Raster graphics software is essential for digital artists, photographers, and graphic designers who work with pixel-based images. These tools offer powerful features for editing, creating, and manipulating images in a variety of ways. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer, choosing the right raster graphics software can make all the difference in your workflow and the quality of your work.

In this comprehensive guide, we will present an ultimate raster graphics software list, highlighting the best tools available today. We’ll also explore the different types of raster graphics software and answer common questions to help you choose the ideal program for your needs.

What is Raster Graphics Software?

Before diving into the list of software, let’s define raster graphics. Raster graphics are images made up of a grid of individual pixels, each representing a specific color or shade. Unlike vector graphics, which use mathematical equations to define shapes, raster images are resolution-dependent. Popular examples of raster graphics include digital photographs, scanned images, and artwork created in programs like Photoshop.

Raster graphics software allows you to manipulate these images, adjust their colors, apply effects, and more. Whether you’re editing photos, creating illustrations, or designing web graphics, raster graphics software is a key tool in your creative toolbox.

Types of Raster Graphics Software

1. Photo Editing Software

Photo editing software focuses primarily on manipulating and enhancing raster images, particularly photographs. These tools are designed to correct colors, remove blemishes, adjust exposure, and apply artistic effects.

2. Painting and Illustration Software

This type of software is aimed at digital artists who create raster-based artwork from scratch. These programs offer a wide range of brushes, textures, and effects to simulate traditional painting techniques like oil painting, watercolor, or sketching.

3. Graphic Design Software

Graphic design software often includes tools for creating both raster and vector-based graphics. These programs are used for everything from creating logos to designing marketing materials and web layouts.

Ultimate Raster Graphics Software List

1. Adobe Photoshop

Best for: Comprehensive photo editing, digital painting, and design

Adobe Photoshop is the gold standard in raster graphics software. Known for its powerful features, Photoshop offers everything you need for photo editing, digital painting, graphic design, and more. With advanced tools like layers, masks, filters, and content-aware tools, Photoshop is the go-to choice for both professionals and hobbyists. It also offers a vast library of brushes and plugins for creative control.

Key Features:

  • Advanced selection and masking tools
  • Retouching tools for blemishes and imperfections
  • Support for smart objects and non-destructive editing
  • Extensive third-party plugin ecosystem
  • Brush customization for digital painting

2. Corel Painter

Best for: Digital painting and illustration

Corel Painter is a favorite among digital artists who want to replicate traditional painting techniques. It’s a powerful tool for creating digital artwork from scratch, offering a wide variety of brushes, textures, and effects that mimic traditional media such as oils, pastels, and watercolors. It also supports tablet pressure sensitivity, making it ideal for those working with stylus-based devices.

Key Features:

  • Huge selection of realistic brushes
  • Customizable canvas textures
  • Detailed color mixing and brush controls
  • Support for stylus and tablet pressure
  • Built-in art history feature for step-by-step creation tracking

3. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Best for: Free, open-source photo editing and raster image creation

GIMP is a powerful free alternative to Adobe Photoshop. While it may not have all the features of Photoshop, GIMP is packed with powerful tools for photo manipulation, illustration, and graphic design. It’s open-source, meaning that it’s free to use and customizable by developers.

Key Features:

  • Advanced selection and transformation tools
  • Multiple layers, filters, and effects
  • Support for a wide variety of file formats
  • Customizable interface and plugins
  • Free and open-source

4. Affinity Photo

Best for: Professional photo editing on a budget

Affinity Photo is a great alternative to Photoshop for those looking for a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. This software offers advanced photo editing tools, such as non-destructive layers, retouching tools, and advanced color correction. It also features a range of effects and powerful filters.

