an edit of the images directly from design is not facilitated. User comments/reviews: It is easy to use and creates amazing 3-D images from everyday obxjects in a short amount of time.
Highly configurable. Artboard Features and functions: Vector graphics and illustrations are key feature of Artboard. Ranging across some 1700 unique styles of design, this free drawing software for Macprovide exclusive functionalities such as the speech bubble, home planning and people factory, etc. Shiny buttons and obxjects in stacked form on the editable clipart make this program useful for high-tech designers. Pros of Artboard: A wide collection of vector tools and library of design obxjects, graphical and clipart elements and obxjects, flags and maps, etc. Are made available for users of this free drawing software for Mac.
The template collections of graphics in large vector forms provided by the Artboard helps users to streamline their respective workflows. Designs can be saved as part of projects and worked upon at any later time. Graphics export into other distinct formats such as PDF, TIFF, JPG and PNG are provided for. Cons of Artboard: This software makes use of vector tools for designing graphics, for which users would require some prior knowledge as well as training.
User comments/reviews: Artboardoffers ample features, tools and usability components to help you create any artwork you want for personal and professional purposes. Artboard scored well in all of our rating categories – Features, Tools, Usability and Help & Support – with the most overall offerings of any product on our list. It's the winner of our Top Ten REVIEWS Gold Award. GIMP Features and functions: GIMP is one of the best free drawing software for Macfor photo or image editing that lets the user create and/or edit images and drawings. The program provides power features such as use of airbrush and cloning, pencilling, creation and managing gradients, etc.
This is a very smart product that provides tech-savvy users with the authority to create their own patterns, brushes and other tools as well as to import images into the program and manipulate them accordingly. Pros of GIMP: For users who are technically sound and aware of the software, GIMP is a master-art creation tool for it handles image editing functionalities with perfection and professional specifications. Tools provided by GIMP and the interfacing are standardized features.
High quality flexibility is offered by this software. It provides the users with ability to leverage a workspace with digital retouching and it can then be very well mapped onto with the product.
Cons of GIMP: Selection tools are not smart enough to work automatically, which gets buggy. The interface has been reportedly found confusing and difficult for users with nominal or no experience. The single-window feature of GIMP is a disadvantage for it restricts viewing multiple projects on parallel windows. User comments/reviews: GIMP is an outstanding program.
GIMP is great. It took me a bit more time to figure out than most apps do, but the more I learn the more impressed I've become. So far though, as an imaging editor you can't find any better freeware than this. Seashore Features and functions: The winning factor for Seashore is its offering of a simpler and friendlier interface, that scores in user reviews over GIMP.
Built on the functional bricks of GIMP, this free drawing software for Macprovides the function of putting into use textures, gradients and such other imaging technicalities, with variations in many of the features. File format is similar as are the provisions for technologies such as alpha-channel edits and support in multiple laxyering. Brush strokes as well as text can both be subject to anti-aliasing. Laxyers are incorporated with support in more than 20 effects for merging. Pros of Seashore: Seashore manages to bypass GIMP through its interface that has a slicker look-and-feel for it leverages Cocoa for a style of OS X. A wide range of file formats are supported, starting from JP2000 and XBM to TIFF, GIF, PDF, PICT, PNG and JPEG, etc. Support in colour syncing is provided.
This software makes it possible to select arbitrary sections and perform image or photo editing. Cons of Seashore: Consistency in performance is often an issue with the Seashore. This photo and image editor has been built on the frxame of GIMP, but fails to manage with certain basic features such as the Levels feature, colour balance, etc. The program has often been reported to be unstable.
User comments/reviews: It is a vast improvement over its parent and much better than many commercial budget tools. It’s a reduced selection of the functionality provided by GIMP though, concentrating on the basics ofimage editing conversion and texture creation. Intaglio Features and functions: Intaglio is one software that has been designed exclusively for Mac users and helps perform complex and twisted technical drawings with ease. This software not just supports drawings in a variety of formats but also supports laxyering and renders them in clear forms. This free drawing software for Macprepares drawings in a two-dimensional format on which editing, scxripting, and other documentation such adding colours and graphics, text, etc. Can be easily acquired. Pros of Intaglio: The biggest advantage derived of this software is that it can effectively perform operations on integration with latest as well as not-so-current or older software versions.
Hence, Intaglio not just helps create new drawings but also aids in conversion of drawings made in old applications into newer and advanced formats, with editing facilities. Advanced drawings in graphical formats or in vector forms, illustrations for scientific concepts, etc. Can be easily achieved through Intaglio. Cons of Intaglio: Complexity in designing concepts with this software program is a limitation with this program. Basic functioning and standardized methods such as drawing a path, technical options for the same, etc. Fail to function seamlessly.
