20 Must-Have Editing and Design Programs for Creative Professionals

In the fast-paced creative industry, having the right tools is essential for producing high-quality work. Whether you're a graphic designer, photographer, videographer, or UI/UX designer, powerful software can help bring your ideas to life. From image editing to video production and 3D modeling, these 20 must-have design programs are trusted by professionals to enhance workflows and elevate creative projects. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, these tools will help you create stunning, impactful designs.

1. Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac Pro Edition

• Category: Virtual Machine Software
• Features: Run Windows on Mac, seamless integration, virtual machine management, authorized by Microsoft
• Why It's Great: Allows you to run Windows and Mac applications side by side with no reboot required, great for users who need cross-platform functionality.

Overview: Parallels Desktop 20 lets Mac users run Windows on a virtual machine, offering an excellent solution for those who need to work with both OS environments simultaneously.

$89.99 AT AMAZON

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2. Corel VideoStudio Pro 2020

• Category: Video Editing Software
• Features: Video editing suite, professional tools, effects, and templates
• Why It's Great: A user-friendly video editing software with powerful features for creating professional-level videos.

Overview: Corel VideoStudio Pro 2020 is an editing suite that enables users to create videos using advanced editing tools, filters, and transitions.

$79.99 AT AMAZON

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3. Adobe Dreamweaver

• Category: Website and Web Design Software
• Features: HTML, CSS, JavaScript editing, responsive design tools
• Why It's Great: Provides a comprehensive platform for web development, allowing for both visual and code-based design.

Overview: Adobe Dreamweaver is a robust web design software that offers a combination of visual tools and code editing features to create dynamic websites.

$34.49 AT AMAZON

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4. MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 2018

• Category: Video Editing Software
• Features: User-friendly video editing, effects, transitions, DVD and Blu-ray authoring
• Why It's Great: Simple yet effective video editing software, ideal for beginner and intermediate video creators.

Overview: MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 2018 provides powerful video editing tools with an intuitive interface, perfect for anyone looking to create stunning videos.

$69.99 AT AMAZON

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5. Roxio Creator NXT 9

• Category: Multimedia Suite
• Features: Photo editing, video editing, audio recording, disc burning
• Why It's Great: A complete multimedia suite for creating and editing various media formats with additional tools for disc burning.

Overview: Roxio Creator NXT 9 combines multimedia creation tools with advanced editing capabilities, allowing users to work with photos, videos, and audio.

$59.99 AT AMAZON

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6. Adobe InDesign

• Category: Desktop Publishing Software
• Features: Page layout design, typography, publishing tools
• Why It's Great: Essential for professional publishing, ideal for creating flyers, brochures, magazines, and e-books.

Overview: Adobe InDesign is the leading desktop publishing software, offering advanced layout and design tools for print and digital publications.

$34.49 AT AMAZON

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7. Adobe Animate

• Category: Animation Software
• Features: Flash and 2D animation, vector-based drawing, interactive content creation
• Why It's Great: Industry-standard software for creating interactive animations and animations for the web and mobile apps.

Overview: Adobe Animate is designed for creating vector-based animations, interactive content, and web-based animations using HTML5 and Flash.

$263.88 AT AMAZON

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8. Sony Vegas Pro Production Assistant 2

• Category: Video Editing Software
• Features: Automated workflows, video editing, batch processing
• Why It's Great: Streamlines video editing workflows, offering enhanced productivity for professional video editors.

Overview: Vegas Pro Production Assistant 2 speeds up video production with automated tools for batch processing and task management.

$169.95 AT AMAZON

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9. Adobe Creative Cloud

• Category: Creative Software Suite
• Features: Access to 20+ creative apps, 100GB cloud storage, continuous updates
• Why It's Great: The ultimate creative toolkit for professionals, offering access to a wide range of design, photo, video, and web apps.

Overview: Adobe Creative Cloud offers cloud-based access to all Adobe creative apps, including Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and more.

$89.99 AT AMAZON

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10. Adobe After Effects

• Category: Motion Graphics and Visual Effects Software
• Features: Motion graphics, visual effects, animation tools
• Why It's Great: The industry-standard software for creating motion graphics, VFX, and animations for film, TV, and web content.

Overview: Adobe After Effects is used to create stunning visual effects and motion graphics, making it essential for video editors and animators.

$34.49 AT AMAZON

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11. Movie Edit Pro 2021 – Create Better Videos, Fast!

