Photoshop vs. Illustrator?

VT_scratch

VT_scratch

Active member
HEY NS,

so i have photoshop and i know enough stuff to get me through what I need, nothing too fancy. However, next semester I am taking a class at school "digital arts and graphic design."

In this class were using photshop and illustrator. Would it be worth it to download illustrator to try and get used to the program or is it similar enough to photoshop that I wont have a hard time keeping up.

Thoughts?

ps- post some stuff you've done in illustrator if you have anything

THANKS
 
If your class is teaching you to use photoshop and illustrator why waste your time and learn it now?
 
so I have an idea of what I am doing. this way I can make shit im pleased with right from the start instead of the whole learning curve shit. Just like how I would have liked to know premiere better before I took movie production class. the stuff I made in the beginning was sooo much worse compared to my stuff in the end.
 
I made this in Illustrator.

you willl nedd to click on it.

1257960910Sub_Zero_Productions_Logo.jpg

1257960910Sub_Zero_Productions_Logo.jpg

1257960910Sub_Zero_Productions_Logo.jpg
 
Id start here with it..

9780321563453.jpg


Ive done everything from layouts to full blow vector art in illustrator. typically use it for one page sell sheets, logos, mockups for websites, email templates, etc..
 
Illustrator makes vector images ( when you make a mark, the computer creates a mathematical equation for that mark, therefore using it is not as intuitive) Photoshop creates raster images, which means it works with pixels, which makes it so you can draw more like you draw in real life, and as the name suggests, work better with photos. If you already knew about vector and raster images, i'm sorry. I just learned about them myself. Illustrator takes longer to get used to and get good at, and mostly works for making entirely new images. It's also fun to use the two in conjunction (i.e. make some text in illustrator, since you can manipulate it really easily, then use it in a Ps image.)They do very different things, and if you are going to use both, you should have both. I just downloaded the 30 day trial and it didn't cost me anything, so if you don't think you will use it after your course, that's an option. Also if you're a student you can usually get a discount through your school's bookstore.Picture I made in Photoshop using illustrator for the text parts (bottom right) I've only used it a handful of times, so judge accordingly:
1257985035image_number_1_project_3_01.jpg

 
If you're going to use them both, do all the image editing first in photoshop and THEN bring it into Illustrator. Once you bring the text or whatever into photoshop it all becomes pixels anyways. If you are making duplicates and have something much bigger or smaller than the other (like a logo or something), it won't get pixelated. If you're doing a project with text, do anything with images you can in photoshop, then bring it all into Illustrator and do the text ontop of it. That way everything will be more crisp.

Sorry for the horrible scans. Here are a few things I did in Illustrator a while back

hpqscan0009.jpg


hpqscan0004.jpg


hpqscan0003.jpg


hpqscan0005.jpg


Illustrator and Photoshop

hpqscan0002.jpg


hpqscan0006.jpg


Jump, mountains, sky, and skier are all different pictures put together in photoshop, everything else was done in illustrator, including tracing Freeskier with the pen tool.

Freeskeeter.jpg


 
incorrect with your photoshop makes illustrator objects pixels,,, photoshop has gotten a lot better handling vector files and calls them "smart objects" which you can edit in illustrator if needed again. they only become raster onces you dictate that.

the best idea is to create all the work in photoshop and illustrator and import them into indesign (as psd and ai files). Indesign can handle layers now and works great with incorporating files from other adobe products.
 
I'd get a copy of illustrator if I were in your position. I know photoshop pretty well, and I have illustrator but I haven't used it too much. All I know is that the few times I have used I was pretty confused. The general layout is the same, but of course it has different tools for a different job. I'm sure you'll be fine if you don't as it shouldn't take too long to get the basics down, but I enjoy learning programs like that so I would get it.
 
Never hurts to start learning on your own. And hey, it's fun right? I did pretty much the same thing before I took similar classes in highschool. You should just start gettin' down man. If you start now you will have some knowledge about the program and will have room to ask questions about how to do things once the class starts. Plus you have the advantage to be better than your classmates, which is always nice..ha.
Check out my flickr for some Illustrator work:http://www.flickr.com/photos/madeservice/
Everything on there is finished in Illy...Photoshop was used to help create some elements (imagery was imported into PS, edited, and brought into Illy for livetrace / vectoring).

 
If I were you I would start playing with the program now.

Alot of the tools are the same, but have different features and work a little bit differently.

The biggest thing for me going from photoshop to illustrator was the layers. In photoshop almost everything I did was using seperate layers, in illustrator it's more object based.

Lately I've found that doing all the creating and concept design in illustrator and doing post-prod touch up in photoshop works.

 
Everybody pretty much hit the raster and vector image thing on the head, so i'll post some leaves I drew instead. I was just messing around with repeating a set of objects to form a pile, more types of leaves would probably benefit. Taking the colors down a bit would be better too, they aren't that saturated when they're dead and dry in the street.

20ijnkm.jpg

 
that was a great add to this thread.. those books only "blow" if you know how to use the programs.. the OP doesnt know how to use AI, buying a cheap $24 book is a great start to learn the toolbar and all the items in it. this book is in no way an advanced user manual for such a super user like you...
 
1196359600form_and_color_project2.jpg


knowing photoshop will definitely help in learning illustrator. the most important thing to learn is the pen tool. it's simple, but it takes some practice to find your touch with it.
 
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