Illustrator and InDesign are two of Adobe’s most popular graphics editor and design programs, in addition to the well-renowned Photoshop. However, each has their own distinct features that render one the optimal choice for certain artistic and design tasks over others. A common issue people face is determining whether Adobe Illustrator or InDesign is best for them and should be the first program they purchase and learn.

Choosing whether to learn Adobe Illustrator or InDesign first will depend on your goals. Business owners who want to create brochures, flyers, and other marketing tools to print and present should prioritize InDesign. Comparatively, artists/graphics designers intent on creating free drawn images and logos should opt for Illustrator.

If you’re a beginner, consider using Placeit.net to start creating professional graphic designs with the smallest learning curve. As opposed to Adobe programs, Placeit uses templates to make creating designs more user-friendly.

In this article, we will compare Adobe Illustrator to Adobe InDesign and discuss which tasks each program excels, what unique features they offer, how their setups differ, and more. By the end, you’ll be able to determine which program is the ideal choice for you to learn first as dictated by your aspirations and needs.  

When Should You Prioritize Adobe Illustrator?

The best way to determine whether you should learn Adobe Illustrator or Adobe InDesign first is to have a clear idea of what you intend to use these programs for and then choose which is most appropriate and beneficial for achieving those goals.

Adobe Illustrator is ideal for vector illustrations, logos, icons, and typography. If you want to focus on graphic design and digital art, then Adobe Illustrator is the better choice to learn first. With its wide variety of brushes and tools, as well as its ability to create custom shapes and paths, Illustrator gives you more control over your designs than InDesign does.

Let’s discuss some of the key features, benefits, and drawbacks of Adobe Illustrator so you have a better idea of what to expect from this program.

Vector-Based Graphics for Art

One of the key benefits of Illustrator that we briefly touched upon is that it’s specifically designed for vector illustrations.

Vector illustrations are created by drawing shapes and lines that are defined by mathematical equations rather than pixels. This makes them infinitely scalable without any loss in quality, which is why they’re perfect for logos, icons, and other graphics that need to be displayed in different sizes.

Vector-based programs also tend to be more precise and customizable than raster-based programs, as well as being more efficient when it comes to file size, so your illustrations will take up less storage space and will load faster onscreen.

However, for all the artists out there intent on using Adobe Illustrator, keep in mind that vector-based graphics perform best with solid colors versus complex color blends where raster graphics have the upper hand.

Drawing Software Features

Probably the easiest question to ask when debating whether to learn Illustrator or InDesign first is “Are you an artist?” If the answer is yes, then Illustrator is your answer.

Of the two, Illustrator is far superior at providing tools and features that artists can use to create exceptional digital art, animations, graphic designs, and more.

Users can draw freehand in the program using a standard mouse or a stylus pen for additional freedom, precision, and convenience while having access to digital brushes, pencils, and pens as well as advanced color and layering features for highly detailed work.

Ultimately, the more difficult debate here for artists would be whether they should learn Illustrator or Photoshop first because InDesign can’t compete in this particular category.

Single Page Projects

Something you should be aware of with Adobe Illustrator is that it is best suited for single page documents and projects, especially if you intend to print them. Some examples would be:

• business cards
• posters
• logo products (ex. stickers)
• infographics
• packaging labels
• single page newsletter

Any multi-page projects you intend to do that will require several documents should be left to InDesign.

When Should You Prioritize Adobe InDesign?

After reading all of the exceptional features that Illustrator has to offer, you might think you already have the right program for you. And maybe, if you’re more artistically inclined, you do. However, there are some features the InDesign excels at over Illustrator that even the professional artist would enjoy.

Adobe InDesign is great for longer projects that involve multiple pages and documents. It’s perfect for magazines, books, and other types of publications. Because of this, it is a favored choice amongst marketing, publication, and business-oriented individuals rather than artists, animators, and graphic designers.

Again, we’re going to delve into the program’s features, advantages, and disadvantages for the sake of comparison and diligence.

Vector-Based Graphics for Multiple Page Capabilities

We’re going to essentially combine two of the sections we discussed in Illustrator’s section regarding the relationship between vector-based graphics and page capabilities.

Just like Illustrator, InDesign is also a vector-based program, and so, it shares many of the features and benefits we discussed previously in comparison to raster graphics.

