Cricut is a powerful and versatile machine that can precisely cut and craft different materials. To help out crafters, Cricut also offers a graphics designing tool called Cricut Design Space. It features a user-friendly interface that is very easy to use and is compatible with multiple devices such as mobile, laptop, PC, and tablet.
As a bonus, the app is free, and you can download it directly from Cricut’s official website. However, you can also use the software if you are unsatisfied with the Design Space. If you are wondering which software is compatible with your Cricut, you don’t need to look further. In this blog, we have the best Cricut Software, along with its pros and cons.
OPTION ONE: ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
Adobe Photoshop is the world’s best photo editing and graphic design software without introduction. Hobbyists and professional designers widely use it to create paintings, drawings, and animations. Photoshop is also used to edit and retouch digital images, and it is quite good at vector art. It’s a robust editing toolkit that helps users to create complex designs from plain elements. When graphic designers need to create bitmaps in multiple layers or handle image masking, they turn to Photoshop.
Photoshop automatically saves your projects to the cloud. Besides the standard function, Photo Shop offers live streaming, project tracking, data storage management, and offline access. It also lets you invite other people to edit files so you can collaborate with team members on various projects. Although it’s not the most affordable software, the value that it brings to the table is hard to beat.
REASONS TO GO FOR IT
- Powerful web design tool
- Cross-platform Integration
- Intuitive interface
- A wide array of high-quality templates
REASONS TO AVOID IT
- Expensive
OPTION TWO: ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR
For professionals and artists, Adobe Illustrator is the best Cricut software. Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics program that allows you to create anything, such as text, shapes, and symbols, for your projects. Like Photoshop, it also lets you create complex and beautiful patterns. Use the preset workspace to customize your workforce. Although beginner-friendly, its extensive tools let you create precise and intricate models compatible with the Cricut machine.
Illustrator allows you to use multiple artboards; this feature is handy when working on projects with multiple items. Various plugins expand Adobe Illustrator’s capabilities. These plugins let you create your own custom fonts. If you need software that works well and lets you create anything, and if you’ve no problem paying for it, then Adobe Illustrator is the most suitable option.
REASONS TO GO FOR IT
- Compatible with different OS
- An extensive set of tools can be further expanded using plugins
- Best for creating new shapes
- Countless shortcuts
REASONS TO AVOID
- Have to pay a monthly fee.
OPTION THREE: GIMP
Although Photoshop is a great software that lets you create everything, its only drawback is its cost. If you want a free alternative to Photoshop, you can opt for GIMP. Like Photoshop, GIMP is free software that offers various features for editing images and creating original illustrations from the ground up. Its extensive brush-based tools range from the clone/heal brush to the brush/burn tool.
These brush-based tools come in handy when working with large, high-resolution images. Most people use GIMP as a photo editor, but it can also be used for graphic designing. GIMP lets you add and edit text, move and control images. It also lets you configure contrasts and curves. GIMP is one of the best Cricut software for beginners who want to create awesome art.
REASONS TO GO FOR IT
- User-friendly and customizable interface
- Supports different formats
- Lots of drawing tools
- Advanced processing of graphic files
- Multiple drawing tools
REASONS TO AVOID
- Can’t handle CMYK color space
OPTION FOUR: CORELDRAW
Those looking for an alternative to Adobe Illustrator don’t need to look any further. CorelDraw is a full-fledged design program that lets you create everything. The program was originally designed as a rival to Adobe Illustrator. Both are great tools for vector designing and cost the same. But unlike Adobe Illustrator, where you must pay monthly, CorelDraw allows you to join for a monthly cost or pay an up-front fee.
CorelDraw gives you access to hundreds of pre-designed templates, which you can use to create stunning designs. It also lets you create designs from scratch with a few clicks. With a simple right-click, you can create complex designs and vectorization. You can design your graphics, convert them to SVG, and then send it to Design Space. CorelDraw’s extensive library of plugins is specially designed for cutting machines such as Cricut. Opt for its trial version if you still decide to go for CorelDraw.
REASONS TO GO FOR IT
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- A free trial version is available
- Works great for vectorization
- Offers a range of membership types
REASONS TO AVOID IT
- It doesn’t offer tools to create HDR or panoramas.
OPTION FIVE: INKSCAPE
Inkscape is another great alternative to Adobe Illustrator, but unlike Illustrator and CorelDraw, it’s free. Its interface is straightforward, so you will quickly get the hang of it, even if you are a beginner. Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor which uses SVG as its primary file type.
Although Inkscape is prone to lag, it can run on low-end laptops and tablets. With Inkscape, you can customize virtually everything- colors, lines, grid, icon type, and other elements. Designers use it to create logos and banners. You can also convert raster images into vectors and save, import, and export your projects in various formats.
REASONS TO GO FOR IT
- Beginner-friendly interface
- It’s free
- Flexible drawing tools
- It lets you generate and edit SVG files
- Exports in PNG and PDF
REASONS TO AVOID
- Poor text editing instruments
Source URL: – Cricut Software
