Alright, so you’re vibing with the art scene in 2023, huh? We all know that, sometimes, the creative juices seem limitless, but finding the right tools to bring that fire idea to life? Well, that’s another story. Whether you’re sketching out some dope streetwear designs, pulling together your freshest portfolio, or just trying to finesse that next digital masterpiece, it all comes down to having the best design apps on deck. And hey, why not also make it easier on the gram, build your brand, or even get some coin by selling your art online? Well, you’re in luck, ‘cuz I’m about to hit you up with the top design apps for artists and creatives that are all the rage in 2023. 🤯
We’re talking about the type of apps that not only do the job but elevate your game to the next level. But hold up—it’s not just about which apps have the dopest features. We’re talking usability, accessibility, and all-around vibes. Think of this as your ultimate resource, a cheat sheet, your go-to list when you need to turn a wild idea into reality or get those creative energies flowing on a daily. Alright, let’s dive deep into the digital toolbox every Gen-Z creative should be rocking in 2023.
Procreate: The OG Digital Art App
If you’ve ever been on the creative side of TikTok or Instagram, you probably already know about Procreate. It’s the digital art app that every iPad user stans. Why? It’s just that good. 🍑
When you launch Procreate, you instantly realize the potential. It’s like walking into an all-you-can-eat buffet of art tools. Brushes, layering, color palettes—you name it. The customization options are next level, so if you’re super meticulous about how you want your brushes to feel or your lines to look, Procreate’s got you covered. And the best part? The UI is so sleek that it doesn’t even feel like you’re using an app; it feels like you’re actually painting on a canvas.
Let’s not overlook the time-lapse feature, either. You get to record every brushstroke and share it, so your followers can see your process from start to finish. It’s massively popular among digital artists already flexing their skills online. Plus, with the pressure-sensitive Apple Pencil, it’s almost like you’re working with traditional media, whether it’s charcoal, watercolor, or oil paints—without the mess and expense.
And did I mention the price? Procreate is a one-time purchase. That’s right, no monthly subscriptions, no sneaky hidden costs—just one payment and the entire app is yours to explore. It’s a rare find in the age of subscription models, and honestly, it’s a deal if you’re serious about digital creation. 🎨
Who Should Use Procreate?
Procreate is for anyone who lives for that creative flow state. Whether you’re an illustrator, graphic designer, or just a casual doodler looking to go digital, Procreate will slot right into your life seamlessly. Students, hobbyists, and professionals alike—all can find joy and productivity with this one.
Adobe Photoshop: The Granddaddy of Design Apps
If Procreate is the fresh new kid on the block, Adobe Photoshop is the seasoned, wise old mentor. Yeah, trust issues might come up when dealing with the sheer volume of features, but once you get the hang of it, it’s like unlocking the frontiers of your imagination. 🎨🔓
Photoshop has been around the block more times than some of us have had hot dinners, and there’s a reason it’s still reigning supreme. Whether you’re doing photo manipulation, digital painting, 3D artwork, or even animation, it’s got you. It’s versatile AF, and the results are low-key mind-blowing. The latest 2023 release?? Wow. Just wow. Brain = melted.
This year, Adobe dropped several jaw-dropping features—like Neural Filters. These are AI-powered tools that are total wizards at face enhancement, harmonization between objects, transferring styles, and colorizing old photos. It’s so smart, it almost feels like cheating. Also, let’s talk about the improved object selection tool. It’s now faster and smarter; it legit feels like it’s reading your mind. And that Content-Aware Fill? A lifesaver, truly. 🙌
Photoshop keeps that Superman energy too, by being available not just on desktops but also on iPads now. So if you’re in a cab and inspiration strikes, you’ve still got access to all those powerhouse tools. But, yeah, let’s be real: It’s a bit of a learning curve. First-timers might feel overwhelmed, but hey, that’s what tutorials are for. 💪
But listen up; this one’s not cheap. The subscription model can be a pain, but it’s also an investment. You get access to ALL of Adobe’s latest updates and features as they roll out, so you’re not left with yesterday’s tech. That means something, right? If you’re down to commit, it will serve you well.
