Adobe Illustrator is often considered the gold standard of vector software for Mac. However, you can use alternatives to create crisp artwork and beautiful diagrams. Illustrator alternatives exist, and they give you some compelling options when you’re short on cash.
- Vector Based Drawing Program For Mac
- Vector Software For Mac
- Vector Based Graphics Software For Mac
- Vector Drawing Programs For Mac
Free Vector Graphics Software Design with Vectr. Vectr is a free graphics software used to create vector graphics easily and intuitively. It's a simple yet powerful web and desktop cross-platform tool to bring your designs into reality.
- When drawing with a tablet in most vector programs, you can create vector shapes based on your pen strokes, but LiveSketch actually maps out your sketches and creates the idealized line segments from your repeated strokes.
- Let’s start with the best cross-platform vector editor – Inkscape.This is a free open-source program with an amazing set of features.Inkscape is used by many professional designers and is a full-fledged desktop vector editor available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS.
If you’re looking for a Mac vector editor to use in your next project you should try one of these free vector editors or cheap Adobe Illustrator alternatives first. This is the best vector software for macOS that you can use for free or buy on a budget.
What Are Vector Graphics?
For those who are still new to the concept, Vector graphics use mathematical equations along a 2D axis to draw lines and shapes inside a fixed space. This differs from raster images, which are pixel-based. When you scale a raster image past its max resolution, it “stretches” and becomes blurry. With vector graphics, you can scale up and down infinitely.
This flexibility means that vector graphics are incredibly useful for design purposes. They are great for creating icons, logos, diagrams, charts, posters, magazines, and other scalable artwork.
1. Inkscape (Free)
Inkscape is probably the most versatile free vector editor for Mac. With a long history of development and a keen fanbase, Inkscape works on all three major operating systems and costs nothing.
Inkscape uses an open-source development model (like these other free open-source mac apps15 Free Open-Source Mac Apps You Must Install15 Free Open-Source Mac Apps You Must InstallWant to use some open source software on your Mac? These macOS apps are open-source, awesome, and best of all... free!Read More), and as a result its technological progress is often slower than that of its commercial rivals. Inkscape prides itself on its full compatibility with the W3C open standard SVG, and strives to make itself one of the most user-friendly SVG editors for Mac on the market.
Despite this user accessibility, newcomers may feel a little out of their depth when trying it out. To help, there’s extensive documentation and answers to your questions within the Inkscape forums.
Note: Mac users may need to download XQuartz in order to run Inkscape. So if you’re not a fan of additional downloads, this might be a hassle.
Verdict: Inkscape is the best open-source vector graphics software for Mac, and the closest you’ll come to Adobe Illustrator if your budget is zero.
Download:Inkscape (Free)
2. Vectr (Free)
Vectr is a free vector editor built on web technology. You can download Vectr for Windows, Linux, or Chrome OS, or run the browser version through macOS.
The app comes with a promise of being “free forever,” and its tools are mostly focused on creative vector drawings, such as logos, brochures, and posters.
Best of all? Vectr includes a comprehensive user guide and tutorials, so you can learn how to use it effectively in very little time.
Verdict: A free, web-based tool with excellent customer support via online tutorials.
Download:Vectr (Free)
3. LibreOffice Draw (Free)
LibreOffice is a popular open-source alternative to Microsoft Office, and it comes with its own vector drawing program called “Draw”. Unfortunately LibreOffice Draw isn’t as feature-rich as some of the other programs on this list, but it does have a few accessories.
The free vector editor seems to be aimed at users who want to create flowcharts or diagrams. It also has the ability to create technical drawings and brochures. LibreOffice Draw is also a great Mac vector editor for those looking to create network diagrams—all without a high degree of artistic skill.
Note: If you’re looking to create artwork, then Inkscape might be a better choice.
Verdict: Lacks the polish of some other programs. If you were previously using LibreOffice, you might already have it installed.
Download:LibreOffice (Free)
4. DrawBerry (Free)
DrawBerry won’t “wow” you with its features or extensive help documentation, but it still works on the latest version of macOS, so it may be worth a shot.
