Software switching guide
Choosing Design Software for Your Actual Projects
Illustration, photo editing and interface design are different jobs. A useful comparison starts with the kind of output you create and the people who need to edit it after you.
Match the tool to the medium
List whether your projects are mostly photographs, scalable illustrations, page layouts or interface mockups. Then list requirements such as layers, editable paths, text styles or reusable components. Avoid selecting an application solely because it appears under the broad design category.
Check the handoff
Ask clients or teammates which editable project types they accept. Share a small sample containing text, images and effects, and have the recipient open it. A flattened preview can look correct even when the editable document has lost important structure.
Evaluate a complete deliverable
Build one realistic deliverable from start to finish. Check typography, dimensions, image quality and any print requirements. Track missing plugins, paid assets and additional manual work. Keep the old project and your source images until the handoff has been accepted.