The Latest in Graphic Design Software Capabilities

By Kelly Richardson
kelly.richardson@graphicdesignschoolreview.com
Graphic Design School Review Columnist

The most critical tool in a graphic design professional's bag of tricks is design software. And with the increased usability and features of the latest graphic design software, pros in this field are creating some incredibly innovative projects. Here's a rundown of the latest in graphic design software.

The demand for graphic design continues to increase, from advertisers, publishers, and computer design firms across the country. If you'd like to get your piece of the design pie, you need to plug into the latest graphic design software, designed to get your freelance business growing.

Top Graphic Design Software Suites
Graphic design software is becoming increasingly user-friendly while maintaining its functionality. Become proficient with any of these hard-hitting graphic design software titles and you'll be amazed at the types of projects that you can create.

• Adobe Creative Suite. This collection of the best Adobe has to offer allows you to go from design board to publish platform with one click. Take advantage of advanced layering techniques for photo management.
• WSCraft Ultimate. Primarily a web design software, WSCraft Ultimate gives graphic design pros without programming knowledge to create every feature that small to medium websites might need.
• Corel Painter IX.5. The new features of Corel Painter IX.5 include Underpainting, Auto-Painting, and Restoration. It also includes an incredible eraser tool that can delete any part of your workable image.

The Graphic Design Career Profile
With these new graphic design software titles giving professionals and newbies the opportunity to show off their skills, becoming a graphic design expert has become much easier. Here's what the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has to say about opportunities in the industry.

• Getting In the Biz. While many new graphic design pros develop their skills on their own, earning a graphic design degree will give you a marketable edge over the competition.
• Employment Ops. Employment of graphic designers is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through the year 2014.
• Expected Salary. Median annual earnings for graphic designers were $38,030 in May 2004.

With the right graphic design training and software, you can turn a fledgling graphic design business into a viable source of income for you and your family.

Source
US Bureau of Labor Statistics

About the Author
Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.