I use libreoffice draw, the drawing tools are similar to those of word, and it can export to many formats (eps, svg, wmf, etc.)

About 15 years ago, I used inkscape, it had many drawing tools, but it was quite unstable. I see that versions are still being released, so I think it must be stable now.

Manuel B. Garcia, maybe my condition of "novice" in Illustrator make me said that. Recently when I was working in a sketch I had several problems to make operations with paths and objects similar to CAD softwares, e.g., extend a path to intersect another, move a path to touch the border of another, and others.

I will take your answer and I will improve my abilities with Illustrator, because I do not want an editor with "ready-made templates or drag-and-drop features".

Thanks for your help, also thanks to David Vega (I will keep an eye in libreoffice draw).

Creating graphics is a work of art just like reporting is. And what really matters is the eye that coordinates with the hand behind the tool. Further there is no shoe that fits all size.

For my purposes [1,2] use of Inkscape [3] has mostly been sufficient, and now I feel that it has become a necessity too. I like the intuitive interface, use of keyboard in combination with the mouse, eg. spc, Ctrl-click, The concept of grouping, duplicates, clones, align, color selection using a shift+click, and filters, all fit well into my mental model.

It also interfaces seamlessly with different end-user formats, like png, pdf, svg (that can be imported to html), and eps (that interfaces well with latex)

Most importantly, it is open-source!

[1] https://bvraghav.com/can-i-teach-a-robot-to-replicate-a-line-art/img/teaser.png

[2] https://bvraghav.com/can-i-teach-a-robot-to-replicate-a-line-art/img/skeunet-block.png

[3] https://inkscape.org/

Raghav Brahmadesam Venkataramaiyer, thank you very much for your answer. Excellent graphics!!!

CORELDRAW

For research documents involving pie charts, graphs etc. Word will do.

I work with Corel Draw and Adobe Illustrator. Although Illustrator is said to be the standard in the graphic industry, this is not exactly the case and depends a lot on the sector. Illustrator is great software but Corel Draw is much more powerful, flexible and intuitive.

With Corel Draw you can use scaling and measurement tools in the style of CAD software, database embedding, bitmap manipulation without leaving Corel Draw, grouping objects and layers, not just layers, using powerclips that is similar to the clipping tool but more powerful, and many more capabilities than you might need. Among what you mention, the smart guides and the variety of fitting options when working with vectors, is far superior to Illustrator.

In spite of everything, the choice of one software or another depends more on your ability with it, than on the software itself.

Illustrator, in my opinion, provides much more advanced tools than Corel Draw, especially with regard to vectoring. You can save files to many extensions and the final file quality will depend on the settings you preset. Because it is compatible with other Adobe software you may well reconcile their functions, I will give you a practical example: Fernando Gomez Baptista, illustrator and infographics designer at National Geographic in his process of creating infographics for the magazine sketched an initial idea on paper, goes to the illustrator and layout this first idea - add the text, determine the location of the images, and vectorize the icons - then finish it off in Photoshop, placing textures, balancing colors, and so on.

Regarding the Vector Editor, rather than facilitate a complete software package purchase; think about an add-on component to an existing robust vector-compatible graphic editor. Many confuse apps as library suites, profiles, utility tools, etc.; yet these types of additions are more like an entire SW package install to themselves. They offer capabilities and the flexibility to exceed typical parameters of commercial SW, like scientific notation, formula construction, calculating graphical equation editors, database integration, etc.

One program cannot be the ‘be all’ and ‘do all’ while foreseeing and staying compatible with the future tech to come. And of these, the scientific sector is very complex and diverse to facilitate all; as such, this sector is rich in these add-on library resources. The specifications of computing platform and hardware are the major objectives to comply with in publishing the specialty of your scientific trade. Meaning, for some needs, a stronger computing power might be warranted to get access and the capability to perform your computing needs like UNIX or higher, open source (LINUX) is a better way to go economically, though usually the trade-off there is a learning curve.

I started with a Mainframe SW (enterprise level), Interleaf now called, QuickSilver, which was scaled down through the computing ranks to PC level. While beta-testing this program it was startling how I was still performing such powerful computing tasks within such a small frame work as a pre-Pentium machine with 2MB RAM (that’s right) and a dual drive (10MB each). Imagine a publishing tool that was a combination of MS Word for text, Quark Xpress/InDesign for layout, and other Photoshop (raster) and Illustrator/AutoCAD (vector) for imaging; and you could flip from one mode into another on the fly without even changing the desktop. Back then, the only hold-out was working outside the program dealing with the system attributes; in that, back then to create a high-vector image was instantaneous, yet saving it to a floppy disc took over ten minutes for each data change (grin). Yes, that was decades ago (ha ha).

Some notable applications today such as AutoCAD offer great add-on libraries that one can specifically tailor to meet their notation needs (i.e., 3D, Electrical, Construction, Engineering, Mathematics, Astrology, Chemistry, etc.). Corel Draw is other great SW that has extensive technical documentation library selections for additional certified abilities (Aerospace, Transportation, Marine, Space Planning). Another option has been a situation of buying licensing rights to modify a commercial package to specifically match your technical needs. Quark Xpress offer such services, where you can have permission to alter their programming properties to better suit your production goals through your own programmer. The power is in short-cut keys (ASCII-based) rather than the more popular option due to ease of use, graphical menu options that take up more process time and computing space. Though this was a page layout program, I was performing vector-based font manipulation like stretching or convexing text as graphical objects (as in illustrator).

