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What programs are most favorable when becoming a graphic designer?

What are the best programs to when working as a graphic/digital designer? #graphic-design #graphics #media

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Alan’s Answer

Hi Spencer,

Knowing the applications of Adobe Creative Cloud (formerly Creative Suite) are what will be expected the most, and there is a student subscription available at a reduced rate. Info on that is here: https://adobe.ly/3g1vYu4

If you're not yet at the point of being able to pay for a software subscription there are free, open-source software alternatives of the applications available:
- Inscape for vector art (similar to Adobe Illustrator) See: https://inkscape.org
- Gimp for raster art (similar to Adobe Photoshop) See: https://www.gimp.org
- Blender for 3D Modeling See: https://www.blender.org

I'll try to return later to add more detail and instruction. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

-Alan
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Richard’s Answer

I would recommend Adobe's Creative Suite theses days, which has optional packages for a low monthly fee very much like Microsoft's Office Suite. Whatever Adobe creative suite package you choose, make sure it includes InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and the full version of Acrobat for PDFs.

On a Mac you can use Keynote for slide presentation projects. On Windows, you should use PowerPoint for slide presentations. Get the whole Microsoft Office package, if you can.

Then just start feeling your way through from there as to what else you may need in regards to what niche you are focusing on in the graphic design, print design, or web design arenas.
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Jon’s Answer

Hi Spencer,

Adobe InDesign. InDesign is one of the most important programs for graphic designers to know inside and out. ...
Adobe Photoshop. ...
Adobe Illustrator. ...
Adobe Dreamweaver. ...
PowerPoint. ...
Microsoft Office Applications. ...
HTML, CSS, and Javascript. ...
Video and animation tools.
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Richard’s Answer

When pursuing a career as a professional graphic designer or digital designer, you'll need a variety of software tools to create, edit, and manage your designs. Here are the top 10 industry-standard programs along with explanations for each one:

1. Adobe Photoshop:
- Explanation: Photoshop is a powerful raster graphics editor used for photo editing, image manipulation, and digital painting. It's a fundamental tool for graphic designers for creating and editing images and working with various design elements.

2. Adobe Illustrator:
- Explanation: Illustrator is a vector graphics software that's essential for creating logos, illustrations, and scalable graphics. It's commonly used for print and web design projects, as it allows for precision and scalability without loss of quality.

3. Adobe InDesign:
- Explanation: InDesign is a desktop publishing software tailored for designing print materials like brochures, magazines, and posters. It's essential for layout and typesetting, making it a staple for graphic designers working on publishing projects.

4. Adobe XD (Experience Design):
- Explanation: Adobe XD is a user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design tool. It's used for creating interactive prototypes and wireframes for websites and mobile apps, allowing designers to test and refine user experiences.

5. Sketch:
- Explanation: Sketch is a popular vector-based design tool primarily used by digital designers, especially for web and app design. It offers a range of plugins and features that enhance collaboration and design efficiency.

6. Figma:
- Explanation: Figma is a cloud-based design tool for collaborative interface and user experience design. It enables real-time collaboration, making it a top choice for teams working on web and app design projects.

7. Adobe After Effects:
- Explanation: After Effects is a motion graphics and visual effects software. Graphic designers use it to create animations, video compositing, and special effects, making it crucial for multimedia and video production.

8. CorelDRAW:
- Explanation: CorelDRAW is a vector graphics editor with a long history in the industry. It's an alternative to Adobe Illustrator and is used for creating vector-based illustrations and designs.

9. Affinity Designer:
- Explanation: Affinity Designer is a vector graphics software that provides a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Illustrator. It's known for its robust features and is ideal for vector design and illustration work.

10. Procreate:
- Explanation: Procreate is a digital painting and illustration app for iPad, favored by illustrators and digital artists. It's known for its intuitive interface, extensive brush library, and realistic painting capabilities.

These software programs are considered industry-standard tools in the world of graphic and digital design. The specific software you choose may depend on your individual needs and preferences, but having proficiency in multiple tools can make you a versatile and in-demand designer.

To include professional web design in your skill set, you'll need specialized software for web development and design. Here are the top 5 industry-standard programs for web design, along with explanations for each one:

1. Adobe Dreamweaver:
- Explanation: Dreamweaver is a comprehensive web design and development tool. It offers both a visual design interface and code editor, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced developers. It supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various web technologies.

2. Sublime Text:
- Explanation: Sublime Text is a highly customizable and lightweight code editor. It's a favorite among web developers for its speed, extensive package ecosystem, and support for various programming languages. It's particularly useful for writing and editing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

3. Visual Studio Code (VS Code):
- Explanation: VS Code is a free, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. It's known for its rich ecosystem of extensions, which make it a versatile choice for web development. VS Code supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and has excellent integration with Git for version control.

4. Adobe XD:
- Explanation: Adobe XD, mentioned earlier, is a valuable tool for web designers as it specializes in creating wireframes and interactive prototypes for websites and web applications. It allows for easy sharing and collaboration on web design projects.

5. Sketch:
- Explanation: Sketch, also mentioned previously, is an excellent tool for creating user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) designs for websites and web apps. It's particularly popular in the Mac ecosystem and is widely used in the web design industry.

These tools are essential for web designers, combining the ability to create visually appealing designs with the capability to code and develop functional websites and web applications. Depending on your specific needs and workflow, you may choose one or more of these tools to enhance your web design skills.

Here are the top 10 recommended books for graphic design, web design, and digital design, grouped by category:

**Graphic Design:**

1. "Thinking with Type" by Ellen Lupton:
- Explanation: This book delves into the fundamentals of typography and how to use type effectively in design, making it a must-read for graphic designers.

2. "Grid Systems in Graphic Design" by Josef Müller-Brockmann:
- Explanation: Müller-Brockmann's classic work explores the use of grid systems in design, offering valuable insights into layout and composition principles.

3. "The Elements of Graphic Design" by Alex W. White:
- Explanation: This book covers the core principles of graphic design, providing a comprehensive foundation for both beginners and experienced designers.

4. "Logo Design Love" by David Airey:
- Explanation: Airey's book focuses on logo design, offering case studies and practical tips for creating memorable and effective logos.

5. "The Graphic Design Idea Book" by Steven Heller and Gail Anderson:
- Explanation: A visual reference guide, this book showcases a wide range of design concepts and techniques, making it a valuable source of inspiration.

**Web Design:**

6. "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug:
- Explanation: This book is a usability and user experience design classic, providing insights into creating user-friendly and intuitive web designs.

7. "Responsive Web Design" by Ethan Marcotte:
- Explanation: Marcotte's book is a must-read for understanding the principles of responsive web design, ensuring your websites adapt to different screen sizes and devices.

8. "Web Design with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery Set" by Jon Duckett:
- Explanation: This two-book set is a comprehensive resource for beginners, covering the essentials of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery for web design.

**Digital Design:**

9. "The Non-Designer's Design Book" by Robin Williams:
- Explanation: This book is suitable for those new to design, as it breaks down key design concepts and techniques in an approachable manner.

10. "Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction" by Jenny Preece, Yvonne Rogers, and Helen Sharp:
- Explanation: Focusing on interaction design, this book explores how users interact with digital products, making it essential for those designing user interfaces and experiences.

These books cover a broad spectrum of design topics, from the fundamentals of graphic design to the intricacies of web and digital design. Reading them can help you gain valuable insights and improve your design skills in various areas.
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