Designing print on demand (POD) products can be both exciting and challenging. To create designs that stand out and attract customers, you need the right tools at your disposal. Whether you’re a seasoned graphic designer or a beginner, there are various tools available that can help you create professional-quality designs for your POD products. In this post, we’ll explore some of the best tools for designing print on demand products, covering software for graphic design, mockup creation, and more.

1. Adobe Illustrator

Overview

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful vector graphics editor widely used by professional designers. It’s ideal for creating logos, icons, illustrations, and complex designs that can be scaled to any size without losing quality.

Key Features

• Precision Drawing: Create intricate and precise designs with advanced drawing tools.
• Vector Graphics: Scale your designs infinitely without loss of quality.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps.

Pros

• Industry-standard tool for professional designers
• Extensive set of features and tools
• Regular updates and community support

Cons

• Steeper learning curve for beginners
• Subscription-based pricing

Best For

Professional designers and those looking to create high-quality, scalable vector designs.

Get it Here!

2. Canva

Overview

Canva is a user-friendly graphic design tool perfect for beginners and non-designers. It offers a wide range of templates and an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, making it simple to create stunning designs quickly.

Key Features

• Templates: Thousands of customizable templates for various design needs.
• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Intuitive and easy to use.
• Stock Photos and Elements: Access to a vast library of free and premium assets.

Pros

• Very beginner-friendly
• Extensive library of templates and design elements
• Free plan with optional premium features

Cons

• Limited advanced design capabilities
• Some premium elements require payment

Best For

Beginners and small business owners looking to create professional designs without a steep learning curve.

3. Procreate

Overview

Procreate is a powerful digital painting app available on the iPad. It’s favored by artists and illustrators for its natural drawing experience and extensive range of brushes and tools.

Key Features

• Custom Brushes: Create and import custom brushes.
• Layer System: Advanced layering system for complex artwork.
• High-Resolution Canvas: Design on high-resolution canvases suitable for print.

Pros

• Natural drawing experience with Apple Pencil
• Affordable one-time purchase
• Regular updates and new features

Cons

• Only available on iPad
• Not a vector-based tool

Best For

Artists and illustrators who prefer drawing by hand and need a robust digital painting tool.

4. Adobe Photoshop

Overview

Adobe Photoshop is a versatile graphic design tool known for its robust photo editing capabilities. It’s also highly effective for creating print on demand designs, especially when working with raster graphics.

Key Features

• Photo Editing: Advanced photo manipulation and editing tools.
• Graphic Design: Tools for creating detailed and layered designs.
• Mockups: Create realistic product mockups with smart objects.

Pros

• Extensive features for both photo editing and graphic design
• Industry-standard software
• Integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud

Cons

• Can be overwhelming for beginners
• Subscription-based pricing

Best For

Designers who need advanced photo editing and graphic design capabilities.

5. Placeit

Overview

Placeit is an online design tool and mockup generator that makes it easy to create product mockups and promotional materials. It’s perfect for showcasing your POD designs on various products without the need for complex software.

Key Features

• Mockup Generator: Thousands of mockup templates for various products.
• Design Templates: Create logos, social media posts, and more with easy-to-use templates.
• Video Mockups: Generate video mockups for dynamic product presentations.

Pros

• Extremely user-friendly
• Extensive library of mockups and templates
• No design skills required

Cons

• Limited customization compared to professional design software
• Subscription required for full access

Best For

Entrepreneurs looking to quickly create realistic product mockups and promotional materials.

Get Place it Here!

6. Affinity Designer

Overview

Affinity Designer is a vector graphic design software known for its powerful features and affordability. It’s a great alternative to Adobe Illustrator, offering professional-grade tools at a lower cost.

Key Features

• Vector and Raster Workflows: Switch between vector and raster workspaces.
• Precision Design Tools: Advanced tools for precise vector design.
• One-Time Purchase: No subscription required.