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Illustrator Differences between Illustrator and Photoshop


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333OnlyHalfEvil

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I thought a thread on this would've already been made but, if it does exist, I've failed to locate it. Anyways, can anyone explain the differences between Illustrator and Photoshop? What can Illustrator do that Photoshop can't? What are the advantages of using Illustrator? What are the advantages of using Photoshop?
 
In the simplest terms Photoshop is for raster based images (such as photographs) and Illustrator is for vector based graphics and typography.

There are some areas where both programs will be able to do the same job, for example Photoshop does have some vector abilities and it can be quite good for typography... but it's not what it was made for.
 
Thanks for the replies. I actually went to the first two links before I made this thread. All of the links always say that Illustrator is for vector graphics and photoshop is for raster graphics. I get that Illustrator specializes in vector based graphics and photoshop specializes in raster based graphics but, photoshop can do vector graphics too. Having never used Illustrator, I can't figure out in what situations Illustrator would be preferable to photoshop.
 
From what ive read and experienced, PS will not use Vectors like AI does, if you load a Vector in PS it Rasterizes to a smart object therefor it's no longer a Vector, technically if your working with pixels or if it has to be Rasterized then it's not a Vector, once you make a shape in Photoshop that's it, you can only blow it up so much and then it starts getting edges and pixelated, unless of course your working with Smart Objects and even then im pretty sure your limited on how big you can blow objects and shapes up....

The main thing i could see using AI for would be huge signs and huge graphics, it's much more efficient to use PS or Web Design per se... That's just my opinion from what little experience i have with AI...
 
333OnlyHalfEvil said:
Thanks for the replies. I actually went to the first two links before I made this thread. All of the links always say that Illustrator is for vector graphics and photoshop is for raster graphics. I get that Illustrator specializes in vector based graphics and photoshop specializes in raster based graphics but, photoshop can do vector graphics too. Having never used Illustrator, I can't figure out in what situations Illustrator would be preferable to photoshop.
Click to expand...

If you're dealing with vector it's best to do it in Illustrator. Photoshop is not TRUE vector. You can take a vector in Illustrator that is an inch by an inch and increase it to 100 inches by a 100 inches and it will not pixelate. Almost ALL logo's are created in Illustrator for this reason. You can always scale up or down with no loss of information or decrease in image quality. Illustrator excels with regards to fonts for this reason as well. They look crisp and smooth at any size. They both have their uses and each excel better in different area's. Bottomline - just using one or the other often times will not give you the desired look or flexibility you are trying to ultimately achieve.
 
I agree, i left out what Ai does with Fonts, thanks for dropping that in there. I was playing in AI today, i just bought the DVD from Lynda.com actually, so it should be here soon. I think it will get much easier once i wrap my head around what tools do what and get used to the Interface, i did notice that a lot of tools that are present in Ps are also in Ai but they do different things between the programs...
 
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Some programs attempt to do it, rather poorly but pretty much labor free.. The best way to do it is with gradients..
 
So... if you HAD to use just one program for just about EVERYTHING that you would have to do in terms of what you do, which would you choose, photoshop or illustrator?...
As i'm getting the vibe that both can basically do the same thing as the other, albeit not as well...
Personally, I'll just stick with photoshop as I'm a newbie at illustrator ^^
 
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