Personally, I prefer using an online tool such as Canva to easily create graphics. But since the app is not accessible at all times, you could install software to create graphics whenever you need it.
There are a number of graphic design Linux tools exist that support the digital artist’s work or add a bit of originality to the experience. There are applications that are not commercially popular for one reason or another, but function perfectly well as add-ons for a digital artist.
In this post, we will be focusing our attention on the Linux tools created for graphic design.
Best Graphic Design Software for Linux
Now let us examine 7 of the best Linux tools created for digital artists.
1. GIMP
GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. GIMP is one of the most frequently used free tools for a digital artist that is able to use on Ubuntu or any variation on the Linux OS.
GIMP is one of the oldest Linux tools for graphic design. It is intended for all levels of expertise. Even if you’re an skilled digital artist, you can utilize it, or if you’re a beginner, you can use it effectively. GIMP has a ton of capabilities beyond editing an image or rediscovering it. Numerous plugins have been created and extend GIMP’s functionality considerably free of charge. Additionally, you avoid paying a bundle and doing everything you are capable of doing the easy designing and / or editing as well as some of the complex image manipulation.
If you are running Ubuntu, you can find the app on Ubuntu Software Center. Directly from its page, you can install it if you want to opt to employ it on a different Linux distribution. Go to the installation help page for additional details on their solution to that issue.
2. Krita
Krita is the most powerful graphic design software among all the Linux tools. Krita was originally meant to be an add-on that combined to Koffice to improve image editing using the company’s workplace tools. Nonetheless, it turned out to have far more potential to grow as an independent application, competing with programs like GIMP.
In our opinion, it still looks nothing like GIMP. However, feel more for illustrators, cartoonists, and concept artists. It unquestionably provides several features and continues to evolve as we speak, you could even argue Krita provides a far better user experience as a result of its graphic interface.
Recently, it introduced the capability to produce animated graphics, full support for macOS, better color palette choices, and a lot more. Additionally, it actually supports the installation of plugins and extensions. The interface includes an extensive group of choices to pick from and also brings control for layers in an image, very much like Adobe Photoshop. The Notebook can import various types of documents, though it no longer supports PSD files. So if you were looking for Linux tools with such features, chose Krita.
Krita’s strong suit features and usability are the reasons for its enormous popularity. That is because the French university that created Krita ditched Adobe Photoshop for Krita. You can download a Snap from Ubuntu’s software center, or you can download an AppImage and install it. To learn more, be sure to visit Krita’s download page.
3. Inkscape
It’s a vector graphics editor that’s available from Linux. As opposed to using the program Illustrator, you can have this open-source tool installed on your local personal computer. Considering the unremarkable GUI, this tool’s default settings may not particularly attract you, but it is extremely powerful with the bells and whistles it offers.
It appears to be among the finest free design app for digital artists actively developed. If you preferred to work with Illustrator, but find it easier to use Linux tools, then you can save your project in Illustrator file format and then open it up in Illustrator later. It saves files in the SVG format, SVGZ, LaTeX, and POV-Ray format too. There are various extensions that let you save documents as PDFs, EPS files, and more.
Even if Inkscape is not the go-to vector edt if you’re a professional, it’s still a notable option. The most important thing to note is that it doesn’t have a wide selection of features that can be found in costly commercial vector edit software. Nevertheless, it is a good selection if you’re an artist who prefers a free and easy-to-use product over one that may be costly and require a high level of knowledge that is only readily available on more complicated software. Be sure that it’s the best free software among all the Linux tools.
You can typically get this straight from Ubuntu Software Center. Regardless of what OS you’re using, you can also acquire the software by installing it through the terminal by entering the following command.
Looking for free alternatives to design tools in Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw? Here are the best graphics software tools available for Linux.
4. Karbon
An open source vector graphics editor named Karbon is likewise regarded Karbon 14, Kontour, and Killutor. It allows you to alter and edit vector pictures. In comparison to other Linux tools listed there, it supplies the compass tool, the shape cutter, the pencil tool, the calligraphy tool, and additional features.