However, one of the most significant advantages of using InDesign over Illustrator is that, as a vector-based program, it uses its power to enhance and excel in the multiple page capabilities versus Illustrator which is more limited to one page but uses that extra power to provide more photo editing features.

As a result of this programming design, InDesign is, at its core, a page layout program that allows for the creation of multiple types of documents within a single project, making it ideal for the creation of:

• magazines
• books
• catalogues
• pamphlets
• brochures
• websites

That being said, the program can still provide exceptional single-page projects, such as posters, flyers, and PDFs, and might be the ideal choice for these over Illustrator if your goal is to upload images and text rather than create unique artwork within the program.

Layout-Oriented Interface

InDesign’s roots as a publishing program are clear, not only in its multipage capabilities, but its overall layout and user interface.

The program’s menus and toolbar are set up to make creating and editing complex page layouts easy regardless of the user’s level of experience (although some training is always helpful for taking full advantage of the program’s features). If you’re more comfortable with traditional desktop publishing tools like rulers and guides, InDesign will feel very familiar.

The debatable downside of this setup is that InDesign doesn’t permit the same level of control and customization as Illustrator. For some, this makes the program feel incredibly restrictive whereas for others, it makes it simpler to understand and use.

Final Thoughts

To summarize, both Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign are powerful vector-based graphics editors and design programs. When it comes to determining which of these two programs to learn first, the deciding factors should be your design and printing needs.

In essence, artistically inclined individuals creating single page projects who want as much artistic control as possible should learn Illustrator, and publishing/business individuals creating multipage projects that blend images and text in clean layouts should use InDesign.

There isn’t a lot that you can customize on an app like Twitter. Twitter is primarily used as an endless feed of written soundbites of users’ opinions, thoughts, and ideas. Most of your personality is showcased through the written word sprinkled with the occasional photo or meme. One area where you can display a little of your brand is through the Twitter header. A Twitter header is a cover image at the top of your Twitter profile.

To fix your Twitter uploading header not successful message:

1. Check Your Internet Connection
2. Follow Pop-Up Instructions
3. Check the Size of Your Image
4. Check the Dimensions of Your Image
5. Update Your Web Browser

Consider using a Twitter header template to create a header that’s pre-formatted to the appropriate requirements for Twitter.

The header of your Twitter profile is an essential piece of branding, especially if you’re a business, and it is one of the first ways you will engage other users with your profile. If you’re new to Twitter and you’ve never uploaded a header, or it’s been a while since you’ve changed your header, there are some issues you can run into that could cause a commonly seen error, “Header Upload Not Successful.” Here are some tips and tricks to figuring out the problem and implementing the solution.

5 Fixes for Twitter Uploading Header Not Successful

Since having a Twitter header is such an integral piece of branding for your personal or business Twitter and the first introduction many users will have to your profile, it is important to be able to upload a header successfully. If you’ve tried to do so but have been unsuccessful and continue to receive error messages that your upload was not successful, you will need to narrow down the list of issues that could be causing the error.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Checking the internet may seem like an obvious fix, but for that very reason, many people do not check their internet connection when they are having issues uploading. If you’re out and about and using the data on your phone, the coffee shop’s Wi-Fi, or a public Wi-Fi, the connection could be spotty. Close the browser, disconnect from the Wi-Fi and reconnect.

If you’re at home and using your Wi-Fi, check the connection to your router. You may need to restart the router to reestablish your connection to the internet or call your provider for a solution.

2. Follow the Instructions

You may be new to Twitter and have never uploaded a header before. The directions to do so may not be obvious to you. All you have to do is follow a few easy steps. Go to your profile and click on “Edit Profile” under the header image, allowing for a pop-up window to appear. Note: make sure pop-ups are enabled in your browser or give the webpage permission for a pop-up.

The pop-up window is where you can edit your account details. You will see the header photo section with a camera icon. Select the upload button then you can browse through your images and select the one you want.

3. Check the Size of Your Image

Your internet connection is solid, and you’re following the instructions correctly, but you are still receiving the error message that your header did not upload successfully. The next step would be to check the size of your image, and Twitter has specific stipulations on what size is appropriate for your header.

Your photo needs to be in a JPG or PNG format for Twitter, and it cannot exceed 2 GB. If you don’t know the size of your image, you should be able to find that information in the “Properties” of the picture. Simply right-click the image and select “Properties,” and then click the “Details” tab; there, you will find the size of your image.

