5 iPhone Apps for Designers

Designers are increasingly expected to be up-to-date on new technology and graphics programs. In addition to aiding your work by providing more efficient and creative ways to design, technology can also be helpful in organizing and managing your business operations if you manage multiple clients or work as a freelance artist. The iPhone is a great tool for designers that want help in each of these areas, and there are several iPhone apps that are incredibly useful for designers. Here are five to get you started:

1. Palettes

This app allows you to create and save multiple color palettes for different projects. You can select colors from lists, images, web sites, or by entering CSS combinations. ColorExpert is another similar app that allows you to capture colors from the real world when you see them, and then save those inspirations for work later. These types of programs are incredibly helpful for planning projects and helping you remember colors when inspiration strikes. Get Palettes free or buy ColorExpert.

2. Units

For the artistically-minded, math may not always come easy. Especially for those designers working with international clients, converting units and calculating measurements can be a potential source of miscommunication if not properly addressed. But when it really matters, the Units app is a simple calculator that can save you from headaches and embarrassment. It also works with typographic points for more complicated jobs. Also check out a simple but helpful app called Ruler, which shows a picture of a ruler on your iPhone to measure things to scale. You can save your measurements and return to them later, which is great for those who struggle with organization. Buy Units or buy Ruler.

3. What the Font

This app really uses the iPhone as it is meant to be used. If you work frequently with text, you can start to develop your favorites. But this app helps you discover new designs and put a name to an image. You simply take a picture of a set of text, and the iPhone searches the Internet library to give you the name of the font family. So simple, and so useful. Get it free.

4. AIR Sharing

When you need to work and meet with clients in different locations, it can be difficult to save large files and show samples without bringing along your entire studio. The AIR Sharing app lets your use your iPhone as a wireless drive and drag files between the phone and your computer. You can view documents in common formats and view images of most files on your phone with the finder-like file browser. Clients will be impressed that you can pull up files and organize your documents from anywhere. Buy it here.

5. Credit Card Terminal

This app is purely for business purposes, but it could make the difference in securing a client and getting paid on time. Featured on many commercials, this app lets your enter credit card information and charge you clients right from your phone. It requires a monthly fee to use, which may discourage some designers with a smaller client base. But if you want to be able to accept plastic and do it quickly and securely, look no further than your iPhone. Buy it here.

Louise Baker writes about getting an online degree for Zen College Life. She most recently ranked the best nursing schools across the usa.

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