Images have become an integral part of our lives as these are not just pictures which are transferred from one platform to another but it contains different emotions which tell a lot about a person’s personality. It has been found that around 3.2 billion images are uploaded on the internet daily. Special software is required to create specific images like images for advertisements, promotions, logos, vector images, illustrations etc. Two of the most famous software are Illustrator and InDesign which are capable of creating different types of images for different purposes. So let’s compare these two softwares to find out the best one.
What is InDesign?
InDesign is a computer application built with the purpose of designing page layouts. It was developed by Adobe Incorporation using the C++ programming language. Initially, it was released in 1999 and its stable version came on the market in 2022 in the month of March. It is available in many languages. It is used for different purposes like creating magazines, e-books, newspapers, brochures etc.
Advantages of InDesign
- It is easy to install and configure.
- It comes with advanced tools all in one toolbar which can be placed on the top, bottom, right or left of the screen.
- It produces quality images which are suitable for print media.
- It allows different team members to work together on a project simultaneously.
- It has the power of community support.
Disadvantages of InDesign:
- It takes up large disk space on the user’s system.
- It requires heavy processors to work without hanging.
- No backward compatibility means files created in the new version cannot be opened in the older version.
What is Illustrator?
Illustrator also known as Adobe Illustrator is a computer application for creating and editing vector graphics. Originally it was developed for Macintosh. Initially, it was released in 1987 and its stable version was launched in 2022. Adobe Incorporation is credited for the development of this software. It contains all the tools to create vector as well as non-vector images. It is written using C++ and ActionScript.
Advantages of Illustrator
- It supports nearly all types of file formats.
- It has a simple interface which allows beginners to work easily.
- It uses a direct selection tool to create objects rather than node editing.
- It is an industry-standard software which produces quality images.
- It has large community support for its customers.
Disadvantages of Illustrator
- It requires high RAM to function smoothly.
- It is not available for lifetime purchase only monthly or yearly subscription plans are available.
Following is a table of differences between InDesign and Illustrator:
|
InDesign |
Illustrator |
|
| 1. | It can be understood as a desktop publishing software which is also used in page layout designing. | It is a computer software for creating, editing and manipulating free form, raster and vector images. |
| 2. | It is used in designing books, magazines, newspapers etc. | It is used in logo designing, clickable banners, architectural designs etc. |
| 3. | It saves files with the .indd file extension. | It saves files with the .ai file extension. |
| 4. | It is a cost affordable computer application. | It is more expensive compared to InDesign. |
| 5. | It does not allow automatic tracing of images. | It allows automatic tracing of images. |
| 6. | It is built using the C++ programming language. | It is built using C++ and ActionScript programming languages. |
| 7. | It has simple drawing features. | It has advanced drawing features. |
| 8. | It allows the usage of master pages. | It does not support the usage of master pages. |