4. Check the Dimensions of Your Image

The “Properties” is also where you can find the dimensions of your image. The dimensions also affect your ability to upload a photo as your Twitter header. The recommended dimensions should be 1500×500 pixels.

If your image doesn’t fit into those dimensions, there is a way to adjust it so it does. Simply open your image in Paint and then open up the crop tool. Crop allows you to adjust the size based on percentage or pixels. Make sure “Pixels” are selected before entering the dimensions. Enter 1500 into the horizontal data box and 500 into the vertical data box. Leave skew empty, then press ok to complete.

If you don’t have Paint, there are other options to ensure your image is the right size and has the correct dimensions. There are websites like Placeit.net that will allow you to create a Twitter header that should have no issue uploading.

5. Update Your Web Browser

The final fix is to ensure that your web browser is updated to the latest version. Sometimes websites will prompt you to update your browser if the website can no longer function with your current web browser. If the website doesn’t prompt you, it is still in your best interest to update your browser, so you don’t run into any issues.

To find the version of your web browser, go into your browser’s menu, and under “About (web browser),” it will tell you what version you’re operating. If it’s not the latest version or if you’re not sure if it is the latest version, you can find it available for download on the web browser’s website.

Manually Adjust Your Photo on Twitter

If one of these fixes works successfully for you and you can upload an image as the header for Twitter, you should learn how to adjust your photo directly on Twitter manually. Once your photo is uploaded, Twitter should bring you to a screen where you can crop the image to the appropriate aspect ratio, 3:1, using the controllers. You can also zoom into the image or slide it around to get the right part of the picture centered for your header.

Conclusion

Now that you have a few possible fixes for your header not uploading successfully, you can go down the line and check all the possibilities to narrow down the issue. If these fixes resolve your upload issue, you can always look for help directly from Twitter.

Adobe Illustrator is a popular tool many professionals utilize in the workplace. If you’re interested in what Adobe Illustrator offers, you might wonder – is Adobe Illustrator worth the money? Are you wasting your time by investing in this service? It’s much pricier than the average illustrator system.

If you pay for Adobe Illustrator, you’re not wasting your money. It’s an excellent service with plenty to offer for amateurs and professionals alike. You will get plenty of use out of Adobe Illustrator on your computer.

Still, the value of Adobe Illustrator can depend on specific circumstances. Read on to learn more about what makes Adobe Illustrator worth it and what might make it less valuable for an individual. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started so you can make an informed decision for your life.

How Often Will You Use Adobe Illustrator?

One of the most telling items when considering if something is worth it is how often you will utilize the tool. Will you open it up once a month or take advantage of the service multiple times a day? If you use it twenty times in a month, it will cost you about a dollar a use. Utilizing it once a month means twenty dollars when you open it.

If you have another job unrelated to Adobe Illustrator, it might take you away from the service. Don’t invest in it if you’re going to push it off to the side like something much cheaper. It’s not worth your money if it’s not a priority in your life, as there are different items you can invest in for design purposes.

What Will You Use Adobe Illustrator For in Life?

Next, it’s time to consider what you’ll use the software to do. What will you utilize Adobe Illustrator for in your life? Will it be for functions you could complete with a more affordable software, or will it come in handy for more professional reasons in the future? Consider what you’re going to utilize Adobe Illustrator for in your life.

A few of the most common things people utilize Adobe Illustrator for include the following:

• Graphic design
• Illustration
• Comic book art
• Designs on Placeit.net

It’s the industry standard for layouts and illustration, as it makes everything pristine and beautiful.

If you want Adobe Illustrator solely to make a pretty poster, you might want to rethink your desires. There are plenty of affordable programs that can complete this task for much less. It’s not worth it in this case.

What Can You Afford?

Adobe Illustrator is $20.99 a month. That’s about four times the cost of most movie subscriptions, and more than $200 a year. That price point might not be affordable to people who aren’t using the software for the benefit of their careers. It’s critical to think about this aspect. What can you afford?

Before you invest in Adobe Illustrator, consider:

• Grocery bills
• Housing expenses
• Gas bills
• Emergency costs

These should come before Adobe Illustrator unless the program is critical to your job.

If you factor in your monthly expenses and Adobe Illustrator makes a decent impact, you might want to wait until you make more to purchase it. Unless it will bring in more income, it’s not worth it if you’re already pushing to make payments on time. Don’t splurge on software if it will destroy other aspects of your life.

