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As a designer, many people who are interested in or have just joined this industry have asked me: “Which software should I download?” “Which software should I learn?” “Can I find a free replacement?” Today I'll introduce you to my favorite Adobe, Canva, Webflow, and Elementor.

Adobe

The importance of Adobe has been recognized in the industry; of course, graphic designers, artists, photographers, etc. all use Adobe. I'm currently subscribed to the Creative Cloud annual plan, which includes more than 20 Adobe apps, cloud storage, design templates, and Adobe Fonts and Adobe Stock. I use Illustrator (drafting and trademark design), InDesign (editorial design - books, magazines, presentations), Photoshop (retouching and editing), and PremierePro (video editing) almost every day. In addition, Adobe Font provides many professional fonts for commercial use, and Adobe Stock also provides many images and videos that can be used commercially, making it easier for me to find suitable materials when dealing with commercial cases. Additionally, the Adobe community has designers from all over the world, and we have regular live webinars where we can learn and connect with professionals.

I also use Acrobat DC on a daily basis to help process files, in particular to import data, electronically sign, encrypt files, and set editing permissions. Every time I received a file I needed to fill out, I found that the PDF sent by the other party couldn't let me edit it at all. Acrobat DC's editing help function solved this problem. Also, when processing a visa or company contract, I inevitably need to submit a personal document (passport, ID card, etc.). Acrobat DC allows me to add a password to encrypt files, and set editing rights to ensure that outsiders cannot change my data and protect personal privacy.

If you don't need to use all of Adobe's software on a daily basis, Adobe also provides personalized services and the option to subscribe to a single software. Details can be found athereRefer to it.

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Canva

Canva is a design tool that provides a large number of free templates, photos, and fonts, allowing users without extensive design experience to design trademarks, social media content, documents, and printed materials. As a result, I sometimes use Canva designs so that customers without Adobe can change the content themselves in the future. The most common example is that I used Canva to design a social media template so that my clients only need to change the content and post it. Although the free version already has complete design features, Canva Pro allows teams to upload their own color palettes, fonts, etc., so that all templates can be used on the brand, saving a lot of time. The paid version of the background removal tool and size adjustment tool can also help solve the problems you might encounter in weekday designs. In addition to this, more templates, photos, fonts, etc. are also used. If you are interested in using Canva for free, please click here.

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Webflow

Webflow is an integrated platform with built-in CMS that makes it easy for designers to build responsive web design (Responsive Web Design). The blog you're currently reading was also created by me using Webflow! As a web designer, I've tried Wix, Wordpress, Squarespace, etc. However, after using Webflow, I have recommended Webflow to my customers every time. Webflow's simple code and powerful CMS system make it faster than other website building platforms. When I used Wordpress, my blog speed dropped to 21 (mobile version) and 41 (desktop version) due to the many pre-installed programs and additional plug-ins. Now, after using Webflow, the internet speed has been increased to 65 (mobile version) and 91 (desktop version)!Click hereTest the speed of your website.

The Webflow team also provides a number of free courses for beginners and advanced students at Webflow University to answer various problems we encounter when designing websites through short videos. If the video library is unable to answer your questions, Webflow's community and customer service are also very easy to contact, and they respond within a day!Click hereStart using Webflow to build a website.

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Elementor

Although I mentioned above that I would recommend Webflow to my customers first, there are also many customers who want me to use Wordpress to set up a website. Elementor provides a number of free templates to make it easy for designers to build websites using drag-and-drop. Although many Wordpress websites are built with code, there are also quite a few customers who want designers to be able to create unique websites for them, and the simple editing mode also makes it easy for them to change the basic design themselves in the future. Since I subscribed to Elementor Pro a few years ago, the plan I'm using is the Expert Plan with 1,000 websites for $199USD per year. Currently, 1,000 websites have reached $399 USD per year. Currently, in addition to website design, Elementor also provides web hosting services.Click hereCheck out the latest plans.