The provided source materials document a series of free digital assets created by designer Grant Friedman, distributed through various design tutorial platforms and newsletters. These freebies consist primarily of vector illustration brushes for Adobe Illustrator and high-resolution raster brushes for Adobe Photoshop, intended for use by graphic designers and digital artists. The documentation highlights partnerships between Friedman and design websites such as VECTORTUTS and WebDesignDepot.com to distribute these assets to subscribers. While the materials discuss the nature of "free" offerings in an economic context, the core consumer-relevant information pertains to the acquisition of specific design tool assets at no monetary cost.
Vector Illustration Brushes for Adobe Illustrator
VECTORTUTS, a platform dedicated to vector graphics tutorials, hosted an exclusive collection of brushes created by Grant Friedman for Adobe Illustrator. This collection was marketed as a tool to help users add a "natural media feel" to their vector illustrations. The set was described as a "huge set" and explicitly stated to contain over 90 individual brushes.
The availability of this specific freebie was tied to the launch of a new "Freebies" section on the VECTORTUTS website. The documentation indicates that these assets were available for direct download by all visitors to the site. The source material suggests that VECTORTUTS actively commissioned artists to design exclusive sets for their platform, distinguishing these assets from generic stock resources. The specific "New Exclusive Illustrator Watercolor Brushes" were positioned as the first in a series of upcoming brush releases from the platform.
Photoshop Brush Sets and Distribution Channels
Grant Friedman also created Photoshop brush sets, which were distributed through different channels compared to the vector assets. One specific set, the "Sparkling Light Effects" brush set, consisted of 24 high-resolution brushes. The documentation specifies that this set was created by Friedman for the website WebDesignDepot.com.
Access to the Photoshop brush set was conditional. It was available free of charge specifically to readers of WebDesignDepot.com who subscribed to the Mighty Deals newsletter. This represents a distinct acquisition method requiring a user action (newsletter subscription) to unlock the free asset, rather than a direct download available to the general public.
Author Background and Context
The freebies were created by Grant Friedman, identified in the source materials as a veteran blogger, social media manager, design enthusiast, and photographer. Friedman held editorial positions at EnvatoTuts+ and served as Editor-in-Chief of Layers Magazine. His professional background included working as a photographer and filmmaker covering the fashion and beauty industries. The assets were often associated with his blog, Colorburned.com.
Economic Concepts Regarding "Free" Offerings
The source materials include a discussion on the economic principle often summarized as "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" (TANSTAAFL). This section, while not directly related to the design assets, provides context for understanding the nature of free offers.
The text explains that the phrase originated from 19th-century marketing tactics where saloons offered "free" lunches with the assumption that patrons would purchase beer, the cost of the lunch being incorporated into the drink price. The economic lesson derived is that "free" goods or services still carry an opportunity cost. Even if there is no direct monetary charge, the consumer may be paying in other ways, such as time, subscription requirements, or the purchase of related products.
The documentation further elaborates that in a perfectly competitive market, no true free lunches exist because resources have alternative uses. However, the text also notes a contradiction, observing that economists generally believe improved policy can yield better outcomes for everyone. For the purpose of this article, the key takeaway is the distinction between "free" as in no direct payment versus "free" as in no opportunity cost.
Conclusion
The documentation confirms that Grant Friedman has produced several collections of digital design tools, specifically watercolor brushes for Adobe Illustrator and light effects brushes for Adobe Photoshop. These assets were distributed through design education platforms like VECTORTUTS and WebDesignDepot.com. While the Illustrator brushes were available for general download, the Photoshop brushes required a newsletter subscription for access. The acquisition of these freebies aligns with the economic principle that "free" resources often require a specific action or opportunity cost, such as subscribing to a mailing list, rather than representing a cost-less transaction in the strictest sense.