How Comfortable Are You?

What is your experience level with Adobe Platforms? If you have no idea what you’re doing, you might pay for a few months that are nothing but a learning curve. 

Before you put all that money down on Adobe Illustrator, educate yourself. Watch YouTube videos and enroll in courses to become familiar with the system. If you still want it after that, you’ll feel comfortable with the program right away.

What Advantages Will Benefit You?

There are plenty of advantages that come with Adobe Illustrator. It’s critical to look at these and consider if any will benefit you, or if all are unrelated to where you stand in life. Let’s take a look at the advantages that professionals find with Adobe Illustrator. 

Some advantages that come with Adobe Illustrator include the following:

• It improves precisions in design
• It has infinite resolution with vectors in AI
• It has tons of tools anyone can take advantage of for design
• It works with all Adobe systems, such as Photoshop and InDesign

If you already have Adobe systems, it can come in handy to bring all tools together in one location.

Professionals will find plenty of benefits to the tools offered in Adobe Illustrator.  If the steep learning curve does not match the advantages, Adobe Illustrator is not worth the money. 

Are There Cheaper Alternatives?

It’s also critical to consider the alternatives to Adobe Illustrator, all of which are much cheaper. Although they offer fewer features, they’re well worth it if you don’t need Adobe Illustrator for professional purposes.

The cheapest alternatives to Adobe Illustrator include:

• Placeit (our recommendation)
• CorelDRAW
• Affinity Designer
• Inkscape
• Gravit

These are all more affordable, and even free, alternatives to the more expensive Adobe Illustrator.

Check out these alternatives and see if they have the tools you need. If they do, Adobe Illustrator is not worth your money. Ensure you make the best investment for your current situation.

Conclusion

If you’re an artist or graphic designer, Adobe Illustrator might be of interest in your life. Unfortunately, it’s an expensive service. It’s only worth it if you can afford it, if it will bring you more income, or if there are advantages that will benefit you. If you can’t afford it, there’s no point in purchasing it.

We hope this information was helpful! There’s a lot to consider before paying for technology like Adobe Illustrator with the expensive price tag. If you can fork over the money, it’s worth it. Otherwise, stay away.

You have finally perfected your brush, or you found one that is perfect for your style. You’ve exited out of the document, and the brush is no longer there when you go back! This has been a problem for many artists using the Adobe Illustrator program.

Saving a brush permanently in the Illustrator program is quite simple, and you can do it in a matter of minutes. Here is everything you need to do to save that brush so it won’t disappear when you exit from a document without worries.

How to Permanently Save a Brush in Illustrator

Once you have edited a brush to your liking, you want to keep it this way. This only helps you reduce the time you have to change things within the program and go straight to drawing your pieces. Follow these steps:

1. Add the brushes you want to the Brush panel
2. Delete brushes that you don’t want
3. Choose “Save Brush Library” from the Brushes panel menu
4. Rename the brushes, so you don’t override any previous brushes to something unique
5. Place the new library file (this may be different for a Windows computer than a Mac computer)

Ensure that you rename the brushes, so you don’t replace the default brushes or any other brushes with the file. This will overwrite the previous brushes saved, and you may lose those brushes. 

Drag And Drop Method

You can also simply drag the brush you have created into the brushes panel, and you can save the new brush type as the following options:

• Calligraphic Brush
• Scatter Brush
• Art Brush
• Bristle Brush
• Pattern Brush

You will then name the brush a different name than the default setting. You can then access them later for future use.

Where To Find Saved Brushes

When you save your new brushes in the Illustrator program, it may be difficult to find them at first. Don’t be afraid. Here are where you will find the new brushes in your brush libraries when you restart Illustrator:

• Windows: User/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator <version number> Settings/Brushes
• Mac OS: Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator <version number> Settings/Brush

You will want to replace <version number> with the values, depending on the version of the program you have on your system. Also, note that if you place the file in a different folder, you can open the library by choosing Window > Brush Libraries > Other Library and then select the file.

You can also find them in the “Open Brush Library” from the panel menu and click on the file that you want to use. Drag the brush you have created into the brushes panel, and you will be able to use it.

