Useful Design Guide

Useful things, carefully chosen to help you. Really.
Can be useful to you. Can be useful to me.
Tips and tricks. Professional guides and solutions.


Useful Vector graphics software for designers and creatives.

Vector Graphics Software

Work like a pro with stable and friendly software.


Paid Vector Software

Adobe Illustrator (Mac, Win)

Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard vector graphics app lets you create logos, icons, drawings, typography, and illustrations for print, web, video, and mobile.

Affinity Designer (Mac, Win)

Affinity Designer - the fastest, smoothest, most precise professional graphic design software.

Graphic (Mac)

Graphic is a powerful full-featured design and illustration application. Create everything from detailed technical illustrations to beautiful works of art.

Corel Draw (Win)

Corel Draw is an editor used in the graphic design, sign making and fashion design industries. Capable of limited interoperation by reading file formats from Illustrator.

Sketch (Mac)

Sketch is a design toolkit built to help you create your best work — from your earliest ideas, through to final artwork.

Free Vector Software

Inkscape (Mac, Win, Linux) Free

Inkscape is a professional vector graphics editor for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It's free and open source.

Vectr (Mac, Win, Linux, Chrome OS, Browser) Free

Vectr is a free graphics software used to create vector graphics easily and intuitively. It's a simple yet powerful web and desktop cross-platform tool to bring your designs into reality.

Vector Mobile Apps


Graphic (iOS)

Graphic for iPad and iPad Pro. Professional desktop-class illustration and graphic design tools on iPad. Pressure-sensitive drawing with the Apple Pencil, document tabs, and more.

Draw (iOS, Android)

Draw - create beautiful, scalable vector designs with Adobe Illustrator Draw and sync your design across Adobe CC desktop and mobile apps.
Useful raster graphics software for designers and creatives.

Raster Graphics Software

Create and edit images and photos.


Paid Raster Software

Adobe Photoshop (Mac, Win)

Adobe Photoshop is the industry-standard raster graphics app. Create and enhance photographs, illustrations, and 3D artwork. Design websites and mobile apps.

Affinity Photo (Mac, Win)

Affinity Photo the fastest, smoothest, most precise professional image editing software.

Corel Painter (Mac, Win)

Corel Painter is a raster-based digital art application created to simulate as accurately as possible the appearance and behavior of traditional media associated with drawing, painting, and printmaking.

Free Raster Software

Sketchbook (Mac, Win)

Sketchbook Fall in love with drawing again. Professional tools, a life-like drawing experience, and a beautiful interface. Available on every one of your devices.

Gimp (Mac, Win, Linux) Free

Gimp provides you with sophisticated tools to get your job done. You can further enhance your productivity with GIMP thanks to many customization options and 3rd party plugins.

Befunky (Mac, Win, Linux, Chrome OS, Browser) Free

Befunky Online Photo Editor. Anything you want to do to your photo, you can do with BeFunky. You can play with hundreds of amazing photo effects that you can't find anywhere else, like our world-famous Cartoonizer®, oil painting, and pop art effects.

Photopea (Edit files online, Browser) Free

Photopea - Free online photo editor supporting PSD, XCF and Sketch formats. (Adobe Photoshop, Gimp and Sketch App). Create a new image or open existing files from your computer. Save your work as PSD (File - Save as PSD) or as JPG / PNG / SVG (File - Export).

Raster Mobile Apps


Sketchbook (iOS, Android)

Sketchbook on all your mobile devices. Whether your loyalty lies with Android or iOS, you can enjoy the same experience on every compatible phone and tablet.

Affinity Photo (iOS)

Affinity Photo Developed without compromise, Affinity Photo for iPad is the first full blown, truly professional photo editing tool to make its way onto the Apple tablet.

Photoshop Mix

Photoshop Mix - cut out, combine and create amazing images. Anywhere.
Various Useful Apps and Software for designers and creatives.

Useful Apps & Software

Edit Text and Source Code


Brackets (Mac, Win) Free

Brackets With focused visual tools and preprocessor support, Brackets is a modern text editor that makes it easy to design in the browser. It's crafted from the ground up for web designers and front-end developers.

Atom (Mac) Free

Atom is a text editor that's modern, approachable, yet hackable to the core—a tool you can customize to do anything but also use productively without ever touching a config file.

Notepad++ (Win) Free

Notepad++ is a free (as in "free speech" and also as in "free beer") source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages. Running in the MS Windows environment, its use is governed by GPL License.

To Archive / Unarchive the project files for you or your clients.


Double Commander (Mac, Win, Linux) Free

Double Commander Archives are handled like subdirectories. You can easily copy files to and from archives. Supported archive types: ZIP, TAR GZ, TGZ, LZMA and also BZ2, RPM, CPIO, DEB, RAR.

muCommander (Mac) Free

muCommander Mac is a lightweight, cross-platform file manager with a dual-pane interface.

