Large computer screens and software that requires high processors used to limit where a graphic designer could work. Now, however, myriad apps are available to give designers some of their favorite powerful features, but from the convenience of their tablets and mobile devices. No matter where or when inspiration strikes, these apps will help you record and edit your vision.
Adobe Photoshop Touch
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| Image via Apple.com |
Adobe’s Photoshop Touch is an on-the-go version of Photoshop for iPhone and iPad. Some of the most helpful aspects of this app include essential Photoshop features like layers, filters, and the selection tool. It's perfect if you’re without a laptop and need to do more than color balancing on a new photo or an existing project.
Quark DesignPad
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| Image via Apple.com |
Fans of Adobe’s InDesign will love Quark’s DesignPad. This app is good for laying out text in many formats. It has pre-made layouts that exist within the app, a grid-based interface, and allows you to create your own layouts as well. Unfortunately, this app is only available for the iPad, so it won’t do you any good if you need to design from your phone.
Adobe Ideas
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| Image via Apple.com |
Adobe Ideas gives you the power to create multicolored vectors that you can open later in Adobe Illustrator. One of the coolest features of this app is that it’s stylus pressure sensitive. If you love to draw, this is the app for you. It's available on both iPad and iPhone. Just make sure you're hooked into your WiFi when you're downloading or uploading images when working with this program, or you're bound to run out of data fast. Check out verizonfiodeals.com/availability if you're in the market for a new ISP for your home.
WhatTheFont Mobile
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| Image via Apple.com |
This clever little app allows you to take pictures of any font that catches your eye and identifies it for you. It’s simple but quite handy; you won’t lose out on finding cool fonts because you’re in a hurry or can’t take a sample of the design with you.
VectorSNAP
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| Image via Apple.com |
With VectorSNAP you can turn your photos into crisp black and white vector images. You use sliders to control the contrast of the image and the app does the rest. The main drawback is the inability to make multicolored, multilayered vector images, but if you work a lot in black and white, VectorSNAP saves a lot of time.
Design Duet
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| Image via Apple.com |
If you’ve ever needed to view your Photoshop canvas while on the go, Design Duet is the app that allows you to do so. The app remotely connects to your computer and accesses Photoshop, allowing you to view your files. It’s not editing software, but it'll do the trick if you don’t have a phone-friendly version of your latest work saved. Make sure you’re hooked up to a powerful Wi-Fi connection when you're remotely connect, like Verizon FiOS, because your 4G network won't cut it.
Repix
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| Image via Apple.com |
Repix is an app filled with filters, frames, and brushes that you can use on all -- or just part of your photos. A potential drawback for designers are the in-app purchases, which may become expensive if you buy too many. Unlike some of the other apps that are only available on Apple products, Repix is now available for Android as well.
Adobe Kuler
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| Image via Apple.com |
If you love creating color palettes, try Adobe Kuler. This app extracts colors from anything you point your phone's camera at and creates a custom color palette. The cool thing is that Kuler will automatically extract the colors from your phone's camera view right then and there, or you can use existing photos from your library. You also have the option to use the app’s color wheel to create palettes.
Sketchbook Mobile
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| Image via Apple.com |
For iPhone and iPod touch, Sketchbook Mobile by Autodesk is a powerful app for painting and drawing. Based on Autodesk’s computer software Sketchbook Pro, this app includes brushes, layers, a pen only mode, a dynamic color wheel, and more. Autodesk calls it “professional grade,” and looking at the screenshots from the app, it’s not difficult to see why.
Graphic designers no longer have to be limited by the portability of their hardware and software. Even if inspiration strikes while on the go, there are a host of new apps available that make it possible to record, edit, and upload ideas from anywhere.