How To Install Brushes In Illustrator

If you are just starting in Illustrator, you may want to look into downloading brushes that others have already customized. These brushes can be quite useful and help you out while you are still navigating a new program. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Click the menu on the top right corner
2. Click “Import Brushes”
3. Select the file ending in ABR
4. Click “Open”
5. Then to install: Go to Window > Brush Libraries > Other Library
6. Locate the Illustrator brush file ending in a “.”
7. Your brushes will show up as a separate Brush Panel

There are many brushes that you can install, so you don’t have to edit the brush. Sometimes others have already come across designs you need, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

There are many places you can find these pre-made brushes. The market for brushes has been growing and growing. Some brushes are free, but some are not, so you will have to do a little research.

How To Edit Brushes In Illustrator

Editing your brush may be your best option if you aren’t finding any other brushes that are your style. It doesn’t take many steps to edit a brush, but it will take time if you are trying to find a specific style. It will be a lot of trial and error.

Once you have the Illustrator program open, follow these steps to start editing your brush to what you want:

1. Open the brushes panel
2. Click the “+” symbol that represents a new brush
3. Select the type of brush you want to make
4. Test it out
5. Edit the brush again
6. Test it out again
7. Edit it until you have it where you want
8. Save the brush

For those new to editing, a brush you may want to start with is the calligraphic stroke. This brush is the simplest to create and the easiest to start with. As you become more experienced, you can move to other types of brushes.

Where To Find Help?

Sometimes you may need a little help. You can go within the program and click on the “help” button, but that doesn’t always answer your question right away. Sometimes it can be quite annoying to mess with.

You can go online to Adobe’s website, where they have a User Guide, a “Get Started” for basics, and tutorials to help even the most experienced artists. The tutorials are amazing, and there are so many to choose from to help you learn more about the program.

They also have the most commonly asked questions. You can search the website for support and see if you have a similar question to other artists using the program. If you still need assistance, but Adobe isn’t working for you, you can search online or Youtube for visual examples.

Outro

Learning a new program can be quite difficult, especially if you are new to digital art. There are so many buttons and things you can edit that can be quite overwhelming. Remember that it is based on trial and error, and sometimes you won’t get things down the first time.

Just get started and continue testing out your brushes. You will never master the program if you don’t start toying with the settings and make a few mistakes. That’s what being an artist is all about.

There are so many different file types out there that it can get confusing quickly. It gets even more confusing when programs invent their own types that cannot communicate with other programs. One of the most common file types out there is a PNG which stands for Portable Network Graphics.

PNGs are always RGB as they are meant for the web and not for print. If a file was designed in CMYK, it will convert itself to RGB once it is saved.

CMYK is the color mode used by printers whereas RGB is used for web. As such, a PNG file which was meant for web will only have capability to be RGB. If the file was designed in CMYK and needs to preserve that color mode, another format will need to be chosen rather than PNG. Keep reading to learn more.

Can You Save a PNG File in CMYK Color?

Unfortunately, a PNG cannot be CMYK as it was intended for web use rather than for print. Even if the file is designed in CMYK, saving it as a PNG will convert itself to RGB so that it is suitable for its intended purpose. While this likely won’t cause much in the means of quality degradation, it does come with that risk.

If the file absolutely must be in CMYK while also preserving such features as transparency, a better file type is a TIFF. However, the only files that need to be in CMYK are those intended for high-quality printing jobs rather than small web-based designs.

Why Do PNGs Convert to RGB?

A PNG is a highly compressed file type meant exclusively for use in a digital format. Digital media is shown through light mixed together in order to present what is seen on screen. It does this with three colors, Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) and is able to make far more colors than is possible via printed or tangible means. That’s also why colors on the screen always seem more vibrant than what is on the page.

Due to the fact that it is built for digital media and needs to be able to perform its best in a digital format, a PNG will always convert to RGB upon saving. It also compresses itself to leave a tiny digital footprint while retaining quality, which is ideal for use on the web.

How to Convert a PNG to CMYK

While a file can be built in a CMYK color mode, it will not retain this once it is saved as a PNG. Some printers are able to transfer RGB files to CMYK themselves, though this almost always results in a loss of quality and vibrancy. A PNG cannot retain CMYK at all, so if the intent is to print, the file should be saved as another format.

