Instructify

Edit, add effects, create vector graphics and choose color palettes

BY NICK YINGLING

Human eyeballs are delicate organs, while bird talons are razor sharp and unforgiving. Go ask the citizens of Bodega Bay if you don’t believe me. Or ask this actress.

In the aesthetic world of visual design, though, a bunch of birds can be your eyeballs’ best friends. Aviary, a free image editing suite, is a great resource for you to do visual design. Everything is web-based, which not only allows you to save space on your system but also allows you to use the program on any computer, anywhere.

The free features of Aviary are broken down into the following four sections:

1. Phoenix — Phoenix is your image editor. It has a lot of the features that you’ll be used to seeing in other Photoshop-type programs. Use the lasso and the wand to move pieces of existing artwork around.
2. Toucan — Toucan is where you’ll go for all your coloring work. This color palette creator helps you figure out how to create appealing color schemes and incorporate them into your work.
3. Raven — Raven is the vector editor. You’ll be able to make shapes freehand or from pre-designed shapes. The cool thing about vector editing is that you can click and drag images around by certain nodes, allowing you to distort and resize images without sacrificing your image’s resolution.
4. Peacock — Peacock is the visual laboratory. You can add several different effects and filters by dropping and dragging a variety of awesome effects into the browser.

I’ve skimmed over some of the descriptions for these different apps, but if you’re eager to find out more, each application has a video demo for you to watch. Still need more? At least 3 of the free apps have user wikis.

Of course, the subscription plan does offer more features and apps, such as a chance to check out up to 11 new alpha versions of new tools — all named after birds, naturally. Its a little disappointing to see that there isn’t one named Falkor, but I still hold out hope.

(AUTHOR’S NOTE: I just want to point out that I made it through this entire post without saying “for the birds.” You’re welcome.)

Aviary

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