MajestiK

What's the advantage to using Illustrator as opposed to Photoshop?

aironite

Welcome, WarmingTheCurb.

The only advantage I can think of right now is that AI can create vector line images.

vee

Welcome to the board WarmingTheCurb [righton]


There are two major differences between Photoshop and Illustrator:[list][*]Photoshop's vectors are resolution based and that's not the case with Illustrator.

In Photoshop you can't get more resolution out of your vectors than the current resolution of your document. Illustrator doesn't use resolution. The final resolution of your output is only limited by the output device itself.
[*]Illustrator is a dedicated vector program

It means that there are many more dedicated vector tools and effects available in Illustrator than in Photoshop. It's also possible to expand the toolset by installing extra Illustrator (vector) plugins. In Photoshop you can only add plugins that work with bitmaps.[/list:u]If you use a lot of vectors, then the best choice is Illustrator.

ladyfinger007

I agree with Gauss, besides one point: Photoshop's vectors have the same resolution on screen, but they'll use the full resolution of the printing device...

Illustrator has very powerful vector tools, while photoshop has only a basic set of them (for instance, there is no option to simplify a path in the vector tools in PS)

And now it's me who has to disagree Pierre

Like I said; the resolution of your document decides what the resolution of your vectors will be.

I'll give you an example;

- open a new document 100x100 pixels, only 20 ppi
- create a vector shape in the middle of your document
- print the document with the highest resultion of the printer

The result will be a shape that has 20 dots per inch. You can even count the 20 dots.

ladyfinger007

OK, I see... I'm printing on a CLC, Canon Color Laser Copier, and my vectors are crisp -clean , even at 5 dpi... but printing on a HP 990, the vectors are pixelated... thus I guess that the problem is that one need a Postscript printer to get precise vectors... both of us were right, then... [righton]

wbiss

Welcome WarmingTheCurb!

I work with both applications and despite the 'resolution issue' being discussed, the major difference is their ability (strength) at working with two very different types of images/graphics.

Vector vs Raster...

As far as I'm concerned, both programs have their strengths and while, Photoshop tries to offer 'both' by giving us 'vector tools', you're never going to produce the crisp vector graphics in Photoshop that you can produce in Illustrator. Acceptable ... but there's just NO comparison when you measure them against Illustrator.

However, the 'beauty' of Photoshop is that you can incorporate both (vector and bitmap) to a great degree of satisfaction. It's more an 'all encompassing' piece of software. IOW, if somebody offered me only one graphic programme to work with, I would choose Photoshop because I my options would be so much greater!

My 2cents...

Cool!

And what's more interesting... I've learned something new

And Wendy, thanks for your 2 cents; it's always pleasant to read about the different views on this matter

mmagikman

Yup, their right. Most graphic artists have both programs. I do.

They complement each other. If ya have the bucks you might look into Illustrator.