The world of web design is growing rapidly and new tools appear every year that open up new possibilities. Software, which is responsible for the visual component of sites on the Internet, is very, very much. And if professional users are at least somehow oriented in such a variety, then beginners choose programs for web design almost at random.
Of course, marketers of the venerable Adobe are on the alert and its products are touted as the best of the best, leaving competitors in the shadows. But not everyone can afford to lay out a tidy sum every month for a web design work program. The network has more accessible utilities, and the functionality is not inferior to the notorious Adobe.
So, we present to your attention the best programs for web design, which are enviable among users and are distinguished by their efficiency along with good returns. All the utilities described below can be found on the official resources of the developers, so there should not be any problems with testing.
Adobe Experience Design (XD)
Adobe products were still not without, because they are really good, albeit expensive. Adobe XD is one of the best programs for web design in Russian. The application fully supports vector graphics and creates active prototypes for subsequent layout.
This program for creating web design is, in fact, a stripped down version of Photoshop, where there are more specific tools for this area. Initially, the application was developed only for the Mac operating system, but after a successful start and numerous user requests, the developers made the product cross-platform by releasing a version for Windows and Linux.
Over the past year, the program for web design Adobe XD has gained momentum along with functionality, and in the professional environment is an auxiliary tool for the tandem - Photoshop / Illustrator. This is when it comes to large-budget and powerful projects with an uncompromising visual component. For more mundane tasks, Adobe XD alone is enough.
Software Features
Web design programs received the classic Adobe interface, so those who previously worked with the products of this company will have no problems with development. Beginners have some difficulties with the interface and tools. But on the official website of the company, and on the same "YouTube" there are a lot of well-written programs for teaching web design on Adobe XD in video format, so this moment can not be called critical.
The application, like other products of this developer, is quite resource-intensive and demanding on the system. So on weak PCs it will terribly slow down, if at all, start up. The installation itself passes without problems and there should not be any difficulties during the installation. The product is distributed under a paid license with a monthly subscription fee.
Sketch
Professional web designers see Sketch as a direct competitor to Adobe XD. For many years, specialists used only Adobe products for lack of worthy competitors. But with the advent of Sketch, a good half of designers consider it an excellent alternative to XD, and at a more attractive cost with a one-time payment.
After a simple installation, the user is provided with a chic set of tools for web design. At first glance it may seem that the application interface is incomprehensible and confusing, but after a couple of hours of work it turns out that everything is in place, and the menu is more than logical.
Application Features
The entire functionality of the program for web design is divided into categories with the corresponding subparagraphs, so getting lost there is quite difficult. Advanced users will figure out what's what for a couple of hours and will feel like a fish in water. Beginners are strongly advised to take a training course. There is one in both text and video format on the official resource of the developer or on the same "YouTube".
“Sketch” allows you to issue layouts or some drafts in the shortest possible time. The visual component is organized quite sensibly and projects with separate layers do not “swear” with each other and, if necessary, open with one click. Some professional users find this application much more convenient than a bulky solution from Adobe.
Application features
It is also worth noting that Sketch cannot be called a resource-intensive program. It is practically undemanding to RAM and the processor, which means it will start up and will work stably on medium or even old computers. True, in the latter case, you have to stock up on tea with coffee in anticipation of the completion of the next compilation.
The program is distributed under a paid license, but for it, unlike XD and other Adobe products, you will have to pay only once. The application pays off, especially if you are professionally engaged in web design.
Figma
Another serious decision for web designers from a relatively young, but promising developer. This program is perfect for those who are used to starting projects, which is called from scratch. That is, to create a framework and a built foundation along with ideas to shift to a previously prepared design prototype.
The whole procedure is divided into stages and each of them can be fully controlled. This allows you to separate processes and subsequently combine them quickly, which is very important for teamwork. If you work more than one, then Figma will be an excellent help in the manufacture of turnkey projects.
Distinctive features of the program
The interface is a set of icons at the top of the screen, which, in fact, are tools. The latter may branch for more specific project processing. Advanced users quickly learn this program, but for beginners, as always, you cannot do without studying manuals and video tutorials. The main functionality is built on the principle of drag-n-drop, that is, by dragging and dropping ready-made objects or some intermediate elements along the desired coordinates. So the convenience of the program also does not hold.
Installing the application takes place in classic mode and there should not be any problems. As for the resource intensity, the "Figma" is demanding for the "stuffing" of the computer only partially. You can start and quietly work with the program on an old processor, but RAM will have to be well stocked. Even 8 GB of RAM can be small, especially if you are going to engage in serious projects with a large number of elements. The best option would be 16 GB. In this case, there will be no friezes, delays or tedious waiting for the compilation to complete.
Program features
The application is distributed under a paid license with a monthly subscription fee (hi Adobe). For familiarization, a trial 30-day period is provided with restrictions on the number of projects. The functionality itself in this case is almost untouched and expanded to the limit.
Professional web designers strongly recommend this product to those who decide to seriously engage in this area and want to work through all the stages of creating a project. Moreover, the cost of a license is not so biting, especially if you take into account the chic features of the program.