However, if the file was already saved as a PNG and it needs to be converted, there are a few methods such as:

• Save it again as an appropriate file type
• Use Edit>Convert to Profile in Adobe Photoshop
• Save the file as a TIFF with Preserve Transparency ticked

Be wary of converting a file to CMYK if it wasn’t built in it. This could end up with a significant drop in quality as a result as the printer attempts to convert the colors from an additive color mode made of light to a subtractive color mode made of layering ink. If perfect colors do not matter much, then it’s not much to worry about to just resave the file.

What File Types Save in CMYK?

Building a file in CMYK is as simple as making sure that it is designed in the right color mode. Most design programs have it built right in or have plugins to make it compatible. For everything else, it’s good to consider the intent of the program. If it’s meant to make something for print, it’s likely already set up in CMYK. If it’s meant to be digital, it’s probably set up in RGB.

These are some file types that are compatible with CMYK:

• PDF
• JPEG
• TIFF
• AI
• EPS

When all else fails, saving or exporting something as a PDF is a solid way to go. It saves everything as closely as possible, doesn’t require other computers to have the same fonts or programs installed, and communicates easily with printers. It is the ideal file type for sharing and printing and will save from so many headaches down the line.

Can I Print a PNG in CMYK?

If a PNG is printed, the printer is going to attempt to convert the RGB color data into something it can use, which is CMYK. RGB colors are made by blending light in an additive fashion, where more colors make it brighter. CMYK on the other hand is made darker as it adds more colors. There are no printers that can print in RGB, as they have to use some form of tangible ink to make the colors happen.

So, while a PNG technically can be printed, it’s not going to be able to be as vibrant and accurate to what is seen on screen. A printer can usually read a PNG, and it will do its best to match colors, but CMYK just cannot do nearly as much as RGB. If the colors being perfect doesn’t matter as much to the finished product, then it really doesn’t matter as long as the printer accepts the file.

Conclusion

A PNG is one of the most popular and widely used file types, and for good reason. It is extremely lightweight and supports transparency, which many other file formats lack. However, it is not the most perfect in the fact that it does not support CMYK. Due to this, it is completely unsuitable for printed works at all. While it might be the king of digital and web-based imagery, it literally cannot be used for print.

However, it is an extremely widespread file type that most programs are able to recognize without degradation of quality. It is a very good file type for things that have a lot of colors and/or transparency while also being so lightweight that they are likely to not cause issues wherever they are embedded.

Procreate is a raster-based design application similar to Photoshop, primarily used for illustrations, painting, and sketching. One of the creative design elements of Procreate is the user’s ability to create their own textures and brushes. Other users can utilize these design tools for their work, but like any other developed tool, graphic, or design, licensing agreements dictate how they can be used.

There are Procreate brushes that are free for commercial use. Most artists that create brushes on Procreate don’t mind if others use their brushes to create work to sell. However, it is crucial to check the licensing agreement of any developed tool you use to ensure commercial use is approved.

The majority consensus on proper Procreate etiquette when using another artist’s brushes is never to redistribute any brushes, whether free or purchased. This code of conduct is urged because Procreate brushes are copyrighted by their creator, and unless they sell the copyright itself to you, it is not legal or ethical to redistribute. Let’s get into how copyright and licensing work.

What Does it Mean When a Brush on Procreate is Copyrighted?

Every piece of art has a signature or fingerprint from its creator. Even if the design is inspired by something else, there will always be a unique element, the artist’s style or creative idea added. All the time and energy that goes into creating, and now imagine someone profiting off your work or worse, given credit for it.

A copyright means that the work’s creator has exclusivity in the rights to copy and distribute, and the creator owns the intellectual property and determines how and if it can be used. Price and terms of use set any copyrighted work if a creator is willing to share their work.

Price can be anything from zero dollars or higher, and terms of use are detailed in the licensing agreement. There are a few different types of licensing agreements that you typically see. Understanding the terms of each licensing agreement will ensure your use of the intellectual property is never in violation of the copyright.

If copyright is something you don’t want to worry about and you would rather utilize an app or program that gives you access to use all the tools, free for commercial use, consider some alternatives, like a one-stop-shop website. One-stop-shop websites like Placeit.net provide you with peace of mind that what you create using their design tools, you can use commercially.

3 Different Types of Licensing Agreements

If an artist on Procreate allows you to use their Procreate brush, always ask for the terms in the licensing agreement, even if the brush is free. The creator of that Procreate brush gets to determine how they would like it to be used regardless of cost.

