You don’t need to have a degree in graphic design to create visually stunning content. Of course, it does help to have access to a good graphic design program like Photoshop or even GIMP. That being said, you may not be able to access either of those programs if you’re on the go, too busy to devote an hour or two to create a design at your computer, and Photoshop may be wonderful, but it is not free. Photoshop does offer a free one month trial, but eventually the trial runs out and you will need to pay if you wish to continue using it.
I must admit that even though I do enjoy designing graphics using Photoshop from a blank template, there are times when I need to create something in less than an hour and I cannot think of a good design idea. This is when I look for inspiration through a few helpful -and free- design apps that not only help me create an eye-catching graphic, but they make my life a little bit easier.
Spark Post
The first app that I would recommend is Spark Post from Adobe; it is a free online and mobile graphic design app. You can sign up using your email or Facebook account. Once you are signed up, you can look through all of the pre-created templates, and if you find a style you like, you can click on it and edit it right there. Spark allows you to replace photos using your own from your mobile device’s camera roll, or you can choose from their free photo library. It also has a variety of fonts to choose from, as well as different filters. Once you finish creating, you can save it to your mobile device, email it, text it, or post it directly to your Facebook or Instagram. Spark also allows you to add animated text and graphics.
Canva
Another app that I highly recommend is Canva. It is a lot like Spark in that it offers a variety of pre-built templates that you can edit, save, and share. It is also free, and you can set up an account using your email address or Facebook. Canva has a larger variety of templates than Spark, ranging from book covers to Facebook Event covers, so no matter what you may need, it probably has a template for it. You can even create a template from scratch if you would like to do so.
In conclusion, if you need inspiration, or are short on time and need a graphic created quickly, I highly recommend checking out Spark Post and/or Canva and get those creative juices flowing. You will have a stunning, eye-catching graphic in no time!