This free drawing software for Macseems to be too sophisticated and also complex for rather simple drawing operations such as doodling, etc. User comments/reviews: It is very friendly to my eyeballs - lots of well made icons, and clean interface. Many graphic file types can be imported and used for purposes of template or simply to add to the illustration itself. And with the ability to mask imported graphics with obxjects, the possibilities are endless.
Image Tricks Features and functions: Image Tricks goes by the universal standard of Binary versioning. LixnkBack is one technology that is effectively supported by this software. Processing of real-time images is achieved through use of Core imaging filters. Pros of Image Tricks: This software provides an amazing range of filters that render elegance to image editing and provide a real-time view of diagrams. Masking of images is made possible, in around 30 varied types.
This free drawing software for Macintegrates effectively with iPhoto. Support for as many as 20 image formats is provided with easy import and export provisions. Cons of Image Tricks: A major disadvantage reported by many users is the lack of some very standard and basic operation tools such as ones for moving images, selecting, drawing and painting, etc. Installation for the software has been reported to be buggy or render a slow performing system in some cases. User comments/reviews: It is simple to use, so powerful are the results. Because 90% of the world uses Photoshop, I'm able to offer something different compared to my competitors. The effects provided are wide ranging and of a good - sometimes high - standard, particularly the rather impressive pattern generators.
DAZ Studio Features and functions: The fact that DAZ Studio places the image creation and modelling power on any and all users is one of the greatest features of the product. Certain technical functionalities are provided such as the ability to reproduce morphed effects, smoothening of surfaces at desired angles, etc. Plug-ins are made available for richer operations. This software provides an unique series named as the Genesis, which offers fresh and competent features and functions such as creating and customizing figures, sharing models, scenes or files, etc. Pros of DAZ Studio: This free drawing software for Macposes advantageous for new or inexperienced users by allowing them to create remarkable drawings in three-dimensional forms. Models created out of this software can be provided with lip-syncing audio effects, managing angles of the camera and lighting projections, etc. There are no restrictions on the number of trials one would be offered for testing out different environments for the created model(s).
Cons of DAZ Studio: Complex graphical designs cannot be handled through the DAZ Studio, which becomes a big thumbs-down for professional designers. Fault tolerance is poor, which in turn affects performance or consistency. User comments/reviews: Free, powerful, lot of features, many documentation and sites about use. I can do animation as easy as drinking water.
Sketch Features and functions: Sketch is one free drawing software for Macthat is aimed at providing help to advanced and professional users. So the program manages to render complex drawings created as part of web-designing projects. Interactive media obxjects can be successfully designed and delivered. These drawings are competent as multimedia images as well. Not just vector imaging equipments, Sketch also provides for tools of text inputs.
Rulers, grids, guides and symbols, and also operations in Boolean form are easily handled through this software. Pros of Sketch: The interface for Sketch is a click one that helps advanced and experienced users create and innovate drawings and designs. The range of tools provided by this free drawing software for Macis wide and pertain to industry compliance norms. The end results produced by Sketch are very much professional in approach.
Cons of Sketch: Inadequate instructions available with the program make it difficult for use. Support for the product is weak for the lack of any proper forum. User comments/reviews: I love Sketch! This app is absolutely great! Sketch is maturing to a quite nice GUI tool with added vector drawing tools. Inkscape Features and functions: The most promising feature of Inkscape is the provision of creating drawings that leverage vector concepts along with functions such as path editing facilities and sculpting obxjects, etc. Inkscape provides with features of including texts in the form of subscxript and superscxripts, text tracking, passing inputs of numerical format, etc.
Kerning of text is also made possible through this software. This program comes with the tool called Airbrush. Pros of Inkscape: Support for a large number of file formats is a benefit with this free drawing software for Mac.
Creating obxjects of oval, circular or polygonal forms to concepts of grids and vector drawings, obxjects snapping and sculpting, etc. Are all effectively handled through Inkscape. Documentation provided for Inkscape is an extremely detailed and elaborated, well-illustrated one. Presentations can be made with extensions such as the JessyInk. Multiple paths are allowed to be made editable by Inkscape. Cons of Inkscape: Installation for Inkscape is not a single procedure, it also requires download of an additional software - X11. The shortcuts provided are found to be innate and less spontaneous.
Interfacing for this software needs a major update, for it still continues to showcase many features that are of older standards. User comments/reviews: Lots of functionality, good support for SVG files. Converts PDFs, so you can use it with an iPad touch tablet program such as adobe ideas. Excellent tutorials. Screenshot: Free Drawing Software for Mac.