Comments on: InDesign vs Illustrator

by: Duncan

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:15:03 +0000

I used to use CorelDraw X3 as my primary designing tool until I downloaded the trial version of Adobe Illustrator CS3 which turned my whole way of thinking upside down. I instantly fell in love with both it and and InDesign and that’s what I use for my artwork now…

There’s two thing that I miss about CorelDraw however; one being the in-built efficiency it has for creating shapes- You double click the shape and it creates a node (anchor point), and it’s just as easy to make the side of the shape curved.

In Illustrator, I have to select the Pen, create an anchor point on the shape, then the direct selection tool and adjust it. If I want to make the sides of a shape curved, I have to use the Convert Direction Point Tool…etc. In Illustrator it doesn’t have the same power for interactive transparency as doesCorelDraw X3.

I am using Illustrator CS3- can anyone tell me some shortcuts that I can use to make the shape editing more like Corel?

Thanks in Advance…

by: KAREN

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:56:54 +0000

I am going to work for a company that often gets InDesign files from clients. They then have to convert those files to Illustrator files for large vector drawings. What are the problems with this and how can they be solved? This company hates InDesign because they wish their clients would submit Illustrator files to make life easier. Of course this would be great but it isn’t going to happen since their clients mostly prefer to use InDesign. How can I help my new company with this problem? Thanks! Karen

by: red

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:44:48 +0000

I agree with jeff on the article content being pushed way to far down the page on firefox. Regardlessk, I found your article on illustrator vs indesign useful. I was trying to understand why I should use indesign instead of illustrator…. now I understand : )

by: Jeff

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:02:57 +0000

I’ve just come across your site. This is a really well written article and there looks like a lot of good stuff on this site. But there’s a little problem with the article content box being pushed way too far down on the page, at least in Firefox…probably just a small css problem somewhere…anyway, good job with the content!

by: Kirby

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 13:50:15 +0000

Thanks for the info.

I’ve never understood why ADOBE cant just make an all in ONE program, allowing you to edit photos, layout designs and ready them for print. It only seems logical that you would be able to utilize everything at once.

I’ve been back and forth with Illustrator and Corel Draw (I was raised on it) and still find Draw easier to use…though a bit cumbersome in its unser interface. Illustrator is slowly catching up.

by: Elisabetta Bruno

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 14:41:30 +0000

And there it is again, Quark VS InDesign. There is a whole, and great, site about it, did you know?

I have also worked with both, and the only thing I can tell you is that it’s a matter of preference, a matter of already existing workflows, as QuarkXPress came before InDesign, etc.

I know a designer who is a total whiz with Quark. You look at the screen, and there is nothing, you look at her hands and then you look back at the screen and—what’s that page doing there? You didn’t even see her move her hands! Would you tell a person like that to switch to InDesign, instead of upgrading to QuarkXPress 7? Try it.

Software doesn’t make the designer, and it doesn’t make the design either. Layout applications, such as QuarkXPress and InDesign, are just tools. You should use what you feel most comfortable with and at the same time with what is compatible with your printer’s specifications and the environment around you and appropriate to do the job. The most important thing is that you get the best result.

If you are a crap designer, there is no application that is going to save you.

by: Ruben

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 14:07:24 +0000

Thanks for your great info. I hear that most graphics / illustrator pros prefer quark when it comes to final layout, whats the bid deal about it? I used both Indesign and some quark, but don’t see the tipping point over Indesign.

by: Elisabetta Bruno

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 18:33:44 +0000

Thanks for catching that spelling mistake, I fixed it. As you have probably seen now, what you filled in is a comment form.

I also apreciate your feedback on the site, both pros and cons.

by: Anon

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:10:23 +0000

I like your article on the diffs between inDesign and Photoshop, but you guys need some help with this site. Hurts to look at and you are throwing up all over the user with all that is going on with each page. Good writing though, although “could” was spelled “culd”. You’re going in the right direction I think, just cut back on all the ads if you can. Really annoying and something about it makes me question the motives of the site. Are you trying to educate the design community or make a buck? Both are fair, but I get the impression the latter is more important.

Also, this form here needs some sort of description. Is this being submitted as a comment or feedback??