InDesign: Think of this program as your desktop publisher. When it comes to creating graphics that will be printed, however, I open InDesign. I also use it to create website mockups or email newsletter layouts that I will then pass off to be coded by a developer. I create all of my social media images (Facebook cover photos, Instagram posts and more) as well as blog graphics and any web banners, icons or online ads. Beyond all of the ways that it can alter photos, it’s also handy for creating web-based graphics.

You should know that it’s a raster editor, which means it’s perfect for working with an image that is made up of a certain amount of pixels - which changes the quality when it’s resized. Do what you need to do when it comes to cleaning up a photo before you print it or use it within its sister programs, InDesign or Illustrator. Photoshop: As you can probably guess, this is the go-to tool for editing photos.

Each program serves unique purposes and all can play well together. Below, I’m quickly breaking down specific documents and materials that you can create in each one (that you might not have already been aware of) - and also when and why you should. InDesign is intended for page design, layout and publishing and Illustrator focuses on vector graphics and illustration.

If you don’t already have the programs downloaded, you can download free trial versions here (good for one week): Īs stated by Adobe, Photoshop is meant for image editing and compositing. Whether you need to create social media graphics, a mockup for your website, a downloadable PDF to host on your website or a logo identity, Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator all have you covered! The Adobe Creative Suite is an all-encompassing software platform (that is strictly cloud-based now) and is absolutely the industry standard in today’s design and branding world.

Photoshop in indesign