• Category: Video Editing Software
• Features: Professional editing tools, effects, transitions, and templates
• Why It’s Great: Easy-to-use interface for creating stunning videos quickly, with powerful features for all skill levels.

Overview: Movie Edit Pro 2021 is designed to simplify video editing while providing robust tools for more advanced users, offering various effects, transitions, and editing options.

$69.99 AT AMAZON

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12. Movie Edit Pro 2020 Plus

• Category: Video Editing Software
• Features: Enhanced editing tools, advanced effects, HD and 4K support
• Why It’s Great: A versatile editing tool that allows for both beginner and advanced editing, with high-definition video support.

Overview: Movie Edit Pro 2020 Plus delivers powerful video editing features, supporting HD and 4K resolutions for creating professional-level videos.

$99.99 AT AMAZON

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13. InCopy | Writing and Copy Editing Software

• Category: Writing and Copy Editing Software
• Features: Collaborative editing, advanced writing tools, seamless integration with Adobe InDesign
• Why It’s Great: Ideal for writers and editors, InCopy offers a rich set of tools for writing and editing, making it easier to collaborate on documents.

Overview: InCopy is a powerful writing and copy editing software that allows writers and editors to work together efficiently, making it a popular choice for content creation in publishing.

$59.88 AT AMAZON

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14. Corel AfterShot Pro 3 | RAW Photo Editing Software

• Category: Photo Editing Software
• Features: RAW editing, advanced photo corrections, batch processing
• Why It’s Great: A professional photo editing tool that focuses on RAW file processing, ideal for photographers who want to bring out the best in their images.

Overview: Corel AfterShot Pro 3 provides a comprehensive suite for editing RAW photos, with advanced features like batch processing and powerful correction tools to fine-tune your images.

$47.99 AT AMAZON

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15. Cyberlink ColorDirector 8 Ultra

• Category: Color Grading and Video Editing Software
• Features: Professional color grading tools, advanced color correction, HDR support
• Why It’s Great: A dedicated tool for color grading, allowing users to enhance and correct video color for a professional finish.

Overview: Cyberlink ColorDirector 8 Ultra is a color grading software with advanced tools to adjust and correct colors in videos, ideal for filmmakers and videographers.

$129.99 AT AMAZON

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16. Vegas Pro 14

• Category: Video Editing Software
• Features: 4K video support, professional-grade editing tools, multi-camera editing
• Why It’s Great: A powerful editing tool offering high-end video editing and motion graphics, ideal for professionals in video production.

Overview: Vegas Pro 14 is known for its professional-grade video editing tools, including multi-camera editing and 4K video support, making it a popular choice for high-quality video creation.

$359.00 AT AMAZON

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17. Corel WordPerfect Office Home & Student 2021

• Category: Office Suite
• Features: Word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tools
• Why It’s Great: An affordable office suite that includes the essentials for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Overview: Corel WordPerfect Office 2021 offers a complete office suite with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools, ideal for home users and students.

$49.99 AT AMAZON

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18. Wondershare Video Editor for Mac

• Category: Video Editing Software
• Features: Easy-to-use interface, drag-and-drop functionality, wide range of effects
• Why It’s Great: A great video editing tool for Mac users looking for a simple but effective editor with an array of creative features.

Overview: Wondershare Video Editor for Mac offers a user-friendly experience with a variety of video editing options and effects to enhance your projects.

$39.99 AT AMAZON

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19. WavePad Audio Editing Software

• Category: Audio Editing Software
• Features: Audio editing, recording, mixing, and mastering tools
• Why It’s Great: A comprehensive audio editing suite suitable for music production, podcasts, and audio post-production.

Overview: WavePad Audio Editing Software allows you to record, edit, and mix audio files with advanced tools, making it a must-have for audio professionals.

$29.95 AT AMAZON

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20. Pinnacle Studio v10.5

• Category: Video Editing Software
• Features: Multi-track editing, visual effects, 3D transitions
• Why It’s Great: A robust video editor with all the necessary features for creating professional-quality videos.

Overview: Pinnacle Studio v10.5 provides professional tools for editing, effects, and transitions, ideal for creating high-quality content.

$69.99 AT AMAZON

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Conclusion:

These creative software tools provide a wide range of functionalities to suit the needs of professionals across various industries. Whether you're a writer using InCopy for collaborative editing, a photographer editing RAW images with Corel AfterShot Pro 3, or a video editor using Movie Edit Pro or Pinnacle Studio, these programs will enhance your creative projects and improve your productivity. Select the right software for your needs and elevate your creative work in 2024.