This free vector editor for Mac is very lightweight, and although it lacks the features of more advanced programs, its simplicity is key to its appeal. While seasoned graphic designers will be pining for more advanced features, if you need a logo for your low-to-no-budget project, you can do a lot worse than DrawBerry.
Verdict: Despite being ancient and lacking in features, it still works. It’s also still free, and it might do the job if you don’t need a hefty vector editor.
Download:DrawBerry (Free)
5. Boxy SVG ($9.99)
Boxy is a type of vector graphics software for Mac with similar functionality to Inkscape. It has its own Mac app available through the App Store, and can import and support SVG file extensions. It can also support PNG, JPEG, and GIF.
When you’re using Boxy, transform tools, grouping tools, and painting tools are all supported with preset shapes, along with support for gradients and patterns.
Verdict: Boxy is a nice entry to the vector graphics category built on web technology. It’s lightweight and begging to be played with.
Download:Boxy SVG ($9.99)
6. Autodesk Graphic ($29.99)
Previously known as iDraw, Autodesk Graphic is a great lightweight vector editor for Mac. It’s more expensive than it used to be, but it still maintains a robust feature set with full support for SVG, PDF, and AI (Illustrator) formats. It also has layered PSD imports and exports for photoshop users.
Featuring a good range of tools for drawing and sketching, Autodesk Graphic makes for a great choice for a SVG editor when you’re a designer on a budget. You can also download Autodesk Graphic for iPad, which uses iCloud to sync. This way you can access your designs on the go.
Verdict: A proper vector editor above all else.
Download:Autodesk Graphic ($29.99)
7. Pixelmator ($39.99)
Pixelmator is one of our favorite vector editor alternatives on this list. The app provides limited support for vector drawing with shape and lines.
Pixelmator has a range of in-built shapes and tools for mapping out vectors, though professional users who are used to the advanced features in Illustrator will probably be left wanting more.
Verdict: A great app that can perform many common tasks.
Download:Pixelmator ($39.99)
8. Affinity Designer ($49.99)
After the glowing reception it received for the raster editor “Affinity Photo”, Serif Labs introduced Affinity Design to take on the vector editor market. It specifically targets Adobe Illustrator’s subscription model by offering the program for a one-time fee instead of a monthly cost.
Affinity claims to have the best PSD import engine around. While we’re not sure Adobe would agree with this, Affinity does support PSD, PDF, SVG, AI, Freehand and EPS file formats.
There’s 16-bit per channel editing, support for slices, realtime masks, adjustment layers, and graphics tablet support.
All of this comes alongside the usual features that you would expect from such a program—a great pen tool, curve editing, smart shapes, flexible text, and several workspace templates designed for web and print. You can also use raster-style effects for the best of both worlds.
Verdict: A serious vector editor alternative to Illustrator, with no subscription fees.
Download:Affinity Designer ($49.99)
9. Sketch ($99)
The most expensive of the SVG editors for Mac on this list, Sketch bills itself as a professional vector program for designers.
Built for ease of use, Sketch aims to produce high quality vector drawings. There’s even a Sketch Mirror companion app that allows you to preview your designs live on your device as you work.
As you’d expect from a professional app, Sketch has all the bases covered: an advanced UI, excellent text rendering and a slew of grids and guides to help you design to your heart’s content. You can learn the ins and outs of the program with the Sketch support pages.
You can also get a helping hand with your project by downloading community resources, ranging from iOS development kits to icon templates.
Sketch offers a 15-day free trial, so you can try this vector editor out beforehand. The only downside? You’ll need to renew your license on a yearly basis.
While this yearly renewal is still less expensive than Adobe’s subscription model, it can definitely get pricey if you’re on a budget.
Verdict: Sketch is up there with the best of the best when it comes to vector software for Mac. Unfortunately it also has a price tag to match.
Download:Sketch ($99)
Vector Software That Didn’t Make the Cut
If you’re thinking “there must be more out there!” then you’d be right. There are a lot of apps that didn’t make the cut, and here’s a few so you can dismiss them entirely:
- Xara Xtreme: A free, open-source version of the premium Windows project, the mac version of Xara Xtreme was previously in development. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the project has had an update since 2008.
