Illustrator v Photoshop

Hi, i have been using photoshop for quite some time now and i have recently being looking at some other adobe products.

What is the difference between Illustrator and Photoshop.

What would be the main use for Illustrator. What do people use Iluustrator to create that Photoshop can't do

 

They are completely different types of programs. In a nutshell Illustrator is for creating vector graphics (logos, etc) and single page design layouts (posters, etc.) Photoshop is mainly for creating graphics and photo manipulation. Usually you create an image in Photoshop and bring it into Illustrator as a layer of your design. Hope that helps.

 

Ok cool, thanks, so which is best used for creating web graphics

 

Usually we create the graphics and the design for the site in Photoshop, then bring them into Fireworks for exporting to jpg/gif. Fireworks has, in my opinion, the best balance between image quality and filesize. Others may disagree and that's valid too.

 

Ok cool, thanks for your help. So if we design in PS, edit in FW, then when do we use illustrator, sorry for all the questions but you seem to know what you are talking about

 

for me AI is the best software to make a cool vector design and its also reliable for flyers,billboard design, logo and others that involve high quality design mostly for print such as flyers,catalogue and others..

for PS that good for photo editing, web graphics and it's involve raster image.People always used PS for photo editing and make cool web graphics for online based environment..

Rasterhotoshop
Vector:AI,Flash

just my 2cents

 

Fireworks is Vector as well, right? You can then export in raster (jpg, etc)

 

illustrator is better than photoshop...

 

Ok cool, thanks guys

 

LOL why do u say illustrator is better than photoshop? They are for different things and cannot be compared.

 

yeah..agreed

 

illustrator is a vector package which mean that is lays out its items using points (rather than pixels) which then gives the shape a smoothed edge and means that it can easily be made larger or smaller without loosing its quality. Where as photoshop is a bitmap programme and lays out its iteams using graphics, however you can create vector graphics in photoshop, but these will not be true vectors because if you still try to make these images larger or smaller then the quality will be reduced.

 

crouchyyy and others are right.

Illustrator creates all of its shapes with vectors (math) which means they can be infinitely scaled. This is perfect for logo's and type that needs to be printed at a variety of sizes without losing quality.
If you are looking to get into web work, you really don't need to concern yourself with Illustrator. You should be fine with a good knowledge of Photoshop/ Imageready and if you wanted you could look into Fireworks.

 

Depending on what you want to do, Either or is for you.

I use both, since I get asked to create Vector Logotypes, which I find Illustrator easier to use, since it has a 'more powerful' pentool system.

However, Photoshop is more direct. I find it alot easier to create shapes, and alter images as needed. So I stick with photoshop.

 

Photoshop uses a rasterized canvas, meaning each canvas is a certain number of pixels wide, little dots, and all of the images are stored dot by dot, colour by colour. This is how photographs are stored.

Illustrator uses a vector canvas, meaning each shape id drawn based on a set of dots and connecting lines. This means you can zoom in until the image is the size of north america and it still wouldn't be pixellated because it redraws it based on those intructions. This makes file-sizes small and images oerfect quality. This is called a vector image.

I would recommend, if you don't already have illustrator, there's an open-source programs that I find better than illustrator: inkscape (inkscape(dot)org)

Try it out and see what it feels like before spending all the money for illustrator, (if you find you still need it after learning inkscape)

hope this helps!

 

Hi, thanks for all your responses, however i have one quick question regarding illustrator.

If i create a new logo 400 x 300 in illustrator, how do i make that small logo into a 2400 x 1800 logo (as it won't loose quality).

So if someone asks me for the logo in a large size, what is the best way of getting the original logo to this large size, thanks

 

okay, if you go under file > export > (png) or whatever > i brings you a dialog box that asks what pixel resolution you want. Screen is 72 or 90, print needs 300 dpi, but if you export it at 6000 dpi it will be VERY big. I guess you have to do a little math with illustrator.

In inkscape however, shift-alt-e brings up the export dialog box and you can specify easily in pixels ecactly how big you want it and at what resolution.

If it's a simple logo you can always save it from illustrator as an SVG provided the text is all outlined-mode and no longer editable text (which it should be for a logo) and inkscape and illustrator can both share SVG's because it's a standardized vector format made by the same people who make HTML and CSS.