Cloud storage / Files transfer


Google Drive Free & Paid

Google Drive Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

Dropbox Free & Paid

Dropbox - Share, sync, and collaborate on files securely with Dropbox Business, a file sharing and cloud storage solution that employees love and IT admins trust.

Box Free & Paid

Box is changing the way you share and manage content across your business, from simple file sharing to building custom apps for your business.

We transfer Free & Paid

We transfer is the simplest way to send your files around the world.

Vector file type software compatibility

The vector graphic files: .ai / .eps / .pdf / .svg / .psd / can be edited with suitable Vector Graphics Software.

Vector Graphic Software (OS) / File type .ai .eps .pdf .svg .psd
Paid Vector Software
Adobe Illustrator (Mac, Win)
Affinity Designer (Mac, Win)
Graphic (Mac)
Corel Draw (Win)
Sketch (Mac)
Free Vector Software
Inkscape (Mac, Win, Linux)
Vectr (Mac, Win, Linux, Chrome OS, Browser)

Tips and Tricks


How to Preview the .ai files without Adobe Illustrator

On a Mac you can view .ai files in Apple Preview without any changes.

You can upload the .ai files to Google Drive and view them there.

Simply change the file extension from .ai to .pdf ( Rename [filename].ai to [filename].pdf ). The .pdf file can then be opened with any free .pdf viewer like Adobe Reader.

The .pdf files can be viewed and edited by all Vector Graphics Software ( free or paid )


How to Open .ai files without Adobe Illustrator

If the .ai files are saved as default with .pdf compatibility you can handle them as .pdf files. Simply change the file extension from .ai to .pdf ( Rename [filename].ai to [filename].pdf ). The .pdf files can be viewed and edited by all Vector Graphics Software ( free or paid ).

Also try to change the file extension from .ai to .eps . On a Mac, Apple Preview can convert .eps to .pdf

You can also open the .ai files in:
Adobe Illustrator, Graphic, Affinity Designer, Inkscape, Corel Draw.

Useful Settings and Useful Preferences  for designers and creatives.

Convert Online The File Extension

CloudConvert

CloudConvert Free
Convert anything to anything - more than 200 different audio, video, document, ebook, archive, image, spreadsheet and presentation formats supported.

Convertio

Convertio Free
Easy tool to convert files online. More than 283 different document, image, spreadsheet, ebook, archive, presentation, audio and video formats supported.

Scripts for Adobe Illustrator


Scripts for Adobe Illustrator (JavaScript) Free Illustrator javaScript scripts from Hiroyuki Sato.

Useful Settings / Useful Preferences


Delete Illustrator Preferences

  1. Quit Illustrator
  2. Press and hold Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac OS) as you start Illustrator. Your current settings are deleted.
  3. Remove or rename the AIPrefs file (Windows) or Adobe Illustrator Prefs file (Mac OS). New preferences files are created the next time you start Illustrator.

Delete Photoshop Preferences

  1. Quit Photoshop
  2. Press and hold Shift+Ctrl+Alt (Win) or Shift+Command+Option (Mac) as you start Photoshop. Your current settings are deleted.
  3. A message will pop up asking if you want to delete the Adobe Photoshop Settings file. This is your Preferences file. Choose Yes.

Batch resize images Photoshop

Create a new custom Action
Hit the Action record/play button.
  1. File > Open an image.
  2. Resize image, canvas or crop to required size.
  3. Save
  4. Close image.
  5. Hit Stop button on Actions panel.
You can now batch process images with your custom action by going to File > Automate > Batch.
Select your image folder and the Action name.
Ideas and inspirations for designers and creatives.

Ideas / Inspirations

Ideas? Yes, please! Free

Inspire instead duplicate. Have Imagination. The core feature for all those working in this field.


Ideas, Creative Inspiration

Ideas, Creative Inspiration Ideas Creative Inspiration for Logo Design, Corporate Identity, Stationery and Website Design. Symbols, Logotypes, Slogans, Colors.

Pinterest

Pinterest is an photo sharing and publishing service that allows users to "Pin" pictures they like and upload their own recommendations to their pinboards. Discover designs, brands, home ideas, style inspiration and other ideas to try.

Behance

Behance - Showcase and discover the latest work from top online portfolios by creative professionals across industries.

Dribbble

Dribbble - Show and tell for designers. What are you working on? Dribbble is a community of designers sharing screenshots of their work, process, and projects.

Designspiration

Designspiration is a tool for discovering great art, design, architecture, photography and web inspiration.

Really Good Emails

Really Good Emails - The Best Email Designs in the Universe (that came into my inbox)

Trade Marks & Symbols

Trade Marks & Symbols - Volume 1: Alphabetical Designs

Taschen

Taschen - Publisher of books on art, architecture, design and photography
Images, Mockups, Stock Photos for designers and creatives.

