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Illustrator vs. Photoshop

Last post 27 Oct 2008 by

paranoidpark

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meredith

My Thoughts Crave Your Thoughts.

Illustrator vs Photoshop. We Need Information. Little things even if you think that everyone knows them because... Most Likely They Don't :].

Example: What does what best, What doesn't do what best, Whats the easiest way to do this, Or the quickest way to do that, Or even though there is a quicker way the BEST way is this.. , Or tools you prefer in each, i.e...Text in Illustrator vs. Text in Photoshop, what is YOUR preference ... and describe the functionality of those tools you love and why.

Any thoughts or info you have regarding them that you could bring to the forum to help encourage growth... Leave it here!

And i would like to say in advance, everyone is awesome!

Reply 26 Sep 2007

wickedmartin

Well, the path tool in illustrator is waay easier to use, but thats due to its vector based nature I believe. Why? Just choose stroke size/colour, fill, opacity and you're ready for action. Actually, when I think of it, the path tool is pretty much everything I use in illustrator.

However, I think Illustrator has a _slightly_ more sophisticated way of editing type, though as said above, I haven't taken a really close look at it.

----
"Through the rise and fall of worlds one greater mind previals,
conjuring new creations as it watches the old ones fail."

Quote 26 Sep 2007

edhall

Illustrator
Pros
Vector - Smooth clean lines that can scaled to just about anything.

Type - The type engine mixed with vector gives you wonderful clean type. The control you have with the type is amazing.

Color - Although not a big pro, I found that picking colors in illustrator are just a breeze. The color palette is awesome, it pulls in colors from your document in to the palette for easy reference. With CS3 you can have the grouped together real nice now.

Cons
Raster effects - Are shoty, AI has decent raster effects (such as drop shadows and gradients). But the more complex they get the worse the effect (even at 300dpi).

Qirks Sometimes the program will do things that are rather annoying especially when dealing with raster effects. If you move a object (or group or objects) Illustrator will then go through the process of applying the filter again to the object so annoying.

Photoshop
Pros
Effects You can achieve just about anything you want to in Photoshop.

Layers Just like orgre's photoshop layers are awesome. They have saved me numerous times from have to start over. I'm in the habit now for every little change or addition to a picture I make a new layer. Layer Effects also make things easier. If I need to change a color instead of just changing the object I'll add a layer effect (in this case color overlay) and I won't effect the actual object. Same with special effects (glows, drop shadows etc).

Actions Makes batching a lot easier just set up a key command with the action and life is easier.

Healing Brush + Clone Stamp If you ever work in a design field you know how important these two tools are in photoshop. Picture is the wrong size? Clone in the rest to fit. Does the image (model) have a blemish? Heal it to make it go away. Genius.

Photo Handling All of photoshops tools for handling photographs are top notch. You can just about always get the perfect picture.

Cons
Type Do to it being a rasterbaster program type is also rastered and you get pixelated type.

File size I know this is something that can't be changed but it's tough that your 300dpi file is 10x larger than your 300dpi Illustrator file.

Photoshop + Illustrator
Pros
Bridge Adobe Bridge has allowed seamless integration to allow vector objects into Photoshop. So rock awesome and useful.

Cons
Price Yeah it's a budget smasher. But worth it.

I'm sure there is more and I'll add when I think of them.
----
Ed
i design things.

Quote 26 Sep 2007

meredith

Thanks so much for the responses!

With illustrator,
something about the art board itself stresses me out. i agree that the quirks of illustrator are annoying. i'm always clicking on the wrong object and messing up my flow vs. ps when you are on a layer you are on a layer.. a mind trick (works for me not sure about anyone else) if i pretend ps doesn't exist i can work much better in illustrator. i make less excuses and force myself to be patient. Basically i have to think so mechanically that my mind is overwhelmed and i cant even channel my thoughts properly. I am not my fullest potential in illustrator due to lack of comfort and familiarity making the experience incredibly frustrating about 85% of the time.

With Photoshop, Everything just comes so much more natural.

Along with all of the wonderful Tools mentioned above, Photoshop = Eraser <3 , I think i must use the eraser alot, i don't see one in illustrator, i'm guessing that is for a reason...

I'm certain i will have more to put here.

Quote 26 Sep 2007

meredith

Haha. I swear its so funny how i am. Illustrator and I are finally starting to break some barriers and develop a nice little relationship with one another. And now that i have Photoshop back, i am trying to click on OBJECTS... lol. and though i still love you Photoshop i am getting very frustrated with you.

I have come to realize in Battle Photoshop vs. Illustrator i will never be satisfied.

I think the two should just go ahead and merge and get it over with.

Photostrater. :]

Quote 02 Oct 2007

meredith

er .. *edits. That's Photostrator ;b

Quote 02 Oct 2007

carly

Well they both have their different purposes...
As long as you know which program to do what sorts of things in then I think they can work happily together.

Quote 02 Oct 2007

meredith

mos def!

Quote 02 Oct 2007

mydeadpony

I use both a lot now.
I make letters and doodles/flourishes in Illu then drop them into PS to paint them back.

Illu rocks to create forms and shapes but it's because I am so used to it now, although I don't use it to 100% capacity I suppose.

I use PS for the brushes, I don't care much about the rest for the moment.

Quote 04 Oct 2007

meredith

Illustrator doesn't have the 'File Browser' like Photoshop does (for lazy people like myself).. Unless i am just not seeing this which is very possible..

Quote 04 Oct 2007

mydeadpony

What do you mean Meredith ?
I just go to file>open and I can see a preview of the artworks.
Do you mean the Bridge stuff ? I never use it.

Quote 04 Oct 2007

meredith

i mean like .. view>file browser - and then you have your files up as a little window while you work instead of having to go file>open all the time.

Quote 04 Oct 2007

meredith

oops

Edit!

that is Window>File browser... not View>File Browser

Quote 04 Oct 2007

meredith

Hiiii :] Question.

In Illustrator, Is there a keyboard shortcut for releasing or "Un-Selecting" an object without having to click your cursor off into a blank space?

Quote 11 Oct 2007

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