1. Free for Personal Use Only

This licensing type means that the Procreate brush you want is free for personal use but can not be used commercially-that means that it cannot be used on work for a profit. So it can not appear on a product, a website, even in marketing or branding.

So, where does this leave you in terms of its use? Your design using that brush needs to be for your enjoyment or kept among friends, like a goofy meme or a trendy graphic. However, if that design ends up on a t-shirt for sale, it crosses the line into commercial use.

This license type can be risky with such an ambitious gray area between personal and commercial use. Therefore, the best practice is to look for brushes with a license that states that it is free for commercial use.

2. Free for Commercial and Personal Use

This license type means that the brush you want is free for both personal and commercial use. Free for commercial use is the most desired type of license for brushes on Procreate, and free for commercial use presents the lowest risk of copyright infringement. It also means you can make a profit from your design without the fear of legal consequences (For example, this is what Placeit.net uses, see their license here).

So, whether you are using the brush to create something for your brand, website marketing materials, or to make a kitschy design to share with a small group, this license type will give you peace of mind. Again, It is best practice to look for brushes on Procreate with a license that states that it is free for commercial use.

3. Requires Purchase

Just because a brush is copyrighted does not mean it can not be used. While there may be plenty of brushes on Procreate for free, you may come across one you want that is for purchase. You pay the price the creator sets and essentially, what you are purchasing is a license from the copyright holder.

Be careful with purchasing any copyrighted work. Just because you gave the creator money for their design or, in this case, tool does not mean you get to use it however you want and for as long as you want. The stipulations of the license you purchase will determine if the brush is single-use or can be used multiple times for different purposes.

Purchasing the Copyright for the Brush

Under no circumstance, even if you paid for a licensing to use the brush, can you redistribute the use of the brush. That means that only you are permitted to use it, and it can not be made available to your friends, co-workers, employer, or anyone else for use. No redistribution is not only proper etiquette, but it is legally binding.

The only occasion where this is allowable is if you purchase the copyright from the creator. If you buy the copyright, that means ownership gets transferred over to you in its entirety unless otherwise specified. If the copyright is transferred over to you, you are free to do what you please with it. You can keep it for yourself, distribute it to anyone you want, and allow them to do the same.

Conclusion

Overall, to determine if a brush on Procreate is free for commercial use, do your research. Always check the licensing agreement whether you purchased the brush or not. If there are any doubts about the licensing, the best practice is to find another brush you like rather than deal with possible legal consequences.

Since its introduction in 1987, Adobe Illustrator has been the go-to graphic design platform for anyone working with vector graphics, be they professional designers, publishers, or even students. But in order to fully utilize the powerful features of Illustrator, users need to have the proper hardware and one of the most important requirements is having enough RAM memory to run the program properly.

According to the developer, whether on a PC or a Mac, desktop or laptop, the minimum RAM to properly install and run Adobe Illustrator is 8 GB. But to ensure a glitch-free, lag-less user experience that fully utilizes all of Illustrator’s built-in features, 16 GB of RAM is highly recommended.

Whether you have a formal educational background in design or are completely self-taught, Adobe Illustrator may be the most valuable resource around if your work involves vector graphics. But such potent capabilities come at a price and in the case of Illustrator, powerful computer hardware is needed to run this software. Having enough RAM is crucial to getting the most out of Illustrator and here’s why.

How Much RAM do You Really Need for Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator enables users to create vector graphics files that are fully scalable using built-in suites of powerful design and editing tools. Because it is such a feature-rich platform capable of creating large, and often complex, working files, Illustrator requires certain levels of computing power in order for it to perform the way it is intended. This is particularly true when it comes to the amount of RAM.

These are the minimum system requirements for installing and running Illustrator (as of the October 2021 release) as recommended by Adobe:

• Whether you are using a PC or Mac desktop, the minimum RAM is 8 GB and 16 GB is recommended for optimal performance. In addition to this basic requirement, there are more prerequisites for installing and operating Adobe Illustrator.
• In conjunction with 8 to 16 GB of RAM, a later version multicore 64-bit processor is also recommended (for either PCs or Macs).
• The current version of Illustrator runs on the Windows 10 operating system on PCs and macOS Monterey (12.0), Big Sur (11.0), and Catalina (10.15) on Mac desktops.
• With respect to hard disk space, 2 GB is the minimum for PCs while 3 GB is required for Macs (this is just for installing the Illustrator software, additional space will be required for running the program).