Images / Mockups / Photos

Premium Stock Photos and Video Footage. Free


Pixabay

Pixabay - High quality photos, illustrations, and vector graphics. Free for commercial use. No attribution required.

Pexels

Pexels - Free stock photos you can use everywhere. Free for commercial use . No attribution required.

Unsplash

Unsplash - Beautiful, free images and photos that you can download and use for any project. Better than any royalty free or stock photos.

Template maker

Template maker - is a resource for DIY artists, graphics designers and everyone who likes paper crafts. It contains an ever growing number of templates for gift boxes and increasingly more other interesting things that can be made out of paper. The templates are all dynamic: you can customize almost all dimensions. All templates are free, no login is required.

Vectorstock

Vectorstock - Royalty free vector images, vector art, graphics, clipart, illustrations and high resolution stock images.

Freepik

Freepik - Freebies and all graphic resources that you need for your projects. Free vectors, PSD, photos and free icons.

Vecteezy

Vecteezy is a collection of free vector art, vector graphics, illustrator brushes, vector wallpaper backgrounds, silhouettes and more!

Subtle patterns

Subtle patterns - Free high quality patterns for your next web project.
Useful typography and fonts for designers and creatives.

Typography / Fonts

The best fonts for your project. Free


Creator's Fonts

Creator Fonts We have prepared a collection of fonts from which you can choose any font style that suits best with your design.

Fontsquirrel

Fontsquirrel Free fonts have met their match. Quality freeware fonts for commercial work.

Dafont

Dafont Freely downloadable fonts. Browse by alphabetical listing, by style, by author or by popularity.

Google Fonts

Google Fonts Making the web more beautiful, fast, and open through great typography. Bring personality and performance to brands, designs, websites & products.
Design Thinking for designers and creatives.

Design Thinking

Create like a pro.

  1. Free your mind. Relax and Think.
  2. Think clear and logical about end results.
  3. Keep the final medium in mind.
  4. First step, almost there, end results.
  5. Problem and Solution. Mind map backwards.
  6. Be organized. Be clear. Be specific. Be bold.
  7. Create a tidy workspace for your files.
  8. Choose a simple hierarchy for all project elements.
  9. Choose a single focal point in your design layouts.
  10. For multiple visual elements use basic Gestalt Principles: Gestalt Principles
    Similarity, Continuation, Closure, Proximity, Figure/Ground, Symmetry and Order.
  11. Choose the colors with harmony.
  12. Choose the fonts with taste and style.
  13. Be happy. Be You.
  14. Let’s get to work.

Brainstorm ideas and concepts with a pencil and a paper.

  • Take notes, write action and details.
  • Pros and Cons.
  • Steps to execute.

Moleskine

Moleskine - calendars, notebooks, exercise books, bags, pens, pencils and accessories. Flexible and brilliantly simple.

Field Notes

Field Notes is a collection of smartly-designed, vintage-styled pocket notebooks, calendars, and various office accoutrements.

Online Notes


Creator's Notes

Creator Notes for Creators and Designers. Print and save locally with confidence and privacy.

Keep Google

Keep Google - When and where you need it. Capture what’s on your mind. Add notes, lists, photos, and audio to Keep.
Colors guide for designers and creatives.

Design Colors

Creator's Colors

Creator Colors - colors selected from the most sensitive hue found in the sun sunrise to the darkest colors found in the deepest point of the ocean. Select yours.

rgb.to

rgb.to - Convert HEX color to RGB, Pantone, RAL, HSL and HSB formats. Convert it to JSON format and generate color schemes for your design.

Coolors

Coolors - generate perfect color combinations for your designs.

Colordot by hailpixel

Colordot by hailpixel - Simple color picker everyone.

Flatuicolorpicker

Flatuicolorpicker is a project digging the Flat Color Picker which gives you the perfect colors for flat designs.

Material Palette

Material Palette - Choose your favorite colors and get your Material Design palette generated and downloadable.

Brand Colors

Brand Colors - The biggest collection of official brand color codes around. Includes hex colors codes for 500+ brands including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many more.

Picular

Picular - is a rocket fast primary color generator using Google’s image search. If you ever needed the perfect yellow hex code from a banana, this is the tool for you.

Colorbox

Colorbox - is a color tool to produce color sets.

Design Proportions

—————————————————
phi Φ , φ = 1,618 :: M,DCXVIII
1.6180339887
—————————————————

Modular Scale

Modular Scale Calculate, visualize, and learn about modular scales. This calculator makes a set of numbers called a modular scale, which you use like a ruler.

Calculator Soup

Calculator Soup - Calculator for golden ratios where (A+B):A=A:B. Calculates values for golden ratio phi or golden mean. Also performs as a golden ratio generator where A/B=phi=1.6180.