- Skencil: A free vector drawing program for Linux that will run on macOS. Unfortunately there have been no updates since 2010.
- Karbon: A great free package that’s open-source, but it requires the whole Calligra Suite to be installed to use it. We guess it’s worth a try if you’re unsatisfied with Inkscape or Boxy SVG.
What’s Your Favourite Vector Software for Mac?
Did we miss any great vector packages for macOS? If so, let us know about your favorite vector software in the comments below. And then take a look at why it’s important to know how to change the DPI of an image3 Ways to Change the DPI of an Image3 Ways to Change the DPI of an ImageIn this article, we explain everything you need to know about DPI and how to change the DPI of an image in different ways.Read More, especially if you’re a designer.
Explore more about: Graphic Design, Image Editor, Mac App Store, Open Source, Vector Graphics.
Something new on the Mac App Store - ZeldDesigner
Boxy isn't free anymore.
You forgot Gravit Designer. It's web based, but it's much more advanced than Vectr.
Boxsvg is not free anymore. US$10
I've been using inkscape for lack of free alternatives on macos. I like it most of the time but quite slow because it's on xquartz I guess.. and mouse/keyboard mapping sometimes a bit confusing. ctrl c instead of cmd c for example.
Now it seems I can try others.Ironically, I came here as I use Sketch but it doesn't import AI files (apparently. Correct me if I'm wrong). So I came looking for an app to import ai and export as pdf or svg, to be imported into Sketch..
Create, by Andrew Stone, was pretty good... still works... keeps a library... (belight's app isn't here?) what's the best way to transfer workable images between them? Pdf? .eps? I've used .pdf to share vector files between Mac apps, although in 3D apps it seems to strip down to a basic skeleton of the image.... but editable.
It's obvious the author is Canadian; which means he's funny and he owns a lot of coats. Sounds like I have a couple of free options for vector software. Glad I found this article.
Cheers!
Canvas Draw is back!!!
http://www.canvasgfx.com/en/products/canvas-draw-2Affinity Designer very good
What about Affinity Designer? Is that any good?
You forgot the Illustrator-Killer-App: Affinity Designer. It supports CMYK, Lab-Colors, 16-Bit colors, Imports Illustrator, PDF and Freehand-Files(!) and is superfast.
Would you stop with the 'Illustrator Killer' nonsense!? If you worked at any level with AI, you'd know what Affinity Designer nowhere near AI's capabilities. You simply can't replace a program that has been around over 20 years with a 'new kid on the block' app that has been developed in a year, poorly implemented, has vague features, and tons of bugs.
Well that's exactly what Sketch could be described as as well, during its first 2 years its popular existence, but it still meant the very abrupt end of photoshops (impressive) 25+ year reign over (UI) design land... it just took another 1.5 years untill you wouldn't get hired anywhere anymore without knowledge of Sketch.
That alone makes Sketch one of the best options on this list.. although they still (and will) need to improve one or two things before I personally will write off illustrator entirely. And budget isn't even any factor in this choice making.
I love Inkscape on Linux Ubuntu. On MacosX is painful -> 1/2 of screen is displayed
PixelMator 3.3.3 doesn't support SVG format
Pixelmator does not — at any version — support ANY vector format import/export.
Your article is misleading. I just paid $30 for Pixelmator based on this article as well as the description on the website. I found only after the purchase, Pixelmator does not support import or export of vector images. I located 2 very long threads on their support blog of many angry customers that made the same mistake as me or almost made it and there is absolutely no response from Pixelmator support to any of the blog posts dating back more than 3 years. I do not recommend this app!
Brian,
PixelMatr deos support vector gracia (although not SVG) but you need to switch to VectorMator mode - CMD-SHIFT-V
No it does not. Even switch to VectorMator mode, it just converts vector graphic into pixel map.
