# Essential Tools & Resources

### **🎨 Free Design Tools** (Powerful & Legal Alternatives)

* [**Canva**](https://www.canva.com/) – A simple design tool for social media, presentations, and more. Free plan available.
* [**Figma**](https://www.figma.com/) – A collaborative UI/UX design tool with a free plan for individuals and small teams.
* [**GIMP**](https://www.gimp.org/) – A free, open-source alternative to Photoshop for image editing.
* [**Krita**](https://krita.org/) – A professional tool for digital painting and animation.

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### **💰 Paid Design Tools** (Industry-Standard Software)

* [**Adobe Photoshop**](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html) – The industry leader in raster image editing and graphic design.
* [**Adobe Illustrator**](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html) – A vector graphics tool used for logo and illustration design.
* [**CorelDRAW**](https://www.coreldraw.com/en/) – A professional alternative to Illustrator for vector design.
* [**Canva Pro**](https://www.canva.com/pricing/) – Unlocks premium templates, elements, and brand tools.
* [**Figma Professional & Organization Plans**](https://www.figma.com/pricing/) – Advanced collaboration, version control, and additional design features.
* [**Affinity Designer**](https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/) – A budget-friendly alternative to Illustrator with powerful vector tools.
* [**Affinity Photo**](https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/) – A professional photo editing tool similar to Photoshop.
* [**Sketch**](https://www.sketch.com/) – A UI/UX design tool for macOS with vector-based features.

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### **📥 Free Sites for Design Resources** (Stock Images, Icons, & Mockups)

* [**Freepik**](https://www.freepik.com/) – Free and premium stock images, vectors, and PSD files.
* [**Unsplash**](https://unsplash.com/) – High-quality, royalty-free stock photos.
* [**Pexels**](https://www.pexels.com/) – Free stock images and videos for personal & commercial use.
* [**Mockup World**](https://www.mockupworld.co/) – A collection of free Photoshop mockups for branding and product design.
* [**Flaticon**](https://www.flaticon.com/) – Free and premium icons in various styles.
* [**Icons8**](https://icons8.com/) – Free icons, illustrations, and UI elements.

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### **🔤 Free Sites for Fonts** (Typography Resources)

* [**DaFont**](https://www.dafont.com/) – Thousands of free fonts for personal and commercial use.
* [**Google Fonts**](https://fonts.google.com/) – A huge library of open-source web fonts.
* [**1001 Fonts**](https://www.1001fonts.com/) – A collection of free and premium fonts.
* [**Font Squirrel**](https://www.fontsquirrel.com/) – Free fonts with commercial licenses.

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### **🎨 Free Sites for Color Inspiration & Palette Generation**

* [**Coolors**](https://coolors.co/) – A fast color scheme generator with AI-powered features.
* [**Color Hunt**](https://colorhunt.co/) – A curated collection of modern color palettes.
* [**Adobe Color**](https://color.adobe.com/) – Advanced color wheel and palette creation tool.
* [**Paletton**](https://paletton.com/) – A tool for generating harmonious color combinations.

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