So far, we have mainly worked with two programs, Photoshop and Illustrator. Both are used to manipulate 2-D graphics, and both are similar in some ways, but, at the same time, are very different in others.
One of the main differences between the two programs is the type of image they can be used to make. Photoshop is bitmap-based, making it resolution dependent. This means it works with images made up of pixels. Illustrator is a vector-based program, which means it works with images that are resolution independent. For this reason Illustrator is better for making images that might be enlarged, like logos. Since vector images are resolution independent, they can be enlarged without losing quality. As the name suggests, Photoshop is better suited to editing photos and making more realistic graphics. Beyond the types of images they are used to create, there are differences in the way these programs operate. Many of the tools are different, and some of the tools that seem the same operate in different ways. Still, the layout is somewhat similar. I remember finding that learning Illustrator wasn’t particularly hard after learning Photoshop, which was likely a result of, among other things, the similar layout. Now that I’m familiar with both, I have no trouble going back and forth between them. They involve similar skills, which I think was helpful when I was learning to use Illustrator. While I enjoy working with both programs, I have used Photoshop more outside of class. I prefer working with it because I can make more realistic graphics. If I want to draw something, I generally prefer to do so on paper than in Illustrator. Still, Illustrator is preferable for making professional looking illustrations, though so far I haven’t really had a need for any. In the end, Photoshop and Illustrator differ greatly. Still, they are similar enough that it isn’t hard to learn one if you are familiar with the other.
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Recently, we've begun working with Adobe Illustrator. In working with Illustrator, there are multiple struggles I’ve come across. The biggest issue at first was simply that it was different than Photoshop, which was what I was used to. Sometimes the way you did certain things you could also do in Photoshop was different. This made Illustrator a little hard to learn at first, but I was able to get used to it fairly quickly. One of the later problems I encountered was using completely unfamiliar tools. In creating the image above, I made use of some of these tools. I used the mesh tool to create the shading on the burger. It took me awhile to figure out how to use it, but once I figured it out, it didn’t take long for me to get the hang of it. The pen tool, on the other hand, was a different story. I managed to create the cheese and lettuce with it, but it took a while. It wasn’t hard to figure out how it worked, but it was, and still is for me, at least as of this post, hard to use. Hopefully as I work more with Illustrator, I will get used to it.
While some parts may be hard, I find Illustrator an enjoyable program to use. I like how I’m forced to use only shapes, which makes me think outside the box when trying to create something. It’s interesting to see what you can make in such a program. Illustrator could be used in pre-production of a game or film. It can be used to create concept art, which is something I hope to do with it. Overall, Illustrator is an interesting, and highly useful program. While parts may be hard, I enjoy using it.
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AuthorI'm interested in film and animation. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not represent those of Durham School of the Arts or Durham Public Schools.
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