The first step toward efficient, creative projects is a strong understanding of contrasting design software dynamics. We’ll help you take that first step by comparing two powerful software tools. Adobe InDesign and Illustrator each have unique, beneficial design functions. Here’s a quick rundown of each system, followed by an in-depth breakdown of their similarities and differences.
InDesign
Adobe InDesign is a program that is used to create both print and digital projects. This typically includes things such as books, newsletters, brochures and newspapers. InDesign is often used by graphic designers, as it has extensive editing potential. It’s also used by marketers from time to time.
Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a software tool used to create different graphics, such as illustrations, artwork, drawings and more. Both the Windows and Mac operating systems are capable of running Illustrator. It is a vector graphics tool, meaning it constructs images using different lines that form shapes.
Illustrator supports the Grayscale, RGB, HSB, CMYK, and Web Safe RGB color models. InDesign supports LAB, CMYK, and RGB. When you paste or drag artwork from Illustrator into InDesign, RGB and CMYK colors convert in the expected color model. Grayscale colors are converted to the appropriate K value in a CMYK color in InDesign.
Individually, our design apps — Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign — have unique features that make each best suited for certain types of tasks and projects. You can also use them together to create all the different elements in your design and prepare it for any type of digital or print output. The Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit: A Project-Based Introduction to Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud, Illustrator Creative Cloud & InDesign Creative Cloud (Stay Current with Adobe Creative Cloud) Allan Wood. Adobe InDesign CS3, Photoshop CS3 & Illustrator CS3 (Adobe Creative Suite) Chris Botello. 3.3 out of 5 stars 6. It integrates with Adobe digital publishing solution, allowing you to create interactive ebooks and magazines. When it comes to Adobe Illustrator vs Photoshop vs InDesign, it’s up to your personal preference. Some say Photoshop is easier to learn, but you’d be wasting your time using it to create a brochure or a logo.
Now that you have some details about each app individually, here are four areas of comparison for the two systems, along with a breakdown for each:
1. Single and multi-page projects
Both InDesign and Illustrator handle single and multi-page tasks, so it’s important to weigh the benefits before deciding which to use. When it comes to single-page documents, especially print projects, Illustrator has the edge. Business cards and posters are ideal for Illustrator because it manipulates image and text size. It also handles visual features precisely.
Illustrator is capable of creating multi-page projects but InDesign is the superior multi-page option. InDesign has a Master Page function, which allows users to edit numerous pages without editing them individually. Furthermore, InDesign is ideal for multi-page, as it automatically numbers pages.
2. Comprehensive drawing features
Though it may seem obvious that Illustrator is the more in-depth drawing software, it’s critical to learn nuanced differences between the two programs’ drawing capabilities. Furthermore, it’s vital to know where Illustrator is lacking. When looking to draw creative, enhanced designs, Illustrator is the right choice. The artboard has multiple options and provides plenty of space to draw and create crisp designs. The only time Illustrator struggles with images is editing, so retain an alternative program to edit photos.
InDesign does have a few drawing options, including a pencil tool and the ability to draw some lines and shapes. Also, drawings done on Illustrator can be imported into InDesign. This is helpful when a team member completes a multi-page project, as Illustrator is better for single-page projects.
3. Logo creation and manipulation for organizations
InDesign creates shapes for logos but lags behind Illustrator in quite a few ways in this area. Illustrator is perfect for logo creation because images in Illustrator are made to fit any size while maintaining original quality. Logos change placements and sizes, so software that reacts correctly to the changes is necessary.
Another valuable function that makes Illustrator great for logo manipulation is the typesetting features. It shapes text to the preference of an organization. InDesign is great for text-related projects as well but it doesn’t measure up to Illustrator. Remember that each organization’s logo needs are drastically different. This information should guide you toward your program choice.
4. Beneficial integrations
A crucial aspect of choosing design software is determining how well it syncs with other programs. When it comes to integrations, Adobe InDesign flawlessly corresponds with important systems. One compelling InDesign integration is with Canto DAM, a digital asset management system designed to manage files.
Digital asset management is a comprehensive file storage solution. DAM provides a central location to store assets safely. InDesign connects to Canto and gives users a connection to open images from their media library in InDesign. This integration is vital for businesses who use InDesign and cloud storage systems.
The dynamics of a venture evolve and the choice between these software will change as well. Understand their subtle differences to create strong projects.
To get more insight into these two dynamic systems, watch our brief Illustrator vs InDesign video here:
Adobe has been offering graphics and desktop publishing software since Illustrator debuted on the Macintosh in 1987. Over the years, the Adobe product line has expanded to include offerings for nearly every aspect of digital and print publishing. Adobe applications provide the capability to create text and graphics for websites, create digital graphics and edit images and photos. Adobe products have become the de facto standard in the publishing industry.
To help ensure users have access to the best tools for the job, Adobe created a package of products called Creative Suite, now referred to as Creative Cloud. These tools provide the most robust solution to each of the different areas involved in comprehensive graphic design. Let’s go over the tools in the suite and discuss what they are and how they differ from one another.
Illustrator
Illustrator is designed to create vector-based graphics such as logos and brand markings that can be easily resized without pixelating or losing their detail. When you need to create dynamic illustrations that might be used in any number of different contexts and locations, Illustrator is the go-to application. However, Illustrator does not lend itself to fully editing photographs or building complete documents.
Photoshop
If you want to edit photos or even build web pages and graphical user interfaces, then Photoshop is the application most suited for you. Photoshop uses raster or pixel-based images, which is great for photos, but not great for logos and other types of graphics that need to be resized. This tool can help you color, sharpen, blur, darken, as well as add and remove image components from any image. But take note, if you’re looking to create projects where you need to organize photos and add content to them, Photoshop is probably not the best tool in the bag. However, Elements is perfect for this task.
Elements
This tool, best when used in conjunction with Photoshop, helps you to format your pictures and into a final product. Elements can combine your photos into collages, calendars, scrapbooks and many other types of projects containing images. It provides effects such as painting directly onto the photograph or manipulating different aspects of the photo, and there are tons of filters that can be applied to fulfill your artistic vision. Even though it is possible to create printed materials with Elements, it isn’t the most powerful tool for printing. InDesign is the printed document application in the Adobe stable of graphics tools.
InDesign
If you need to print books, brochures, pamphlets, business cards or any project that combines blocks of texts with images, InDesign is the Adobe tool best suited for the job. While you can create documents in the other tools, InDesign is designed to keep text clear during printing. It is also geared to work with commercial printers and produce smaller files that can be quickly transferred to network printers. Some of the other tools produce huge files that are harder to work with when creating multi-page documents. InDesign is the tool that you can use to bring everything together after your images or logos have been created and organized with the other tools.
Mastering these very powerful graphics tools from Adobe could prove to be a large task. However, mastering at least one of them could prove to be very beneficial. Graphics design is one of the most sought-after careers in technology today. Knowing how to use one or more of these tools can open great career opportunities.
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The best way to learn how to use these tools is to obtain training through a training center like ONLC. Chances are we a have training center near you so why not contact us today and get started on the path towards your new career?