About Adobe Programs

Adobe

There are two kinds of computer graphics - raster (composed of pixels) and vector(composed of paths). Raster images are more commonly called bitmap images.

A bitmap image uses a grid of individual pixels where each pixel can be a different color or shade. Bitmaps are composed of pixels.

Vector graphics use mathematical relationships between points and the paths connecting them to describe an image. Vector graphics are composed of paths.

The image to the left below is representative of a bitmap and the image to the right is representative of a vector graphic. They are shown at four times actual size to exaggerate the fact that the edges of a bitmap become jagged as it is scaled up:

Photoshop

The most important thing to know about Photoshop is that it is a pixel based program. Photoshop was primarily created in the beginning as a photograph enhancing tool and not so much anything else like it is used today.

 Photoshop is generally used for:

·         Photo enhancement/Photo color correction

·         Software/Web/Mobile UI design

·         Web graphics

·         Motion graphics

·         Special effects 

Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a vector based drawing program. It is primarily used to create vector graphics that require to be scalable in print and for future uses. Adobe Illustrator is very similar to drawing programs like Adobe Fireworks.

Illustrator is generally used for:

·         Logo/Logotype/Monogram/Insignia design

·         Type setting for stationary systems/print campaigns

·         Web graphics

·         Motion graphics

·         Vector paintings/Illustrations

InDesign

With Adobe InDesign users have flexibility to create complex page layouts that can incorporate body text, numbered footnotes, graphics, photos and other visual elements.

Indesign is generally used for:

·  Editorial design

·  Book design

·  Multiple page brochures

·  Annual reports

·  Interactive PDF documents

Compare and Contrast

Illustrator vs. Indesign

·  Illustrator does not have master pages.

·  Illustrator cannot define page numbers.

·  Indesign cannot draw objects as well as Illustrator.

·  Indesign does not have filters, as Illustrator does.

·  Indesign has superior type wrapping tools, while it maybe a bit confusing with Illustrator.

 Illustrator vs. Photoshop

·  Illustrator has superior vector support, while Photoshop has limited.

·  Illustrator does better page layout than Photoshop.

·  Illustrator does not handle pixel art the same way as Photoshop does in terms of effects.

·  Photoshop is superior for photo enhancing.

·  Photoshop creates precise pixel based UI designs compared to Illustrator.

·  Illustrator supports multiple page output for PDF while Photoshop does not.

·  Photoshop layers is much straight forward than Illustrator. Organizing elements is much easier in Photoshop because of this.

·  Illustrator supports the “Place” (Importing graphics) command through dynamic file linking. Photoshop’s “Place” command is strictly embedded into the .PSD file and is not linked. This means that you can make changes to a certain file outside of Illustrator and you can reflect the changes in Illustrator using the Links panel. In Photoshop, whatever you place is permanent (credit to Kjell-Roger Ringstad for noticing this).

·  Illustrator exports .EPS file formats better than Photoshop.

 Indesign vs. Photoshop

·  Indesign creates page layouts while Photoshop does not.

·  Indesign links elements or design objects from various locations in your hard drive. Photoshop does not. It is all placed in the document.

·  Indesign supports multiple pages for PDF and print. Photoshop is all one document.

·  Photoshop has filter effects while Indesign is limited.

·  Indesign supports XML, Photoshop does not.

·  Indesign supports vectors, imports .AI and .EPS with vector data encoded. In Photoshop this gets converted to paths or pseudo vector. The final output is still pixel based.