Who Should Use Adobe Photoshop?
Photoshop is the GOAT for those serious about their craft. Photographers, graphic designers, advertisers, and digital artists who want the crème de la crème of tools—this one’s for you. Do you want to take your designs to absolute perfection? Then make Photoshop your playground.
Affinity Designer: The Underdog That Packs a Punch
Adobe has long ruled the arena, but Affinity Designer is making waves in 2023 as a serious contender. Think Photoshop-lite, but still powerful enough to drop jaws. The best part? It’s more cost-effective. 👀
Before you dismiss it as “just another graphic design tool,” you should know that Affinity Designer is truly top-tier when it comes to vector illustrations. What makes it standout? First off, there’s the lightning-fast speed. Affinity Designer isn’t just fast; it’s warp-speed fast. No lag, even with absurdly detailed projects. 🏎️💨
One of the sexiest things about Affinity Designer is its dual environment. You can seamlessly switch from vector to raster workspaces. Want to create logos, UI designs, or iconography? Go vector. Want to provide hand-crafted illustrations or even rough out some concept art? Hop over to raster mode. It all smoothly happens within the same project. How sweet is that?
Let’s also talk about the pen tool, which, to be clear, is elite. It’s super intuitive, unlike some A-tier tools that act like they have zero respect for the beginner designer’s sanity. You can precisely manipulate curves, get your paths just right, and overall, it makes for a super satisfying experience.
Oh, and the latest update just dropped, making the whole experience even more fluid. They’ve introduced functionality that has significantly improved compatibility with other formats, so you can easily shuttle between projects in more complex workflows. Lastly, no monthly subscription BS—just a one-time payment. 🔥💸
Who Should Use Affinity Designer?
If you’re all about creating slick vector art, but Adobe Illustrator makes your wallet ache, Affinity Designer is absolutely where you need to be. Freelancers and emerging designers looking to get into the design game will especially appreciate the balance of power and affordability that comes with this app.
Canva: The Ultimate Tool for Quick and Easy Designs
Okay, so let’s be real. Sometimes, you just need a cool design, like, yesterday. Canva’s your go-to for that. Fast, easy, and super user-friendly. It’s the app that turns anyone into a designer, even if all you’ve ever used is Microsoft Paint. 🎨✨
The thing about Canva is that it’s almost impossible to mess up. Templates are on point, meaning you don’t even have to worry about design fundamentals—Canva’s got it all sorted. From Instagram posts to presentations to resumes, Canva covers a vast spectrum of design needs. It’s the type of app you go to when you don’t want to stress the details but still want a sick end result.
Plus, they’ve been adding newer features. Like recently, Canva introduced Brand Kits, which is a total game-changer if you’re trying to keep your personal or business branding consistent. Beyond that, Canva Pro lets you set up custom Brand Fonts, so you’re not limited by what’s available in the app. Even if you’re operating with the basic, free version, you’ll still get access to a crazy amount of fonts, images, and more.
Drag and drop has never felt this reassuring. As non-intimidating as it gets, the tool has expanded to include collaborative features à la Google Docs, which is fire if you’re working on a project with your team remotely.
And let’s talk about the mobile app. It’s hella fluid—you can whip up designs from your phone without breaking a sweat. Canva also has a web version, so you can access your projects from anywhere. A newish feature that’s booming this year? The background remover. It’s legit magic. You upload your image, hit that “remove background” button, and boom, crisp, isolated images in seconds.
Who Should Use Canva?
Canva is the best friend of anyone who wants pro-looking designs without having to babysit the process. Social media managers, small biz owners, and even students can find tons of value in Canva. It’s a Swiss army knife for anyone with limited time and design experience.