Thanks for a great list! And you might consider updating this article, now that Serif has Affinity Photos available for beta-testing. I have Adobe CS5.5 Web & Design Premium--was required for school. I've had iDraw for over a year and it's my go to for doing a quick logo or simple drawing. Because it doesn't have the extras like Photoshop and Illustrator special effects, it loads faster than Illustrator so I can get to work sooner. iDraw has all the basic tools for creating vector-based images and then some--like being able to create buttons for websites and drop that code into your document. It's also got some cool features for those who develop apps for for iOS. iDraw documents now provide sub-layers and grouping those sub-layers=very convenient. I found the PDF User Guide to be instructive for not only using the software, but for those who've never used a vector creation app or with limited knowledge or use, the User Guide educates about vectors vs. raster and what the different tools can do.
I've gotten 2-3 free updates to iDraw since I purchased it, and these have made the software easier to use, and added functionality. I intend to get Pixelmator and possibly the Affinity apps. I'm currently beta-testing Affinity Photos; and while it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Photoshop, I don't want or need all of those bells and whistles.
Just paid $30 (the revised price) based on your blog post for Pixelmator and it DOES NOT support vector files.
'Vectormator' mode merely opens up all of the tools/palette windows which include some vector-based shapes. IT DOES NOT give you any ability to open, edit, or save actual vector images. That's a big ole FAIL :(
Please do your homework before misinforming your readers.
I was similarly disappointed. However, on closer inspection, it actually does kinda do vector editing. It’s just not “like” a real vector app in the way it does it. The view is ALWAYS raster-like at the documents set DPI. Combining and subtracting paths isn’t convenient like in a real vector app. And it rasterises even when exporting to PDF. As advertised it bills itself at a full featured (100%) vector app. At first glance, it infuriatingly seems to be barely a 5% featured vector editor. At a second glance though, it actually turns out to be… I’d say 30% featured. Still deserves the FAIL, of course, but just wanna say you might find it capable of at least some of the vector work you want to do.
Hi, Thank you for the listing.
I am doing graphic design and produce artwork that can be translated to end product. I am not strictly attached to any brands/product of the application/software. How ever being a nerdy at the 80's in my early age, I have been exposed to Broderbund's, Aldus', Adobe's etc.
How ever, when software and format limitation being a critical issue on some stages, such as software versions, machines and operators I always find that the native and raw format is the best solutions. Yet still, editable file are the main issue especially in collaboration cycle with others.
I'm using Inskcape on Mac/Linux/Windows for the past 5 years and still wondering which alternative application (or stack or applications) that can smoothly produce editable Ai format.
Affinity Designer is looking' good!
I miss ConceptDraw, non-commercial license cost me about $99. Impressive tool, compatible with Visio native format btw.
Was great
You are superman! thanks a LOT
good ;) thank you .
Why You Should Trust Me
Hi, my name is Thomas Boldt, and I’ve been a practicing graphic designer for over a decade. I’ve used a variety of different vector graphics programs both for work and for pleasure, with varying degrees of success. I’ve used industry-standard programs and experimented with open source initiatives, and I’m here to bring that experience to your screen so you won’t have to wade through the rough for a glimpse of a diamond.
Disclaimer: None of the developers listed in this review provided me compensation or other consideration for the writing of these reviews, and they have had no editorial input or review of the content. It should also be noted that I am a subscriber to the Adobe Creative Cloud, but Adobe hasn’t given me any special consideration as a result of this review.
What’s the Difference Between Vector and Raster Graphics?
One of the most common questions asked by newcomers to the computer graphics world is just what a vector graphic actually is. It’s not the quickest question to answer properly, but it boils down to how the computer creates the graphic image you see on the monitor. There are two basic types: raster images and vector images.
Almost all of the images you see online are raster images, which consist of a grid of pixels just like your monitor or television screen. The color and brightness of each pixel are defined by 3 numbers ranging from 0 to 255 which each represent the amount of red, green and blue in each pixel. Together, they can combine to create almost any color the human eye can see.
The most common type of raster image used on a computer is the JPEG format: you take your Instagram snaps in JPEG, you save memes in JPEG, and you email JPEGs your friends and coworkers. But if you’ve ever tried to print out a picture you found online, you’ve noticed that it usually either prints out tiny, pixelated or extremely blurry. This is because increasing the size of a raster image doesn’t add any new information to the file, but rather just stretches out what’s there, and your eye sees that as blurring or pixelation.
