This image will create the first entry in the Layers panel (on the left), and it will also be placed in the center area of Gravit Designer, on the canvas (figure 3).

I’ve prepared a rainy image, which you can either save to your computer and drag it to the canvas from there, or copy and paste directly from the browser. Because it’s an app about weather and a potential user should see the current conditions at a glance, let’s start with a full-sized background image. The page will hold all of the elements of the proposed app. ( View large version)Īfter having selected the “Nexus 5” preset, you will be presented with a new “page” (known as an artboard in other design applications) at the center. Top: Leaving 'width' and 'height' empty will create a design file with an infinite canvas. Figure 2: Bottom-left: Start from the 'Nexus 5' preset. This initial screen also lets you open files (either from Gravit Cloud or from your computer) and start from a selection of templates. (Please remember that you need to select “View” → “View Mode” → “Output View,” so that the overflowing parts of the design are clipped when you initially open the design in Gravit.) You can download the design file to inspect it or use it as the base of your own work. So, in this tutorial I will walk you through the creation of a neat weather app (designed by Claudia Driemeyer). ( Go to Part 2)Įvery new tool can feel daunting at the beginning. Gravit Designer is free, works on all major OS platforms and is available as both a web and desktop (standalone) app. Gravit also has Symbols and improved anchoring options (also called constraints in other apps) now. With the recent release, it’s gotten even better: Now you can import your Sketch files into Gravit (similarly to Figma, which also supports the new Sketch file format), save designs locally or sync them to Gravit Cloud, and get started quickly with design templates.

It can also be used to make icons, designs for print, presentations and much more. Gravit gives you all of the tools needed to create functional and elegant screen designs. One app that is quite new, though - and perhaps a bit overlooked - is the free Gravit Designer app. Being a designer at the moment is great because a wealth of modern design applications are available that let you easily bring your ideas to the screen: Sketch, Affinity Designer, Adobe XD (beta) and Figma, to name just a few (not to mention the classics, Photoshop and Illustrator).

Gravit designer app