Clip Studio Paint: For the Digital Manga & Comic Artists🎨📚
Calling all otakus and comic enthusiasts! If your dream is to create manga or comic book art that pops off the screen, Clip Studio Paint is where it’s at. It’s packed with features specific to drawing, inking, and painting that are tailor-made for comic creation. Imagine every tool you need—from customizable brushes, screentones, to 3D models—at your fingertips. And good news for artists on the go: the latest updates made the experience smoother than ever on the iPad. 😎
Clip Studio Paint’s brush engine is arguably one of the best. Some say it goes toe-to-toe with the big hitters like Photoshop and Procreate. You get this uber-realistic texture that feels like you’re actually drawing on paper with a real pen. Shift between tools, layers, and sub-tools with ease, and never feel boxed in by your medium again.
And get this—Clip Studio Paint excels where many others falter, in making gradient maps feel totally natural. You can experiment with colors you’ve never even thought to try, and the results are always harmonious. Pair that with an insane amount of customization options, and it’s clear why professional manga artists give CSP a lot of love.
On top of that, the app shines when it comes to paneling. You can create dynamic, overlapping panels, add text, speech bubbles, and everything necessary to tell compelling stories through your work. And with an extensive asset library available online, you’ll always have access to extra brushes, 3D materials, and fonts. 💥
Here’s a cherry on top: Cloud sync capabilities ensure that your projects are accessible across devices, making your workflow as unbreakable as obsidian. If you’re serious about producing professional-level manga or comics, CSP is easily a must-have.
Who Should Use Clip Studio Paint?
If your goal is to break into the comic or manga industry, look no further. Clip Studio Paint is built for artists who place telling visual stories at the forefront of their work. Whether you’re a veteran illustrator or an uber-passionate amateur, CSP will meet your needs and then some.
SketchBook: Where Simplicity Meets Capability
Autodesk’s SketchBook is another genius design app that flies under the radar, and it’s a godsend for artists who prefer simple layouts and straightforward features. 🎒✏️
For those who thrive on sketching, whether casual doodles or detailed concept art, this app is an all-rounder. It’s got a huge library of customizable brushes, pens, and pencils—basically, everything that recreates the feel of traditional paper drawing with unforgiving accuracy.
SketchBook might lack the complexity of Photoshop or CSP, but that’s strategic. It skips the intimidating deep waters and keeps you swimmable. The minimalist UI allows you to zone in and stay in your creative mindset—no distractions, no frills. The “fluent strokes” feature virtually eliminates shaky lines, making smoothness a given. It epitomizes that “less is more” mantra by offering fewer complications so that you can pour all your attention into your art.
In 2023, SketchBook boasts new blending tools. They’re supremely easy to operate, crafting smooth transitions between colors or shades. Plus, the Copic color library with digital swatches is an avalanche of vibrant hues at your disposal. Also, SketchBook has finally added layers functionality that feels robust enough for any professional task—welcome improvement right there.
One more solid reason to love this app? SketchBook’s now totally free, full-stop. Unlike other apps that hide premium features behind a paywall, you get everything upfront—no strings attached. 💻⚡
Who Should Use SketchBook?
SketchBook is perfect for artists who appreciate a more stripped-back, less-is-more approach, especially if you work primarily by hand. Designers who really vibe with intuitive tools without getting buried in endless options will feel right at home here. Hobbyists, students, and professional sketch artists alike, grab this app.
ArtRage: Realist Materials for the Traditionalist at Heart
If you’re more of a traditional artist, ArtRage is the app that’ll make your heart sing. It zeroes in on reproducing the feel and look of physical media in a digital format. With ArtRage, you’re essentially bridging the digital and analog worlds—think oil painting, watercolors, and more, but without the mess. 🎨🖌️
ArtRage is unique because it doesn’t just simulate the texture and look of paint—it actually mimics how paint behaves. Ever seen oil paints blend together seamlessly on canvas? That’s exactly what you get here. Or maybe you’re into sketching with pencil and want to shade with ease—ArtRage creates realistic smudges that make your work feel truly authentic.