Imagine the grid of pixels as a household window screen. If you could somehow stretch the screen to twice its normal size, you wouldn’t expect the distance between the wires to stay the same. Instead, you’d wind up with something more like chicken wire – all the gaps in the screen would just get larger. Each of the pixels would get bigger, but there wouldn’t be any new ones.
On the other hand, a vector image doesn’t use a grid of pixels. Instead, all the curves, lines and colors you see are stored in the image file as mathematical expressions. I didn’t do well enough in math class to understand exactly how it is done, but it’s enough to know that you can proportionally increase the scale of the image to any size you want and the result will still display with the same quality. In other words, you could turn a tiny image from your computer screen into a skyscraper-sized mural and it would still be sharp and crisp.
The flip side to this is that vector graphics aren’t very well supported by image viewing programs such as web browsers or operating systems’ built-in image previews. Depending on what vector format and web browser you use, you might be able to view a vector graphic on a website, but even if it loads at all it still might not display properly. Raster images in the JPEG format are supported by just about every electronic device created in the last 20 years, so it’s usually necessary to turn your vector graphics into raster graphics before you share them with the rest of the world.
Do You Need a Dedicated Vector Graphics Program?
If you’re reading this article, the answer is probably yes – that’s what you’re here for, after all. But if you already have access to an image editing program, it’s entirely possible that you’ve already got some vector graphics tools available to you. The most common example of this is Adobe Photoshop: it’s primarily an image editing tool, but Adobe keeps adding more functionality to it, including the ability to work with basic vector graphics. It’s nowhere near as capable as a dedicated vector program like Illustrator or CorelDRAW, but it can at least open most vector files and allow you to make minor adjustments. You probably wouldn’t want to use it for an illustrative masterpiece, but it can technically work with vectors.
Both print designers and web designers absolutely need to have a good vector graphics program for their work, as vectors are perfect for rapid prototyping and refining your designs. They also allow for complete control over typography, freeing you from the constraints of desktop publishing layouts and other design monstrosities.
When it comes to illustration, vectors are often a perfect match for certain graphical styles. They’re not the only option for digital illustration, however, as Photoshop, Painter and PaintShop Pro also work very well with drawing tablets. These all create tend to use visual styles that recreate traditional offline media such as watercolors or airbrushing, and are not designed to create vectors of your work as you draw. Instead, you’ll wind up with a raster image that will not upscale well beyond the initial size of your creation.
How We Chose the Winners
There are many programs available that can create and edit vector graphics, but a surprising number of them are dedicated to extremely specific uses such as SketchUP for 3D drawing or AutoCAD for computer-aided engineering design. I only considered the more general programs for these reviews, as they offer the most flexibility in how they are used.
While it’s impossible to ignore the matter of personal preference when it comes to choosing your favorite vector graphics program, I tried to standardize the review process by using the following criteria:
Does it work well with graphics tablets?
Many graphic artists first learned their skills using more traditional media such as pen and ink. If you’ve spent years honing your skills in the offline world, being able to transfer those skills into a digital drawing tablet and a vector graphics program is a huge benefit. Some programs are more geared towards this purpose than others, but any good vector program should be able to work smoothly with graphics tablets.
Can it simplify complex drawing tasks?
Of course, not everyone who wants to work with vector graphics is a skilled freehand artist (including yours truly), but that doesn’t mean that the world of vector graphics is closed to us. Even if you can’t draw anything resembling a perfect circle by hand, almost any vector program will allow you to create one simply and easily. But what about more complex drawing tasks? Is it easy to adjust the shape and flow of each point, curve and line segment? Does it quickly allow you to rearrange, align and tessellate? Can it easily trace outlines of imported raster images? A good vector graphics program will check all of these boxes.
Does it handle typography effectively?
Vector graphics are great for a number of purposes, but one of the most common is creating logos that can scale to any size while still looking great. Even if you’re not a professional designer you may still want to work with text, and a good vector graphics program will provide a complete degree of typographic control without forcing you into the hideous realm of WordArt. After all, every digital typeface is already just a series of vector graphics, so it should be no problem to work with them.
Does it support a wide range of vector formats?