Karbon offers support for shapes as well as texts. You can import SVG images and modify it with great ease. Karbon provides an intuitive and custom-made user interface, and you can edit your journeys based on paths in SVG. It’s also a good choice for updating the plugins used.
You can directly install it if you start Ubuntu from the Software Center. Download and run the installer. Otherwise, you can enter the installation command into the terminal to begin.
5. Vectr (not open source)
Like the software in the previous list and as the name indicates, Vectr is a platform for vector graphics. It is the only tool that works only with vector graphics in this Linux tools list.
It’s possible to use Vectr with your web browser, as well. Furthermore, it can also be used as a real-time collaboration feature. You can provide the URL of your ultimate design, and other people will be able to watch you as you edit a visual in real-time.
The new user interface and visual constraints establish the setting for a more delightful style. It also provides educational resources for beginner and intermediate designers.
The desktop app is available for download through the major operating systems, including Linux, Windows and macOS. It is not open source, but you can download it for free.
6. Pinta
Among other Linux tools, Pinta quickly gained popularity and became one of the more popular utilities and programs designed for digital artists. It is an open-source software program that provides numerous capabilities.
If you previously used Paint.Net software, it’s very similar to Paint.Net for Linux Ubuntu. If you also prefer a stylish artistic comic book design program, which keeps the identical job and exactly the same interface as Paint.Net, you will be able to use it rather than Paint.Net for Linux Ubuntu. You will find a title that includes brush, pencil, cloud, glyph, and other shapes. Not only does it look like an unfiltered paint tool, it also includes an automatic mix of graphic design and painting. Also, you receive the ability to expand experimental streaming abilities.
It provides a lot of filters and effects (motion blur, red-eye removal, glow, warp) to allow you to enhance the quality of the image. You can simply change the toolbar as required (whether as a floating window or a docked toolbar). For this, there is a dock-style layout adjustment feature, which is used by configuring a number of docks to suit your working mode. The software program includes support for files of various formats, including OpenRaster. So, if you want Linux tools that support different file types, Pinta will be a great choice.
Moreover, it also works with photo editing. But unlike Ai photo editors, it offers only manual photo editing. There are no AI-powered features. But AI photo editors rarely provide good results, so with Pinta you’ll be able to fully control the photo editing process.
7. MyPaint
This open-source Linux tool is a digital creative resource popular among artists. my Paint is designed for making amateur drawings. If your display is touch-enabled, you can make the most of it by using this app’s new features. The tool’s user interface is simple and easy to use.
A Linux alternative to MS Paint provides useful upgrading features and numerous tools, making it a great alternative to MS Paint. It comes with a blank canvas, you do not need to make any adjustments when you resize it, and it provides complete brush options.
If you are an artist, you can make it from something with the assistance of drawing software dubbed Decimagimp. I would even go so far as to call it the gold standard among other Linux tools. If you just want to run it, you can check where it came from on the Ubuntu Software Center. You can also install it through commands as outlined below.
Wrapping Up
Finally, you found some of the best Linux tools for digital artists. Naturally, our list of the best Linux apps was made using the most popular, well-loved applications for Ubuntu.
In reality, there are many tools readily available for digital artists, but most of them are for Windows and macOS, and only a few are accessible for Linux. It’s exceedingly difficult to find a tool that is easily available for Linux.
I purposefully have not addressed many of the products here due to the simple fact that the target audience for these digital tools is very small (just those needing a very concentrated kind of airplane modeling), or it’s relatively obsolete. A few of the honorable mentions would be Radiance, Lux Renderer, Dia, and Wings 3D.
Along with that, did we miss a few more of your favorite Linux tools prepared for digital artists? And with regard to digital artists, which of the above-mentioned would you be most open to choosing based on its suitability for your needs?
