Graphic designing talent, when combined with the best resources, packs a powerful punch that will put you right up there with the best graphic designers in the industry. Graphic design is a creative field where you can never learn too much. It is ever-evolving and tends to present new challenges with every milestone you achieve.

Even the most talented and top-rated graphic designers have room to improve their skills. There are plenty of graphic design resources – free and paid – that can help you master your skills at graphic design.

Take a look at a list of the top 20 resources for digital artists looking to take creative design to the next level.

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Procreate

Before you go off and buy it, know that Procreate is exclusively for iPad users. It’s a wholesome tool that offers everything from the basics to professional illustrations. It simplifies a graphic designer’s job and integrates well with Adobe.

Here’s everything you need to know about Procreate:

  • Responds well with Apple Pencil to draw directly on the screen of your iPad.
  • This software records the entire drawing process and makes editing easier.
  • Procreate is available at the iPad app store and costs $9.99 and no more subscriptions needed.

PIKBEST

A design template platform; PKBEST is your best resource of editable templates.

  • It provides Posters, PSD files, Presentation, Videos, and Sound Effects.
  • It will bring your graphic designs to life.
  • Best software for commercial use.

Pixeden

Your top resource for quality editable graphics; Pixeden will bring your graphic design ideas to reality.

  • It provides background and web graphics, templates, mockups, and other features.
  • It makes web design simple and easy.
  • Easy to use and stacked with plenty of features.

Myfonts.com

A font galore for all graphic designers; Myfonts.com is a website that makes choosing the right font a piece of cake.

  • It provides a large collection of free and paid fonts for all graphic designers.
  • Easy to use and helps track the origin of any font you like by uploading it to their tool.
  • Free WhatTheFont app available for smartphones.
  • A wide selection of free fonts and exclusive subscription fonts.

Clip Studio Paint

This app offers creativity in simplicity. It’s simple and affordable. Consequently, it is also very easy to use.

  • This is comparatively cheaper software and a great choice for graphic designers with a low budget.
  • Available for download on PC or Mac.
  • You can also download it on the iPad for a 6-month trial.

FontSquirrel

This is one of the best font sites for graphic designers at all levels of expertise.

  • It is free of cost and 100% ready for commercial use.
  • For free software, it has incredibly high quality.
  • It features the hottest and trendiest fonts.
  • All the fonts are hand-picked.

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Noun Project

Noun Project is your best resource for excellent quality icons at affordable pricing.

  • It features over a million different designs from top artists and designers from all over the world.
  • If you’re too short on budget, you can make attributions to pay for the software.
  • A globally-renowned icon factory for all types of creative designs and templates.

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Adobe Creative Cloud Tools

This is a video editing, web development, and graphic design software today used as a standard in the graphic designing projects. Adobe Creative Cloud is a benchmark tool in the world of graphic design.

  • It is easy for designers with access to Adobe to share their creations with other professionals in the field.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud offers Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign features.
  • You can purchase the app or visit adobe.com for a free trial.

Adobe Photoshop

This is one of the best graphic editing programs on the market. Photoshop offers design tools to manipulate photorealistic PC art and digital photos.

Here’s what Photoshop offers its users:

  • 2D and 3D image manipulation.
  • Video Projects Editing
  • Image editing and analysis

Astute Phantasm for Adobe Illustrator

One of the best plugin tools by Adobe, Astute Phantasm comes with a built-in pattern maker.

  • You can save and load the effects on Astute Phantasm.
  • Edits can be made through the Panel with the name “Appearance” in AI.
  • You can create 3D effects and make excellent color adjustments with this tool.

DesignTAXI

DesignTAXI will give you the latest on everything you need to know about graphic design. The latest software, the best options, and a galore of engaging content about graphic design – DesignTAXI will keep you posted with the latest happenings in the design industry.

  • Find anything you want to know about films, art, and graphic design.
  • Read the latest on fashion and product design.

Skillshare

Skillshare is an excellent source of online tutorials and learning-material on graphic design. You can learn the best in the graphic design business from Skillshare.

  • The site contains 18,000 online classes on graphic design.
  • One of the most resourceful sites to further your career in graphic design.

iPad Pro + Apple Pencil

Like other Apple products, iPad Pro with the Pencil is expensive. However, the hardware device is worth every penny. With this combination, you can easily adjust the color tones, smoothly scroll down the pages, and make art strokes with the stylus.

Here are a few features of Apple’s hottest combo:

  • Quad speakers and Stereo sound.
  • Processor of 3.9GHz
  • 512GB storage capacity
  • A longer battery life
  • An upgraded version from entry-level iPad

DrawKit

As a graphic designer, DrawKit is everything you will need to excel at illustrations.

  • Provides free of cost, customizable MIT licensed illustrations.
  • Illustrations are available for your website, app, and project.

Humaaans

Humaaans is your number one resource for vector illustrations.

  • It provides vector illustrations of humans. You can mix, rotate, and position them to create personalized designs.
  • The software is free for commercial and personal use.

New Old Stock

This is a one-stop-shop for copyright-free photos.

  • A hub of photos from the public archives.
  • Photos are available for both personal and professional use.

Motion Places

Motion Places is a great resource for high-quality HD stock videos from anywhere around the globe.

  • The videos are filmed and edited.
  • Ad-free, no affiliate links, and you don’t even need to sign up.

GIMP

GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a free image editor with a variety of tools to manipulate your images.

  • It provides tools to restore and retouch your images.
  • Works collectively with third-party plugins for increased workflow.

Canva

A graphic design tool you can access in the browser. Here’s what Canva has to offer:

  • It is a powerful graphic design tool.
  • No downloads are required.
  • It can easily perform a lot of basic design tasks.

Lightshot

Another one of Apple’s hit creations; Lightshot is free for Mac users.

  • It allows you to capture any part of the screen and upload it to Apple’s server to get a short link.
  • You can add lines, arrows, and text into the captured image.