As I mentioned in the explanation of vector vs. raster images, raster images are most commonly displayed as JPEGs. Unfortunately, vector graphics don’t have a similarly popular standard, and you often find vector files in Illustrator format, PDF, EPS, SVG, PostScript and many other formats. Sometimes each format even has a range of different versions depending on how old the files are, and some programs don’t handle them very well. A good program will be able to read and write a wide range of formats to meet any situation.
Is it easy to use?
Vector Based Drawing Program For Mac
This is one of the biggest issues for any program, but it’s especially important when it comes to vector graphics programs. If you’re putting off work, wasting time-fighting the program – or pulling your hair out – when you need to create a vector graphic, you’re better off with a more user-friendly program that has a carefully designed interface.
Does it have good tutorial support?
Vector graphics programs tend to have an incredible number of features, and each developer has their own user experience design philosophies. This can make learning a new program difficult, even when you already have vector graphics experience. A good program will have a helpful introductory experience and plenty of training materials available to help you learn to use it.
Is it affordable?
Graphics software has a history of being extremely expensive, but that reality has changed quite a bit over the past decade. Software subscription models have become a popular method of overcoming the initial purchase price barriers, although many users find this approach frustrating. There are still some expensive non-subscription programs, but there are also some newer, more affordable challengers that are changing the landscape.
The Winner’s Circle
Note: Remember, both of these programs have time-limited free trials, so you might want to experiment with both before you make your final decision.
Best Vector Graphics Program for Design
Adobe Illustrator CC (Windows and Mac)
If you need the best all-around vector graphics program, you don’t need to look any further than Adobe Illustrator CC. After nearly 35 years in development, Illustrator has become an incredibly powerful tool for a wide range of uses. Since the initial release of the Creative Cloud version, Illustrator is only available as part of a Creative Cloud subscription and is not available for a one-time purchase price they way it used to be. You can subscribe to just Illustrator for $19.99 USD per month, or you can subscribe to the entire Creative Cloud software suite for $49.99 USD per month.
Illustrator has a wide range of tools for creating and manipulating vector objects which can create complex graphics with precision and ease. While Illustrator used to be a bit clumsy when it came to working with complex curved shapes, the new Curvature tool is a much-welcomed addition that offers additional curve and anchor drawing options. Fortunately, because Illustrator is widely considered the industry standard, there is a huge amount of introductory tutorial material to help you get up to speed.
Illustrator’s biggest strength may be its customizable interface system known as workspaces. Every single element of the interface can be moved, docked or hidden, and you can create multiple custom workspaces that are perfectly configured for different tasks. If you want to do some freehand illustration, you’ll want different tools ready at hand than you would if you were typesetting a logo. Even if your project requires both of those tasks, you can quickly switch back and forth between your custom workspaces and several presets that Adobe has configured.
It also handles typography flawlessly, allowing you a professional level of control over every detail of typesetting. If it turns out that a letter needs to be customized, you can simply convert the letters into editable forms and adjust them to fit your project. You can do everything from letterform design to page layouts, although it’s not designed for multi-page documents.
One of these is a traced image that Illustrator automatically converted into vectors using the Live Trace tool. Can you guess which?
When it comes to simplifying complex drawing tasks, Illustrator excels in many cases – but not all. The suite of tools known as Live Trace and Live Paint allows you to take almost any raster image and quickly convert it into a vector format. Whether you want to convert a scanned sketch into a vector or you need to recreate a client’s logo in scalable vector from a JPEG, these tools can save a huge amount of time and effort.
While it’s a great illustration tool, the biggest area where Illustrator could use some improvement is how it handles pen/stylus-based input. It’s sort of amusing to me that a program named Illustrator didn’t win in the ‘best program for art’ category, but that’s largely because it excels at so many different functions that its tablet-based tools don’t seem to receive any specific focus from the developers. It responds to pressure sensitivity with no problems and you can use it to create some stunning illustrations, but if vector sketching is your primary goal then you may want to look at the winner of the other category before you make your final decision. If you want to read a more in-depth review of Adobe Illustrator, you can find it here.
