Back in the day, writers painstakingly clickety-clacked their work on a typewriter, and before that, they wrote longhand. But does that mean that their work is any less artful or meaningful now that we have computers and keyboards? No! It’s all in how you use the tools that you are given, and that’s just as true for graphic designers.

Everything used to be paint and canvas, but now there are a wealth of computer programs and even more apps that are available to make the work easier and more creative. Here are eight must-have graphic design apps to help you be the best you can be.

 

PhotoPad

Imagine being able to edit and manipulate photos with all of the functionality Photoshop offers you – but on your iPad! That’s exactly what PhotoPad offers with everything from cropping and contrast to rotation and saturation. Oh, and it’s also free.

 

Adobe Ideas

It’s like Photoshop and Illustrator had a baby! With Ideas, you can keep track of all those great notions that pop into your head when you’re out and about, even sketching and writing down notes on the actual images. No more need to carry extra sketch pads with you.

 

Drop Box

No, it’s not a design-specific app, but Drop Box is a fantastic way to make sure that you can always access and work on any files that you need – no matter where you are. For anyone who enjoys working on multiple devices, this is a must, and it’s available at absolutely no cost to you.

 

Brushes

Who needs real paint and canvas when you’ve got an app that can simulate a variety of different paint brushes while letting you work in multiple layers and a huge number of colors? All that’s missing is the tactile feel of running your paintbrush across the canvas.

 

Moodboard Pro

Everyone needs inspiration, right? Well, with Moodboard Pro, you can organize all of those things you use to inspire you and digitally keep them with you at all times. Need an example? How about having the ability to pin-up quotes, photos, sketches, and random thoughts that you jot down to keep track of them?

 

iDraw

Who wants the power of a complete graphics design suite in the palm of their hand? iDraw isn’t cheap, but with things like the ability to manipulate shapes, multiple types of paper, and vector tools (!), this app gives you everything you could want from, say, Adobe Illustrator.

 

iMockups

Want to put together mockups for the sites you’re designing during your subway commute? Who are we kidding, of course you do. With iMockups, you can do things like swipe your finger and set up wireframes for sites. Pretty neat.

 

FTP on the Go

Need to access your server while you’re on the road? No problem. In fact, you can upload photos, peruse your files, and even make changes to websites from anywhere web access is available.

These apps, of course, are only scratching the surface of what’s out there. Want to connect to your desktop, organize your schedule, find the hex code values of colors? Not a problem – you can find apps to do all of that and more.