The web design profession is one where your success depends on the tools you use. You must be aware of the most current software and adapt to changes quickly if you want to deliver the best products, attract clients, and stay competitive.
In today’s article, you’ll find a list of curated tools used by professional design agencies. These programs will help you to save time, money, and sometimes even your nerves. If you have your own alternatives, feel free to suggest them in the comments. But without further ado, let’s get started!
Go-To Tools for Professional Web Design
Have a look at these free and convenient tools, as they will help you search for fonts, prepare sketches, and purchase stock photos. Freelance designers and even the top 5 web design agencies in the world agree that these tools are instrumental in helping their clients achieve desired results.
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Take Screenshots Quickly – Lightshot
Lightshot will allow you to create screenshots in just a couple of clicks. It works on Windows and Mac. It can be installed as a separate application or a plug-in for the browser, suitable for Firefox, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer.
You can save pictures in three formats: png, jpg, bmp. It is also possible to capture both the entire screen or just a small portion of it. Standard hotkeys for the clipboard, save, and other operations are supported as well.
Additional features: search for similar images on the Internet, the publication of screenshots taken on the Internet. The program is free.
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Photoshop Alternative – Sketch
Note: the program works only under MacOS.
This is the best option for interface designers who cannot tolerate the flaws of Photoshop like slow loading, slowdown, overloaded interface. The sketch is fast, simple, but powerful at the same time.
One of the main advantages of Sketch is the “rubber” (dimensionless) workspace, the ability to export graphics in 2x size, and multiple pages. You can also write your own custom scripts.
There are two acquisition models: a one-time license purchase for $99 or a monthly subscription payment of $9. You can also take advantage of discounts; for example, if you are a student. See the program website for more details.
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The Main Service for Buying Photos – DepositPhotos
On this website, you can find a considerable amount of photos, vector images, and videos at affordable prices. You can buy loans or take a monthly subscription, which will lower the cost of the images. Usually, it starts at $ 0.5 per picture and payment is possible via credit card, e-wallets (WebMoney, Yandex. Money), and PayPal.
Photos purchased on the site are suitable for any format – articles in the client’s blog, personal design, infographics. In total, the site stores more than 3 million images.
It is possible to quickly register via Facebook.
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Easier Project Management with Trello
A free and useful way to organize work on projects is Trello. Suitable for personal use as well as for small teams of 5-10 people. We recommend it for everyone – startups, blogs, web studios.
The main element of Trello is cards. With their help, you can create control lists, tags, add and remove artists, download files from a computer or cloud, set deadlines, etc.
The application is available for iPhone, Android, and Windows 10.
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Finding the Right Font with What the Font
This service is easy to use, and it often helps users find the right fonts. You can also buy fonts in it or take free ones with a free license. It includes three stages: uploading the image, adjusting it, and pressing the “Search” button.
In addition, you can use other search services if the site does not help. Sometimes a combination of several servers helps. The desired font is usually found in 5-10 minutes.
As you can see, it is possible to find tools for almost any part of the designer’s job. By working with the most innovative programs such as Sketch, for example, you manage to waste less time on routine tasks and more time on creative idea generation, coding, and testing.
Last but Not Least
The web designer has their own tricks and tools that help them with their work. It can be graphic design tools, logo generators, stock photo websites, and so much more. It’s important to keep an eye on the new tools for designers because they can sometimes be much better than the ones you’re used to working with.
Hopefully, the resources you found in this post will allow you to design better products while saving you time and money.