Best Vector Graphics Program for Art
CorelDRAW Suite 2018 (Windows only)
Deliberately marketing itself to Adobe users frustrated with the subscription-only model, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite has taken the wiser path and offers both a subscription option and a one-time purchase option. The one-time purchase price is quite steep at $615 and you won’t receive any feature updates, but your license will never expire. In order to stay current it may be cheaper to opt for the subscription, which is priced competitively with Illustrator at $18.25 per month (billed annually at a cost of $219). Included in the purchase price are a number of additional tools including Photo-Paint, Font Manager, Website Creator and more.
Since CorelDRAW is a perfect choice for the tablet-equipped digital artist, let’s first take a look at the new LiveSketch tool. While the name sort of feels like a copycat of Illustrators similarly-named tools, the way it functions is completely different. When drawing with a tablet in most vector programs, you can create vector shapes based on your pen strokes, but LiveSketch actually maps out your sketches and creates the idealized line segments from your repeated strokes. It’s actually fairly difficult to explain, so apologies if that wasn’t quite clear, but Corel has created a quick introductory video that shows off how it works better than words can.
Vector Software For Mac
A picture is worth a thousand words, so a video at 24 frames per second must be worth a novel, at the very least.
Strangely enough, there isn’t very much tutorial content available for CorelDRAW 2017, only for previous versions. This may be due to the fact that the core tools haven’t changed, but it still seems a bit odd to me. Fortunately, Corel has a fairly decent instructional guide with some tutorial content available on its website, although it would still be easier to learn if there were more sources.
Despite what you might think from the name, CorelDRAW isn’t just designed as a drawing tool for digital freehand artists. It can also work with more common vector shape tools, and uses the same standard point and path system to create and adjust any object.
It can also be used for typography and page layout tasks, but it doesn’t handle these quite as well as Illustrator does. The developers have made the inexplicable choice to set the default typographic settings such as line spacing and tracking to use percentages instead of points, which are the typographic standard unit. On the other hand, it is actually capable of creating multi-page documents, but if you’re really serious about typesetting for brochures and books you will be much better off using a program specifically designed for those tasks.
Corel has incorporated a number of additional features into the software that aren’t found in Illustrator, such as simple integration with the WhatTheFont service, which is a huge help whenever you’re trying to figure out what typeface was used in an image or logo. On the less helpful side, there is also a built-in store that offers a number of additional options for sale. I don’t mind a company trying to increase their profit margins by selling additional software packs, but Corel also sells new tools for the program at incredible prices under the guise of calling them ‘Extensions’. ‘Fit Objects to Path’ and ‘Convert All to Curves’ are useful tools, but charging $20 each for them seems a bit greedy when they really should just be included. You can read a more in-depth review of CorelDRAW here on SoftwareHow.
The Competition
Vector Based Graphics Software For Mac
Aside from the winners reviewed above, there are a number of other vector graphics tools on the market vying for the top spot. Some are more successful than others, although there are a couple of free options in the list for those of you on a tight budget. They’re generally not as polished as any of the paid options, but you certainly can’t argue on the price.
Serif Affinity Designer (Windows and Mac)
Affinity has been making a name for itself with a series of affordable programs designed to challenge the industry leaders in both mobile and desktop photo editing as well as vector graphics. Priced at just $69 USD for a perpetual license, this is the most affordable paid program I reviewed, and you can give a test run for 10 days using the free trial.
There are great point drawing tools, and I find their large friendly anchor points much easier to use than the Illustrator defaults. There are pressure-sensitive stylus drawing tools available as well, although there are no specialized tools such as Live Trace or LiveSketch.
All vector programs allow you to combine and merge multiple shapes into new shapes in a variety of ways, but Affinity Designer is unique in that it allows you to do this non-destructively. This flexibility allows for entirely new prototyping possibilities as you experiment your way through the creative process.
In order to help it break into the professional market, Affinity Designer supports a wide range of file formats, from vector standards like PDF and SVG to proprietary formats created by Photoshop and Illustrator. Even with these advantages, it’s not quite ready to earn its way into the Winner’s Circle – but if Serif keeps aggressively pushing development, it probably won’t be long before Affinity Designer is ready for the spotlight.
