Of course, when we talk about design, it’s impossible to ignore the software package from Adobe, the undisputed leader in this field. And first of all, we are talking about Photoshop.

Despite the fact that Photoshop was originally created as a photo editor, today it is one of the most popular and functional tools for graphic and web designers. The program provides you with a tremendous range of tools for working with raster and (partially) vector graphics. It allows you to create almost any graphic element – from simple logos to complex website mockups.

In fact, for a long time, web designers have mostly used Photoshop to create website layouts. But if we’re being objective, Photoshop is far from being the ideal tool for such tasks. Web design is a priori very demanding in terms of dimensions, indents, and small details. And to change any of these details in Photoshop, you sometimes have to spend a lot of time and work with the layout almost under a magnifying glass. That’s why the program is no longer used as actively in web design as it was a few years ago.

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is one of the most popular programs for working with vector graphics. It is convenient to create vector illustrations, logos, print layouts, etc.

By the way, vector graphics is an image that consists of anchor points and connecting lines between them. In short, it allows you to scale images to any size without losing quality. That is, you can take a 3×3 cm logo and enlarge it to the size of a football field. All lines, dots, gradients, and elements will remain clear and of high quality.

Adobe Illustrator can be useful for web designers in general, but rather as an auxiliary tool. After all, it is more focused on working with graphic design.

Figma

Figma is an extremely popular online service for developing web interfaces and prototyping with the ability to organize real-time collaboration. That is, several specialists can work on the same project at the same time, and everyone will see the changes made immediately.

Figma was launched in 2012 and has been rapidly gaining an audience since then. First of all, it is web designers. And it’s a really handy tool.

• Easy to learn. Figma’s interface is really simple and intuitive. Even taking into account the lack of Ukrainian localization, it is not difficult to understand the functionality.
• Cloud technologies. All the changes you make to your project are immediately uploaded to the cloud storage and can be accessed from other gadgets.
• Accessibility. You can use the web version of Figma even in a browser. Or download the app for Windows, macOS, and even Android or iOS.
• Plugins. With their help, you can significantly expand the functionality of the program and get even more features.
• Developer mode. Thanks to this mode, for example, a layout designer can immediately get all the necessary information from the layout for further work: fonts, sizes of each element and indents, images, buttons, etc.
• Plus, with Figma, you’ll forget about sending files after each iteration. All you need to do is share the link with the recipient, and they can immediately see the layout at the current stage of development. It’s very convenient and saves a lot of time.

And most importantly, Figma is completely free in the basic version, albeit with certain limitations. But for a beginner designer, this is more than enough. Advanced functionality will cost from $12 per month.

What to choose?

It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question. However, we would recommend trying Figma to start with. There are many web designers who perform almost 100% of their tasks exclusively in this program. On the other hand, you should understand that Figma is not a service for all occasions. Objectively speaking, Photoshop is much more functional and offers almost limitless possibilities for working with graphics. And Illustrator is undoubtedly one of the most powerful tools for working with vector graphics. It has no serious competitors in this segment.

In conclusion, we would like to say that in design, as in any other creative profession, it is not what you use, but how you use it that matters. In the end, only your skill decides how quickly and efficiently you will implement design projects in a particular program or service.

The post An overview of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Figma graphic editors for beginners appeared first on Selteco.

• objects;
• lenses;
• effects.

In the program everything starts with creating a new document. Users start the editor, select a file, there is a New button. In the program, you can customize the workspace, view effects. If we talk about nuances, various modes are open, there is a function of smoothing, highlighting.

Tools on the panel:

• word processing;
• font change;
• spacing;
• columns.

Tools for shaped text, saving attributes are provided. Users upload files, can edit and format them. Simple text can be made streamlined or effects can be added. On the control panel there is a button for columns, a bulleted list. Professionals, of course, are interested in customizing letters, shaped text effects.

Working with fill:

• color selection;
• cloud;
• pattern catalog;
• playback functions.

When working with plain or monochrome images, it’s easy to make fills. It can be homogeneous or of different colors. The program presents a wide palette, you can use mixers.

Working with objects:

• image locking;
• file placement;
• moving an object;
• node processing;
• smoothing curved lines;
• basic tools.

Basic and additional tools are used to work with objects. The user changes displaying, adjusts scaling. Buttons on the sides are necessary to rotate objects, lock them.

The sidebar presents icons for transforming, dragging symbols. Node points are allowed to shift, thus changing the shape of the object. When working with curved lines, the function of disconnecting nodes is useful.

Lenses:

• portrait;
• color;
• negative;
• translucent.

To revitalize the drawing, users in the editor use lenses. They allow you to apply effects, you can watch the selected area. Working with bitmap images, it is possible to create collages. In the program you can convert any file, perform tracing.

The Import function will allow you to select the necessary image and add it to the workspace. Then all the tools for conversion are opened to the user. When creating logos, an interactive fill, a tool for changing the shape is used.

Everything starts with simple, straight lines. On the control panel, the “free shape” button is selected. Thanks to the modes, the conversion to curves takes place. All the necessary tools are on the top panel. If the shape is not satisfactory in terms of dimensions, it is necessary to change the position of the node. Since straight lines are used, some places lack smoothing.

Help! To solve the problem, designers simply connect the lines, thus changing the shape.
To color the object, a grid fill is applied. As a background, it is allowed to draw an ordinary figure. It can be a circle or a square. To select modes, there is an artwork function. If the color is not satisfactory, you can apply an interactive fill, look at the catalogs.

