[Alan]

Ok, can someone please tell me:
1)Illustrator is basically a design program, yes? But, so what does that mean? Can you draw with it? I know it is a vector drawing program, but what I mean is how technical vs. intuitive is it?
2) Doesn't Photoshop have similar tools? So can't you paint and do splines in photoshop, but Illustrator is splines only? In which case, what's the point?
3) Does everything produced by Illustrator suffer from the limits of typical vector programs? i.e. everything made in it looks like clip art (because it basically is)?

I don't mean to sound negative with these questions, as I really don't know much about this program, but I was talking to someone who was going on about how great Illustrator is and how Photoshop is only for scanning photos (argh!) and I didn't know enough about Illustrator to debate with him on this point.

Thanks,
-Alan

[Nocturnal]

Illustrator isn't at all like photoshop.
Since it's vector based, illustrator mathmatically calculates each shape, edge, color.. etc. This makes for better quality printing. I'm not saying photoshop can't produce the same results. But generally speeking Illustrator is definately more print-friendly to use when making a graphic design. you can import bmps and the like, but if you use the tools given in illustrator.. they will most certainly print correctly.

well i hope that makes sense..


Doh!

-Noc

[Xcal]

Here it is in a nutshell..

Photoshop:
You manipulate photorealistic images and very detailed painting-like images. You also create "painting-like" images with different brush effects, etc.


Illustrator: DESIGN - logos, type effects, icons, etc., particularly for web and print. Everything made in illustrator is scalable, meaning you can play around with the size of the image and not worry about resolution, etc. There is no resolution in illustrator. Everything is mathematical formulas. After you design in illustrator (type, logo, icon, etc), you import it in Photoshop, and you got yourself a nice, clean, smooth image. If you try the same in Photoshop (resizing, messing around) you're in for a world of hurt.

That's the basic scoop. Everything else in between, it's better for you to see for yourself than to try to explain with words.


----
Xcal

[KnightMare]

Imagine that you have an image with the size of a matchbox and you resize it to the size of a 50 meter building WITH ABSOLUTELY NO LOSS OF QUALITY... This is Illustrator.

Greetings,
KnightMare

[sfr]

Am I the only one who's stubbornly using Freehand?

Saffron / Sunflower

[Frost]

sfr =)

[eclipse]

I also prefer Freehand.

[Alan]

Ok, thanks. A few things are clearer now. I should try to experiment with a vector program to get a better understanding.

-Alan