3 Replies Latest reply: Jan 3, 2014 5:30 AM by Danny Whitehead. RSS

    What software do you use?

    Zoë Woodworth Community Member
    Zoë Woodworth Dec 30, 2013 10:43 AM

      Say you're creating a print ad for a magazine. You want to combine one or more photos with text and vector logos. You will need to manipulate the photos so they work will with the text. Your final output will be a PDF which you will deliver to the publisher. What software do you use?

       

      I feel like it is not considered a best practice to use Photoshop exclusively for designing print materials. I have tried creating ads in Illustrator and InDesign, but it doesn't feel as efficient from a workflow perspective; there is a lot of going back and forth between those programs and Photoshop. If it can all be done within Photoshop and a PDF can be generated from there, why not just do that?

        • 1. Re: What software do you use?
          Dov Isaacs Employee Hosts
          Dov Isaacs Dec 30, 2013 10:59 AM (in response to Zoë Woodworth)

          Since you need to manipulate the photos, you must use an image editor for at least part of your work.

           

          If you need to manipulate vector objects (beyond simply sizing and rotating, you need software that do such manipulation.

           

          Although you can conceivably create an advertisement exclusively in Photoshop, it could be akin to using a screw driver as a hammer. Photoshop is great at image manipulation but has very limited vector object handling. Nor is Photoshop recommended for any significant amount of text handling.

           

          Generally speaking, at Adobe we would recommend that you use Photoshop for image preparation and manipulation. The resultant images would then be placed into either an Illustrator or InDesign document which would provide a much better environment for dealing with text and vector. In terms of choice of Illustrator or InDesign, much depends on your specific needs. Illustrator has much more extensive and powerful vector manipulation tools. InDesign is a much more powerful layout tool, especially when dealing with multiple color spaces and multiple pages. Many users use InDesign for the overall document (whether an advertisement - partial page, full page, or even multiple page - or a more complete document) and use Photoshop for image preparation and Illustrator for or complex vector artwork prepation, placing the resultant images (as PDF, TIFF, or JPEG)  and vector artwork (as PDF) into the InDesign document.

           

                    - Dov

          • 2. Re: What software do you use?
            jdanek Community Member
            jdanek Dec 31, 2013 6:20 PM (in response to Zoë Woodworth)

            I'd start with a layout, a concept if you will.  People tend to forget that software is just a tool to get the job done.  If your objective is to be as efficient as you can, Photoshop is not the ideal layout tool, but instead one piece of the tool kit ( per Isaac Dov's post above ).  Personally, I use Illustrator for magazine ads ( I see no point in the additional nonsense of placing a PDF, an .ai or .eps file in InDesign ).  I do agree that InDesign or QuarkXPress are appropriate for multi-page layouts ( catalogs, books, magazines, etc. ). But, anything one page wiill be appropriate using Illustrator, very efficient.  For me, anyway.  If you want to use Photoshop, use Photoshop ( I just don't recommend it ).

            • 3. Re: What software do you use?
              Danny Whitehead. Community Member
              Danny Whitehead. Jan 3, 2014 5:30 AM (in response to Zoë Woodworth)

              Raster/photographic image manipulation in Photoshop, usually saved in PSD format.

              Vector art (logos and/or illustrations) in Illustrator, usually saved in AI format.

              Files that are common to multiple jobs (like logos) will be saved into a particular folder for each client or brand.

              Bring it all together for layout, typesetting and final PDF creation in InDesign.

               

              Basically, the conventional way. Design applications have grown to encroach on one another's capabilities, but there's still a most appropriate tool for each job. There are situations where it's a choice between ID or AI for the layout, and I have a bias (probably not an entirely objective one) towards using ID. I only set type in PS when it's raster-effect-laden or part of a photographic image.