Xara Designer Pro X (Windows only)
Xara is nearly as old as Adobe and Corel, but it hasn’t fared quite as well against the overwhelming market power of Adobe. Designer Pro X costs $299, but it also incorporates a number of other features above and beyond vector graphics creation, including photo editing, page layout and website creation tools (with no programming required).
Unfortunately, this means that Xara hasn’t spent particular effort on refining its vector drawing tools. They include basic line and shape tools for creating and modifying vector shapes, but there are none of the time-saving extras you would expect in a more developed program. There also doesn’t appear to be any special features for working with drawing tablets, although you can still use one as a pen-shaped mouse.
Xara does a fairly good job of providing a lot of functionality without cluttering the interface, but the emphasis on keeping everything ready to turn into a website can be a bit limiting. Sometimes, this intent to avoid clutter can also make this more confusing rather than less, as in the case of the typographic tools. While the basic control options are decent, each setting is unlabelled and relies on popup tooltips to indicate what it’s supposed to control.
To their credit, Xara has done a good job of creating a large amount of tutorial content for Designer Pro X, but almost nobody else is making any. If you want a program that wears multiple hats, this might be for you, but the serious vector graphics artist will look elsewhere.
Inkscape (Windows, Mac, Linux)
The interface could definitely use some polish, but that’s mostly just a cosmetic issue.
If the high price tags found on the some of the other programs put them out of your reach, the open source software movement may provide an answer in the form of Inkscape. It’s available for the extremely low price of free, and it offers an impressive level of functionality compared to what you might expect from free software.
It includes all the standard vector drawing options, but also has the ability to respond to pressure information from a graphics tablet. It doesn’t offer any fancy drawing features like our winners, but it does include a full set of filters that can perform some useful functions. Additionally, the program supports extensions written in the Python scripting language, which allows you to add features not found in the default version of the program.
The interface layout is a bit different from what you get in other programs, as the open source community often has an unfortunate habit of ignoring user experience. For example, when you want to work with text, you have to dig through several tabs just to view all the different options, even though there is space to display them all in one place.
Of course, Inkscape is still technically in beta (release version 0.9.2), but it’s also been in beta for the last 15 years. Hopefully, if it ever leaves beta, the developers will get a user experience designer on board who can help smooth out some of those interface wrinkles.
Gravit Designer (Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS)
Gravit has a clean, clear and uncluttered interface that is quite easy to use.
Gravit is another free vector graphics program, but unlike Inkscape it’s not open source. Curiously, this seems to have spared it from the user experience issues that plague some free programs. It also has the unique distinction of being available for the widest set of operating systems, and it can even run in a web browser.
I ran into a minor issue when launching Gravit for the first time, as the Windows version requires installation from the Microsoft store, which I never use. It installed fine, but when I tried to run it, it told me that I didn’t have sufficient permissions to access it. I’m not sure if this is just because it’s the first Trusted App I have installed, but your mileage may vary.
While it’s vector drawing tools are fairly standard, they do offer an excellent degree of control and ease of use. The interface is clearly designed and responds automatically to the particular tool you’re using, which is a nice touch. It can’t respond to pressure information from a graphics tablet, and its typographic options don’t use standard units, but these are minor issues.
Gravit can open a few standard vector formats such as PDF, EPS and SVG, but it doesn’t support any of the proprietary Adobe formats, which may be deal breaker if you’re trying to work with any of those file types. Even with that issue I’m still quite impressed with how polished the program is overall, considering that it’s free. If you’re just interested in experimenting casually with vector graphics, Gravit may be a good fit for you.
A Final Word
Vector Drawing Programs For Mac
The world of vector graphics can be an exciting place full of creative promise, as long as you have the right tools. In this case, the tools are software programs (and maybe a good graphics tablet), but like artistic tools in the real world, personal preference can play a huge role in what works for you. Illustrator may be the industry standard, and CorelDRAW may be great for some freehand artists, but that doesn’t mean that they’re going to fit with your personal style. Creative processes are unique to each creator, so be sure to choose one that makes you happy!
Did I leave out your favorite vector graphics program? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll be sure to check it out!