In construction, these libraries would include documentation components to facilitate permitting or inventory while designing. Other Libraries in electronics, engineering or chemistry, may have the focus on formulas, symbols, and numeric expertise. Currently I am into solar design for installation and in determining the parameters for utility-scale power purchase agreements, I have a slew of calculations that can be applicable for whatever the design need is to illustrate power generation/distribution numerically for economic and O&M purposes. I have used Adobe Illustrator, though tedious, suited my need at the time. As an ‘one-man band’ operation running a home-based business in technical writing/publishing, it suits me (I don’t mind the labor-intensive operations). Yet I wouldn’t recommend that option for major production output. You would have to hire many ‘skilled’ illustrators, which equates to higher wages to pay for the expertise capabilities. Where as purchasing a more robust SW program could offset that personnel deficit to your budget, while adding technical capabilities ‘on-the-fly’ with very little learning curve.

To start, try contacting several major technical publishing firms to distribute industrial-grade texts or technical equations/numeric textbooks and inquired as to what are their SW solution(s) to performing what you want. More often than not, they would have the inside track on enterprise level SW or commercial SW that is non-retail for higher level of technical publishing professionalism and communication.

Lastly, look into conversion models of existing SW; though they may not be a graphic program, yet are still capable of producing graphic formulas and math equations; then save in a compatible format. Meaning, may typical equations-based SW, take Excel for example, using their internal graphical component to create formulas. Then output your work through a conversion process to print, called ripping. Most RIPs of major print houses use PDF format to maintain the vector-capability (scalability) and the efficient processes involves to keep clarity and quality high of raster-based imagery while the file size stays extremely low with a format that is a global standard in compatibility.

Good luck on your endeavors, and please keep me in the information loop on what you finally decide upon. I am very interested in what you choose and, more importantly, why. J. Clark

I found tons of vector open source resources for producing quality technical drawings. Possibly you should search for vector editors of a specific science, math, or technology. I search for the same for doing trigonometry equations for solar power analysis and calculations. Wow! Under vector, I got the usual mainstream big brands. Yet when I search specifically for vector editors to produce electrical drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, etc. Oooh Wee! What made the exploration so pleasing was that these out o sorts programs seemed rinky-dink, yet when I went it and started doing work many had auto setups that you can over write to you customize performances....all free.

Remember, the Internet is vast, yet when looking for a free vector program; be patient! The free ones get buried under the hundreds of SEO (paid high-visibility placement within all searches regardless what the search is for) clients of google Hierarchy system.

For me, the solutions is time, and time is money. So if I have to do a lot of setting up and configuring to make some auto feature work when I could have drawn it myself and convert it to vector with points, angles, and curves. Then the program is useless. Other cases I have found some that simply wanted to know the variables involved and the SW took over and produce some of the most cleanest drawings with mucho options. Please excuse my looseness of the vocabulary I get excited talking about graphic tech.

Now as I mentioned earlier, You might be able to save time by writing out the equations, scan it into digital format then import it into Corel or Illustrator and have then convert into vector. Shhhh! On the QT side, any of you still capable of running Flash (with PostScript Language embedded), you can really get very fluid and versatile with whatever you doing and it would convert on the fly. Ooops! I said too much (don't want to anger the cyber gods of the techno corp/govt realm). Heh! Heh!

Dear @john Clark.

I really enjoyed reading your answer. For the moment my workflow is:

1. Solve the problem in Matlab

2. Create graphic in Matlab (graphic settings line by line)

3. Save graphic in PDF

4. Finish the graphic in Illustrator (adding some specific things impossible or too complicated in Matlab)

5. Save in PDF and load in Latex

Dear Lemuel Carlos Ramos Arzola,

Here are some vector graphic tutorials for scientists on my channel DrawBioMed. I make these tutorials to help scientist making graphical abstracts in Illustrator, Inkscape, and PowerPoint. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaj-dnHpfViQRv9-vQFl4Jw.

If you have specific questions about certain structures, welcome to ask me in the comment section.

Dear Jon Jieh-hen Tsung

Excellent channel. You can count on a new subscriber!

Dear Lemuel Carlos Ramos Arzola,

I am sure by now you might have already found your favourite tools in creating high-end illustrations for journals! But I learnt from my own PhD experience that we can't have too many peer suggestions :). So, I am sharing a bit of what works for me. I generally hop in-between Procreate | Powerpoint | Photoshops to create flow charts, schematics and MATLAB | Photoshops for graphs/ results. Here is an example in my recent publication :

[1]. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-65303-7

Good luck,

Bipasha

Dear Bipasha Kashyap

Thanks for your suggestions. Excellent figures!!!

I have been a graphic designer since 1978 and I have used every type of program one can think of when it comes to graphic since 1986. If your new at this be careful of diving into Illustrator because you may become discouraged. It is not that intuitive but does work very well with Photoshop. I suggest INKSCAPE for many good reasons but you can try any of these programs for free and I think you should try several before deciding. Good luck!!

https://scientificstock.com/: Download royalty-free vector in high quality for creative and academic use in different areas of scientific knowledge. It is the first vector sales platform made with not only creative but also academic and scientific purposes. It is a place of intersection between art and science.

E-mail: [email protected]

To produce my figures for scientific research papers I use Mind the Graph. check out the platform gallery that may have what you need. https://mindthegraph.com/app/illustrations