It caters to artists who place a high value on texture and detail—people who’d rather spend hours working layers and blending, as they would with traditional media, than depend on easy quick fixes. Deep down, this app is more for those who embrace the process as much as the finished piece.
And the customization depth is wild. You can tweak canvas textures, paper grain, brush thickness, and even the impression of pencil on paper. But let’s be real—the learning curve can be complex, especially if it’s your first foray into digital art. But once you get the hang of it, it’s like mastering an intricate instrument—it pays off in big ways.
In 2023, ArtRage has streamlined its interface and added better layer functionalities, making the world-building of your artwork more nimble and intuitive. Plus, with desktop and mobile versions, you can create art anywhere, anytime. Truthfully, you might find yourself losing track of real time as you dive deeper into the creative zone with ArtRage. 🕓
Who Should Use ArtRage?
ArtRage is a must if you’re a traditional artist looking to dip your toes into digital without losing the organic feel. Painters, illustrators, or mixed-media artists who cherish that old-world approach to design but want to modernize their workflow will do great things with ArtRage.
Vectornator: Next-Level Vector Illustration for Mobiles
Vectornator is like that sleeper hit album your friend keeps recommending, but you’ve been sleeping on. Well, no more sleeping—it’s 2023, and Vectornator is gaining major league recognition. 🎧✨
Think of this app as the fusion you didn’t know you needed: a full-featured vector design app that fits in the palm of your hand. You’re probably thinking, “Vectors on mobile? Really?” But trust, Vectornator comes through. It’s just as much a game-changer on iOS as some of the big names are on desktop.
The beauty of Vectornator is in the sophistication of its tools while maintaining an easy-to-navigate interface. Pen, brush, and Node tools? All stellar. It’s also high on precision—SVG compatibility means everything you create here will translate perfectly across all other vector-based tools. Forget workarounds; go from sketch to scalable masterpiece directly in Vectornator.
In terms of 2023 upgrades, Vectornator now supports Font Import directly into your projects, giving design heads customizable typography. And auto-trace? OMG, it’s super neat. You can take any image and automatically convert it into vector form without the headache of manual tracing. 😱
Finally, the app rocks at desktop integration—so fast and seamless, making it even easier to maintain flow between gadgets. Whether on an iPad or iPhone, Vectornator is one of those apps that feels like it was created by artists, for artists, which it totally is. If you were on the fence, this is your cue to grab it and ride that wave. 🌊
Who Should Use Vectornator?
Absolutely the go-to for anyone who’s serious about vector art but wants to keep it mobile. Whether you’re working on branding, logos, poster designs, or intricate typography, Vectornator offers power without compromise, making it perfect for designers on the go or anyone tired of being tethered to a desk.
Blender: Going All-In on 3D Design
Blender is next-level when it comes to 3D design, and you’re probably already well-aware of its gnarly rep within the digital art community. What you might not know is just how far Blender’s come in 2023. 🚀🎬
We’re not just talking about minor tweaks or “new presets”; I mean full-on leveling up. Blender has advanced its capabilities in sculpting, animation, and shading to the point where there isn’t much left outside its scope anymore. Whether you’re generating hyper-realistic characters, animating massive set pieces, or creating visual FX, Blender delivers.
One key highlight of Blender is, of course, its sculpting tools. Forget about static models—sculpting in Blender feels like you’re working with digital clay. The experience is totally immersive. And don’t get me started on the rendering engine—Eevee and Cycles. They are 🔥. Whether you need real-time specs or off-the-charts realism, the visuals speak for themselves.
2023 sees Blender introducing incredible simulation tools that are baffling in their detail-oriented mechanics—liquid, smoke, cloth, all calculated to perfection. Best of all, Blender is still totally free and open-source, thanks to a robust community dedicated to keeping the software updated and on the cutting edge.
