Photoshop vs. Illustrator: Which Is Better for Which Jobs?

Posted on 09/18/2024 by Niko Venev

If you're a budding professional who wants to make a living in a creative industry that involves images or designs, you may be wondering whether you should learn Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator first. While both programs share similarities, they each have unique features that suit different types of projects, making it important to choose the right one based on your goals.


       

Live Adobe Instructor-led Courses

Course Title Length Price (USD)
Adobe Acrobat DC 2 days $940
Adobe After Effects 3 days $1,360
Adobe Animate 3 days Teams Only
Adobe Captivate: Essentials (Classic) 2 days $940
Adobe Captivate: Advanced (Classic) 2 days $940
Adobe Captivate 12 (Modern) 2 days $940
Adobe Dreamweaver 3 days $1,360
Adobe Illustrator 3 days $1,360
Adobe InDesign 3 days $1,360
Adobe Lightroom 2 days $940
Adobe Photoshop 3 days $1,360
Adobe Premiere 3 days $1,360
       

Self-Paced Adobe eLearning

Course Title Length Price (USD)
Master Adobe eLearning Bundle 20 courses $950
Adobe Acrobat DC eLearning Bundle 6 courses $300
Adobe After Effects eLearning Bundle 5 courses $300
Adobe Dreamweaver eLearning Bundle 8 courses $300
Adobe Illustrator eLearning Bundle 6 courses $300
Adobe InDesign eLearning Bundle 6 courses $300
Adobe Lightroom eLearning Bundle 5 courses $300
Adobe Photoshop eLearning Bundle 7 courses $300
Adobe Premiere Pro eLearning Bundle 5 courses $300

A key difference between these two programs lies in how each handles graphics: Photoshop uses raster graphics, while Illustrator works with vector graphics. This distinction makes Illustrator ideal for designs that need to be resized without losing quality, such as logos and marketing materials. On the other hand, Photoshop is essential for tasks like photo editing or creating image composites. But although each software has its specific strengths, there are times when using both together can enhance your workflow and produce even better results.

 

Photography

Photoshop is a mainstay in photography. The software was designed to offer photographers convenient tools to modify images, including features that remove, add, or change elements like lighting, coloring, shadows, and even entire objects or people. Photoshop's ubiquity in the industry means that every photographer should have a basic understanding of the software's features and functions.

 

Graphic Design

Graphic designers often rely on Photoshop because they work with photographs to create visual media like book covers, posters, magazines, and newspapers. By using Photoshop, graphic designers can tweak photographs to become the perfect representation of the idea, moment, or feeling that they want to convey. But they may also depend heavily on Illustrator if they often work with logos or typography or if their work is typically more abstract.

 

Web Design

Successful Web design relies on creating pages that are visually well-balanced, and Photoshop is commonly used to achieve this goal. Web designers can use Photoshop's grids and document parameters to create website mock-ups before they are published online, allowing them to make sure that everything looks good before they start building the actual site. Though this may be an advanced use of the software, it's often a key step in the time-consuming process of building a website.

However, choosing Photoshop vs. Illustrator can be unwise for some types of Web design projects. For instance, if you're building a site that needs custom logos, icons, and other graphical elements, Illustrator may be the best choice. Many of the best Web designers draw on the strengths of both programs to create appealing and easy-to-use websites.

 

Other Professions That Use Photoshop and Illustrator

Many other professionals besides photographers, graphic designers and Web designers use Photoshop and Illustrator, too, including:

  • Art directors
  • Production artists
  • Game developers
  • Motion graphics artists
  • Marketers
  • Illustrators

 

Tips to Find the Perfect Illustrator or Photoshop Job

Any professional who wants to build a career on using Photoshop or Illustrator should create a portfolio that demonstrates their skills and career interests. If you're multi-skilled or have several different professional interests, it can be a good idea to create separate portfolios for each type of work that you hope to be hired for. For example, if you want to pursue a career in Web design, you might put together a portfolio that showcases your talents in designing icons and menu or navigation buttons using your Illustrator skills. But if you want to pursue a career in wedding photography, your portfolio should be focused on wedding portraits that you've taken and then edited in Photoshop.

 

Sign Up for Photoshop or Illustrator Training

Both Photoshop and Illustrator can be valuable to know and open up new job opportunities, and at Certstaffix Training, we can help you learn either program with our hands-on, instructor-led training classes. Whether you choose to take a Photoshop course or dig into Illustrator training, you'll be able to study with a knowledgeable professional using a curriculum designed to take the stress out of learning. In just a few days, you'll have a firm grasp of your chosen software. We can even help you prepare to earn an Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) credential in either program. Having an Illustrator certification or Photoshop certification on your CV can help you stand out to potential employers. Sign up with us today to start designing the career of your dreams.

 



 


Related Adobe Posts:

Public instructor-led Adobe course prices start at $940 per student. Group training discounts are available.

Self-Paced Adobe eLearning courses cost $300 at the starting point per student. Group purchase discounts are available.







 

Start your training today!