Screen Sizes - Standards 16:9 - RGB

  • 8192 x 4608 = 8K Full UHD
    ( 37,748,736 pixels )
  • 7680 × 4320 = 8K UHD
    ( 33,177,600 pixels )
  • 5120 x 2880 = 5K
    [ Retina 27” iMac ]
    ( 14,745,600 pixels )
  • 4096 x 2304 = 4K Full UHD
    [ Retina 21.5” iMac ]
    ( 9,437,184 pixels )
  • 3840 × 2160 = 4K UHD
    Ultra High Definition
    ( 8,294,400 pixels )
  • 2560 x 1440 = 2.5K
    [ 27” iMac ]
    ( 3,686,400 pixels )
  • 1920 x 1080 = HD
    Full High Definition
    ( 2,073,600 pixels )
  • 1600 x 900
  • 1440 x 810
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1024 x 576 = Pal/Secam
    16:9 Standard
    ( 589,824 pixels )
  • 960 x 540
  • 800 x 450
  • 640 x 360
  • 480 x 270
  • 320 x 180
  • 160 x 90
  • 80 x 45

Paper Sizes - ISO/ANSI/Arch - Standards - CMYK

  • inch ( US ) Imperial Measurement System
  • cm ( EU ) Metric Measurement System
  • International paper sizes = ISO
    ( World Standard )
    Format = A series / B series / C series
  • A4 = 210 × 297mm ; 8.3 × 11.7inch
  • A3 = 297 × 420mm ; 11.7 × 16.5inch
  • North American paper sizes = ANSI
    ANSI - Standardized American paper sizes
    ANSI/ASME Y14.1 (American)
  • Letter = 8.5 × 11inch ; 216 × 279mm ;
  • Legal = 8.5 × 14inch ; 216 × 356mm ;
  • Architectural sizes = Arch A - E3
    Patent drawing
  • Arch A = 9 x 12 inch ; 229 × 305mm ;
Useful for designers and creatives. Whitespace.

Design Whitespace

There is no bad design but only perfect proportions and clear whitespace.

Marketing Analytics & Measurement for designers and creatives.

Marketing Analytics, Measurement, Testing Web Apps

Stronger results across all your sites, apps, and offline channels.

Marketing analytics products for businesses of all sizes to better understand your customers.


Statcounter Free and Paid

Statcounter is a simple but powerful real-time web analytics service that helps you track, analyse and understand your visitors so you can make good decisions to become more successful online.

Google Analytics Free

Google Analytics offer free and enterprise analytics tools to measure website, app, digital and offline data to gain customer insights. Google Analytics lets you measure your advertising ROI as well as track your Flash, video, and social networking sites and applications.

Google Search Console Free

Google Search Console Use Search Console to monitor Google Search results data for your properties.

Forms. Create and analyze surveys.


Google Forms Free

Google Forms - Create a new survey on your own or with others at the same time. Choose from a variety of beautiful, pre-made themes or create your own. Analyze your results in Google Forms. Free from Google.

Testing Web Apps


PageSpeed Insights Free

PageSpeed Insights - Analyze your site performance. With PageSpeed Insights you can identify ways to make your site faster and more mobile-friendly.

GTmetrix Free

GTmetrix - Analyze your site’s speed and make it faster. GTmetrix gives you insight on how well your site loads and provides actionable recommendations on how to optimize it.

Test your mobile speed Free

Test your mobile speed - Perform a mobile website speed test with the Test My Site tool and receive recommendations for improving website performance across all devices.

Who is


Who.is Free

Who.is - Find information on any domain name or website. Large database of whois information, DNS, domain names, name servers, IPs, and tools for searching and monitoring domain names.
Miscellaneous Design Guide for designers and creatives.

Miscellaneous

tawk.to Free

tawk.to - free messaging app that lets you monitor and chat with visitors on your website or from a free customizable page.

Copyscape Free

Copyscape - Search for copies of your page on the web.

Hemingway app Free

Hemingway app - makes your writing bold and clear.

Docracy Free

Docracy - Open legal documents provided and trusted by people like you. Various legal documents freely available for everyone.
Designers and creatives. Rellax and Calm.

Relax, Calm, Design

Relax


Design by Music Music

Design by Music - smart audio inspirations for savvy designers and creative professionals. Find businesses that match with music songs and you will understand the subtlety. Some of our music match with style other with gratefulness. It's about fun, taste and feeling. Hey, we can and we will change the 'match' at any funny momentum, under delightful circumstances.

Calm

Calm - Relax with Calm, a simple mindfulness meditation app that brings clarity and peace of mind into your life.

Do nothing for 2 minutes

Do nothing for 2 minutes - I just did nothing for 2 minutes. Can you?

Congrats. You're done, and now, you're awesome.


Useful thinks and things ?