Key Features:

  • Live, non-destructive editing
  • Advanced selection and masking features
  • High-end photo retouching tools
  • RAW image support
  • Affordable one-time purchase

5. Krita

Best for: Digital painting and concept art

Krita is a free, open-source raster graphics program that caters specifically to digital artists. Known for its painting tools, Krita offers an impressive range of brushes, textures, and customizable options. It’s perfect for illustrators, concept artists, and animators looking for a program to create detailed artwork.

Key Features:

  • Professional-grade painting tools and brushes
  • Customizable brush engines
  • Animation tools for creating frame-by-frame animations
  • Full support for pressure-sensitive styluses
  • Free and open-source

6. PaintTool SAI

Best for: Simple yet powerful painting software for beginners

PaintTool SAI is an easy-to-use raster graphics program that’s beloved by digital artists, especially those who focus on creating manga or anime-style artwork. Despite its simplicity, it offers powerful tools for digital painting and illustration, with smooth, responsive brushes and intuitive controls.

Key Features:

  • Lightweight and fast
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Great brush engine with smooth strokes
  • Advanced selection tools
  • Support for pressure sensitivity

7. Clip Studio Paint

Best for: Manga, comics, and illustration

Clip Studio Paint is another software aimed at illustrators, comic artists, and animators. It’s known for its versatile tools for creating manga and comics, including specialized brush tools, inking tools, and panel layout features. With its focus on illustration, Clip Studio Paint is a great choice for those creating raster artwork from scratch.

Key Features:

  • Specialized manga and comic tools
  • Great for inking and coloring
  • Multiple brush settings for texture and detail
  • Frame-by-frame animation tools
  • Affordable pricing with regular updates

FAQs About Raster Graphics Software

1. What is raster graphics software used for?

Raster graphics software is used for editing, creating, and manipulating pixel-based images. It’s ideal for tasks like photo retouching, digital painting, graphic design, and illustration. It’s best suited for images like photos, scanned artwork, and digital drawings.

2. Can I use raster graphics software for vector design?

While some raster graphics software (like Photoshop or GIMP) can handle basic vector shapes and paths, it’s not their primary function. For complex vector work, you’ll want to use vector-based software like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW.

3. What’s the difference between raster and vector graphics?

Raster graphics are made up of pixels, while vector graphics use mathematical equations to define shapes. Raster images are resolution-dependent, meaning they lose quality when resized. Vector graphics, on the other hand, are resolution-independent and can be resized without losing quality.

4. Which is better, Photoshop or GIMP?

Adobe Photoshop is a paid, professional-level tool with a vast array of features, plugins, and industry-standard tools. GIMP is a free, open-source alternative with many similar features but lacks some of Photoshop’s advanced capabilities. For professional use, Photoshop is the better option, but GIMP is a great choice for budget-conscious users.

5. Is Krita suitable for beginners?

Yes! Krita is an excellent option for beginners, especially those interested in digital painting and illustration. It’s easy to learn, and there are plenty of tutorials and resources available to help you get started.

6. Which raster software is best for e-commerce product photography?

For product photography, Adobe Photoshop is often the best choice due to its advanced selection and masking tools. It allows you to perfectly isolate products from their background, apply color correction, and retouch images for e-commerce platforms.

7. Do I need a drawing tablet for digital painting in raster software?

While you can use a mouse, a drawing tablet significantly enhances your digital painting experience, especially for pressure sensitivity, smooth strokes, and better control over brushes. Most modern raster graphics software, including Krita, Photoshop, and Corel Painter, supports tablet input.

Conclusion

Choosing the right raster graphics software is crucial for artists, designers, and photographers. Whether you need a powerful photo editing tool, an illustration platform, or a free alternative, the ultimate raster graphics software list above provides a variety of options to suit your needs. From professional-grade tools like Adobe Photoshop to free alternatives like GIMP and Krita, you have plenty of choices based on your goals, budget, and skill level.

By understanding the strengths of each software, you can make an informed decision about which one will best help you achieve your creative vision. Happy editing!

This page was last edited on 27 March 2025, at 1:31 pm