Inkscape

When it comes to creating banners or logos, a vector graphics editor is always a better solution than a traditional image editor. Although it has a similar appearance, the basic functionality of a vector graphics editor is a bit different, to allow you to create high quality designs with pin-point accuracy. This is what Inkscape has to offer. It places a flexible editing environment at your disposal, as well as a wide variety of tools to go with it. Unlike other similar programs, Inkscape is offered completely free of charge and it is also open source.

The software's user interface is laid out like that of other graphics editors. It presents a large number of options, around the central editing area, which may intimidate inexperienced users. The good news is that Inkscape comes with a well structured manual, as well as detailed tutorials and FAQs, which can help you learn anything, from basic controls to advanced operations. Also, if you have a general idea on how your design should look like, you can learn everything you need to know on the fly.

You can either create a design from scratch, on a blank canvas or you can import images from local folders and add new elements. Besides images, Inkscape allows you to import many other file types, including Corel and Photoshop project files. The main editing tools are located on a panel, on the left side of the interface. You can use them to draw and edit various shapes, fill them with solid colors or gradients, draw paths and more. Created shapes can be transformed in more ways than just resizing them. The program provides numerous control points for selected shapes, which can be clicked and dragged to transform a specific part for the shape.

Depending on the selected drawing tool, the program will display various tweaking controls, for size, force, brush shape and so on. To make your drawings more precise, you can activate a grid in the editing area and set the program to snap your elements to this grid. Furthermore, you can find additional snapping options, on the right side of the interface, which can make shapes snap by the edges or corners of their bounding boxes or in other ways.