However, this app is not for the faint-hearted. Remember, it’s like jumping into the deep end of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, but if you’re someone who really wants to master 3D design, Blender is a gold-colored ticket to limitless possibilities. 🎟️
Who Should Use Blender?
3D artists, animators, and anyone super-passionate about getting into VFX or game design. Blender is for pros and hardcore enthusiasts alike. If you’re ready to commit to the steep learning curve, you’ll find yourself equipped with one of the most powerful creative tools available—period.
GIMP: The Open-Source Legend Continues
Let’s talk GIMP—the GNU Image Manipulation Program. For those who aren’t ready to drop serious cash on premium software, GIMP is your savior. 🛡️📸
GIMP has been holding its own for years now, and despite being free, it doesn’t compromise on capability. It’s the perfect alternative for anyone looking to tackle photo editing, compositing, and graphic design without the towering price tag of other leading software.
Sure, it doesn’t have the sex appeal of Photoshop, but what it lacks in industry clout, it makes up for with robust tools and flexibility. The open-source nature means endless plugins that the community creates for everything from advanced node-based workflow to unique brushes.
New in 2023? GIMP just got a major UI overhaul—it’s more intuitive and brighter, with a healthy speed boost that makes the app feel lighter and more responsive. Additionally, the changes introduced in magic wand selections and advanced blending modes really help streamline more granular creative work. If you’re into scripting, you can expect more Python plugins to create complex sequences and entrancing visual effects.
GIMP is a total workhorse and a great desktop companion, especially now with better cross-platform compatibility that lets you bounce between macOS, Windows, and even Linux at will. From wireframe creation to final renders, this app is built for versatility. 💪
This one’s a big shoutout to open-source lovers who are all about modding their tools to make ’em their own. With GIMP, there’s almost no ceiling, just a sky full of stars to reach for. 🌌
Who Should Use GIMP?
GIMP is the go-to for artists who need a powerful editing tool but aren’t about to chuck out cash for Adobe. Ideal for photographers, digital painters, and graphic designers who value open-source versatility and don’t mind putting in some time to learn the ropes.
FAQ Section
What is the best overall design app for artists in 2023?
It’s tough to crown just one app as the best for every artist—ultimately, it comes down to your style and needs. Procreate is the current champion for digital illustration, while Photoshop remains the king for photo manipulation. For vector work, Affinity Designer and Vectornator are top picks.
Are there free design apps worth using?
Absolutely. Apps like GIMP offer powerful tools with the bonus of being completely free. Canva also provides a significant amount of functionality for free, especially for simpler, non-tech-heavy designs.
Which app should I choose if I’m just starting out?
If you’re new to digital design, Canva is perfect for getting the hang of basic principles without being overwhelmed. SketchBook and Affinity Designer are also beginner-friendly while offering more technical depth as you progress.
What’s the best app for 3D design?
Blender is hands-down the leader in the 3D design space. It’s free, powerful, and used by professionals in industries ranging from gaming to film.
Is it worth investing in paid apps, or should I stick with free ones?
That depends on how deep you’re into the design game. If it’s a serious interest or part of your career, investing in paid tools like Photoshop, Procreate, or Affinity Designer might be worth it for you. Free apps like GIMP or SketchBook are fantastic for more casual use or starting out.
Can I use these apps on mobile devices?
Many of the apps listed here are optimized for mobile use, including Procreate, Vectornator, Canva, and SketchBook. Blender and Photoshop have mobile equivalents too, but they work best in desktop environments.
Sources & References:
- Adobe Photoshop Feature Announcements 2023
- Procreate Blog Updates 2023
- Affinity Designer Update Notes 2023
- Canva Feature Releases April 2023
- Clip Studio Paint Manual 2023
- SketchBook User Guide 2023
- Vectornator Version History 2023
- Blender Community patch notes 2023
- GIMP Official Documentation
