Finding the right tools to produce quality content is essential for any graphic designer. Being able to utilize the right fonts, shapes, and colors is key to producing a high quality design for clients and keeping your customer base happy. But what are some of the best tools for any graphic designer? Here is a list of five essential tools for your graphic design endeavors.

An Education- One of the biggest mistakes that graphics designers make is trying to break into the market without a proper education. Even if you don’t have a formal education in graphic design or get your degree, take a couple of classes or buy some books to help you along the way.

A Computer- Choosing the right computer for graphic design is going to be the most important and the most expensive decision you are going to make. Pick a computer that you are familiar with. If you are great with the Windows operating system, then buy a Windows based computer with a good graphics card. If you are comfortable with the Mac operating system, then get a Mac based computer. Always use a desktop or a laptop with a display attached. You will get better results by working on a bigger screen.

Adobe Creative Suite- One of the best tools that you can use as a graphic designer is the Adobe Creative Suite. This is a great collection of several graphic design, web development, and video editing software packages. With these software applications you will be able to work in flash formats, PFD formats, and all of the common image formats that graphic designers are accustomed to.

Sketchpads- The best thing that you can have as a designer is a sketchpad. Throughout your design career you will be sitting in a doctor’s office, a grocery store, or even a movie theater and an idea will emerge. Carry a very small sketchpad with you so you can sketch out all of your ideas on the pad for future reference. This way you won’t forget your ideas and you won’t have to spend a ton of time on your computer getting them down. This small and you can have it anywhere you go.

A Graphics Tablet- A great tool for graphics designers is a graphics tablet. A graphics tablet will allow the designer to hand draw graphics and other images with their hands. These tablets come in a couple of varieties and can cost anywhere from forty dollars to over two hundred. Be sure to buy one that is pressure sensitive so you can vary the image based on the amount of pressure you apply.

Choosing the right graphic design program can be more complicated — sometimes more complicated than creating the actual designs. However, rummaging through the many design software titles is necessary for professionals.

This article is a start to help you to decide. I have provided a brief list of the top design programs, both for graphic design and website design.

1) Adobe Photoshop: This is one of the best professional photo design software programs on the market. Its main function is photo manipulation, which is the process of using technical and artistic processes to alter an image.

Artistic applications within Photoshop include painting, drawing, touch-up, designing and adding text, and more. You can also edit more than one photo at once using this design software.

For example, Photoshop users can cut parts of photos together and slice and layer them to create a logo or greeting card design. Users can use this program to create website design images; it is also used for creating video effects to use in story line productions (i.e. making movies).

Adobe Photoshop is more advanced. I recommend Adobe Photoshop for the serious user, as it is also quite an investment. Before purchasing, I recommend you download a free trial of Photoshop if it is available.

Professional designers prefer Adobe Photoshop because of the following features:

* Recording custom image actions for batch processing

* Color balance and color match

* Three different masking modes-masked, comps, and quick.

* Smart objects and smart guides

* Advanced fine tuning and control

* CMYK and LAB color modes

* Automated perspective adjustment settings

* Advanced Animation Manipulation

*Flawless photo layering

Don’t let the advanced features overwhelm you at first. To understand why you need Adobe to be a pro designer you can research free tutorials online.

2) Adobe Illustrator: Use this software to create original designs. These designs are often combined with images to create a new masterpiece. However, this program is also useful as a standalone drawing product.

Features of the latest version of Illustrator include outputting different document sizes, speedy scroll and zoom, customized work tools and libraries, anchor tools, and multiple cropping.

In addition, Adobe Illustrator integrates with Flash, and offers mobile device previews. Illustrator helps you to create professional-grade graphics compositions. (If you have ever wondered why your graphics do not come out as professional as professional television commercials, this would be the one product for you.)

3) Adobe Flash (Formerly Macromedia Flash): This software is for creating animation and interactive content for websites.

You can use Flash to create other forms of media as well. Flash works with Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop and also converts animation files to the recommended AS3 format.

Furthermore, Adobe Flash comes with custom import tools and you can create instant code for your websites. Moreover, Adobe Flash utilizes Action Script 3.0, exports Flash files into QuickTime format, and helps you create mobile content. Additionally, you have the power over how your video will appear online.

4) Corel Photo-Paint: This is an advanced photo editing program with similar functions as Adobe Photoshop. Users can use this program’s touch-up features, live text formatting tools, online font identification/collaboration tools, and extensive file import formatting (RAW format supports over 300 types of cameras).

Corel Photo-Paint also has additional features such as interactive table layout tools, thousands of clip art designs, and precise curves adjustment. This one seems even more advanced than Adobe Photoshop and novices like using it as a steppingstone to learn Photoshop.

Corel does provide over two hours worth of video training for this product. In addition it provides a very thick user guide, and it is possible to receive free lessons for this product online. The best way to learn what this product can do versus free amateur ones would be to test it out.

5) Photoshop Elements: This is another photo design program that users say has at least 99% of the functionality of Adobe Photoshop at a fraction of the price. You may want to find out of that is true for yourself. You can download a free trial of this software as well as a free trial of Photoshop and compare the two. You can also read further reviews online.

6) Corel Draw: This program is used in similar ways as Adobe Illustrator, and it offers both basic and advanced drawing and editing tools. Corel Draw allows you to custom edit shadows, improve the color of your photos, and design your own picture frame.