Working with layouts will bring a lot of pleasure, if you understand the “master of replacement” option. Any shapes in the editor can be changed, it is just important to set the parameters. Many people use the program to draw portraits. Everything starts with a set of curves, the main thing is to stick to the original plan. At the end of the work, designers just play with light. It is convenient that at any time you can tweak, change the scale of the picture.

What formats reads CorelDRAW

If you go to the properties of the program, you can learn about the list of supported formats.

The main types are:

• AI;
• PFB;
• BMP;
• BMP;
• CGM;
• CDR.

The program easily opens CSL symbol libraries. If a person works with a cursor, he will be interested in the CUR resource. Microsoft Word files can be loaded into the editor window.

The post How to work in CorelDRAW appeared first on Selteco.

Installing the program

This process is quite simple: after opening it in “Programs”, easily drag and drop the icon – it’s done. During the launch, the system will ask you to enter your email address, as well as a key, after which the program is activated. It is worth noting that Affinity Designer launches quite quickly, the utility is characterized by good responsiveness, it very rarely crashes and does not hang.

Workspace

Affinity Designer has a minimal number of panels and greets the user with a dark interface. However, you can change the color scheme in the settings if you want – both the workspace and the interface.

There are not many settings, but all of them are necessary for work:

• Performance;
• Interface settings;
• Resetting default styles, fonts and brushes;
• Hotkeys;
• Profile colors;
• Advanced settings;

“Personas” – this is one of the important chips of the program, which are modes of work for different tasks. There are three modes: the popular pixel mode, as well as vector and, of course, export. By switching modes, you can change the panels, as well as the toolbox, which is very convenient.

Vector toolkit

Everything in this area is pretty standard: pencil, Pentul in different modes, gradient, corner rounding, as well as shapes and brush. Pentul turned out to be more intuitive, however, and many users find it much more pleasant to work with it than with the same Illustrator. The top panel allows you to switch between the main working modes, and you can also press Command + Alt to do so. Unlike the chandelier, where a specific action has its own tool, here Pentul is only one.

Such a tool as Point Transform showed itself quite well. With its help you can scale and rotate the created object around some point. It also helps to create various shapes: a heart, a drop, a star, a rectangle. All of them can be adjusted to a certain size, the total number of rays and so on. It should be noted that editing via Pentul is not possible while the shape is in this mode. Editing requires conversion to curves.

So, what we have

• An excellent Pentul that is customizable for a variety of modes of operation;
• A large number of customizable shapes;
• Customizable and snazzy vector brushes that are calligraphic, as well as emulating acrylic, as well as charcoal and the popular watercolor. Good stabilization is available;
• Boolean operations, alignment function;
• Lots of Corner tool capabilities;
• Point Transform;
• Symbols similar to those in Illustrator;
• Possibility to create a drawing by means of isometric projection.

The post Affinity Designer Overview appeared first on Selteco.

The Express interface is a simplified graphic editor interface. Before starting to create a design, the user needs to select its purpose (post, logo, etc.) or set its size. The editor allows working with images, videos, creating QR codes and PDFs. When working with images and videos, the user can use their own files for editing or use templates, stock photos.

When editing content, the user can add text, shapes and pre-made designs to it, change the background and use filters. The uploaded images are resized and repositioned, it is possible to crop the background, fill and change the brightness, contrast and other parameters. For ease of editing Adobe Express has layers, each of which contains separately added element. Created designs can be saved in PNG, JPG, PDF formats or schedule their publication in social networks.

Features of Adobe Express

• Creating designs for social networks and promotional materials;
• Scheduled publication of content in social networks;
• Support for JPG, PNG, MP4, MOV and GIF formats;
• Library of templates and stock photos;
• Manage image and video layers;
• Collaborative content editing;;
• Add design elements;
• Remove image background;
• Create logos and QR codes.

The post Adobe Express appeared first on Selteco.

Multiple media publishing – publish documents in print, online, or on mobile devices. Create stunning interactive documents (SWF files) with animation, audio, and video for playback in Adobe Flash® Player, interactive PDF documents with video and audio, and sophisticated print layouts with a variety of intuitive tools.

Integration with Adobe CS Live online services – Improve the efficiency of your most important design processes with the new CS Live online services that are compatible with InDesign. Perform online layout reviews with CS Review, one of the new CS Live online services.

Integration with Adobe design, web, and digital preview applications – Move seamlessly from design to print or digital output with integration with industry-leading Adobe products such as Adobe Photoshop,® Illustrator,® Acrobat,® Flash Professional, and Adobe Digital Editions.

Productivity tools – create complex page layouts with user-centered productivity features such as the ability to include pages of different sizes in a single file, optimize selection and editing of objects with the new Layers panel, intelligent options, fast table creation, and the ability to move files with fewer steps.

Advanced text layout – Create vibrant, sophisticated text with professional typographic features such as styles, text wrapping, paragraph layout, OpenType® support, and lettering. Include headings that span or separate columns without a separate text frame.

Built-in creative tools – Explore new functionality right in InDesign with built-in drawing tools, reverse effects, built-in Adobe Photoshop effects, advanced transparency controls, and support for 3D Photoshop objects.

Pre-press and production – Speed up production, improve reliability, and create final documents with embedded fonts, background PDF export, real-time pre-press, JDF technology, and on-screen controls.

Automation – Create more efficient automated workflows by reducing time spent on repetitive tasks. Standardized XML functions can automatically populate pages with text and images. Add content from databases to improve efficiency when printing across multiple channels.

Extensibility – Quickly create unique workflows and software solutions for your own printing needs with InDesign Markup Language (IDML), an XML-based file format that allows developers to create or modify files using standard XML tools.

The post Adobe InDesign overview appeared first on Selteco.