Since the purpose of RAM in a computer is to provide easily-accessible, short-term memory for applications to store and quickly retrieve data that they are actively using, it should come as no surprise that sophisticated graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator is so RAM-dependent in its normal operation.

In fact, users of Illustrator whose computers meet the minimum 8 GB of RAM requirement have reported encountering memory allocation problems despite having the right hardware setup. It is also noteworthy that some graphic design schools whose coursework involves the usage of Adobe Illustrator specifically require their students to have computers with no less than 32 GB 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM.

What About VRAM?

There is a special type of RAM known as video RAM (VRAM for short) that has the specialized purpose of storing data to optimize the display of graphics on a computer screen. Given this specific purpose, VRAM is particularly relevant in video game applications and platforms utilizing 3D rendering.

With high-resolution vector graphics being solidly within the sphere of Adobe Illustrator’s capabilities, VRAM is an aspect of computer hardware that is worthy of serious consideration as far as performance enhancement is concerned. VRAM is commonly integrated into a graphics processing unit (GPU) on those computers that have one. These are Illustrator’s system recommendations relating to VRAM:

• On Windows PCs, the minimum VRAM is 1 GB but 4 GB is recommended
• On Macs, the minimum VRAM is 1 GB and 2 GB is ideal

While not necessary for the installation and operation of Illustrator, having a GPU and its associated VRAM capabilities will enhance the performance of Illustrator, particularly from the standpoint of displaying high-resolution graphics on a computer screen without any lags or glitches.

What is a Scratch Disk?

If a computer has an insufficient amount of RAM to properly run Illustrator, or if RAM resources are being spread too thin among multiple applications, then memory-related system crashes are possible, if not likely. Whether Illustrator’s performance slows down or the application needs to be completely rebooted, productivity can be seriously impacted by issues caused by insufficient memory.

One of the ways to address this problem (aside from increasing the amount of RAM) is to allocate memory to a hard drive (internal or external) which in essence can serve as an alternative to RAM. Because it is physically located on a hard disk, however, a scratch disk as it is commonly known, will not be accessed as quickly as RAM and therefore Illustrator’s performance can lag noticeably.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind as far as an Illustrator scratch disk is concerned:

• If possible, set up a scratch disk on a hard drive that is separate from the one on which Illustrator is installed
• For laptops, an external (i.e., one that can be plugged in via USB) hard drive is the best solution for setting up an Illustrator scratch disk

On Windows PCs, there is another memory allocation option aside from setting up a scratch disk. Virtual memory is another means of providing temporary storage space for actively used data that would normally be stored in a computer’s RAM. While Illustrator takes more time to access virtual memory than RAM, it is nevertheless another way to provide precious memory resources to this application while avoiding memory-related system crashes.

It should be noted that recommended practice is to allocate at least 3 times the amount of RAM when setting up virtual memory on the hard disk (e.g., if there is 8 GB of RAM, then virtual memory should be set up for at least 24 GB) to optimize Illustrator’s performance.

Final Thoughts

With its powerful features, Illustrator puts the power of professional-grade design capabilities in the hands of the masses. In order to harness such powerful graphics tools, however, users need to install Illustrator on computer hardware that is up to the task and one of the most important attributes is RAM, with 8 GB being the bare minimum, 16 GB being the recommended amount, and 32 GB being optimal.

If you don’t have enough RAM to use resource heavy software like Adobe Illustrator, consider using an online image editor like Placeit.net. These online editors use very little resources because they are hosted on the internet, rather than on your device.

Ours is a world where visual communication drives the way that we receive and process information and it is through graphic design that many of these messages are created. Graphic design has become so prevalent that industry-specific terms used by insiders have become part of our everyday vernacular. But to the layperson, these concepts can be confusing such as whether vector images have DPI?

Strictly speaking, vector images are resolution-independent because they are based not on pixels (or dots), but rather, mathematical equations and geometry. Therefore, DPI (dots per inch) has no bearing on vector images because vector images have infinite resolution whether shrunk down or enlarged.

The concept of DPI (and its counterpart PPI – pixels per inch) can be a confusing one for many novice designers, particularly where image resolution is concerned. The key thing to remember is that though they may be used interchangeably, DPI and PPI are not the same things, and neither has anything to do with vector images. Confused? Fear not, for all the answers are explained below, so read on.

Do Vector Images Have DPI? Here are the Facts You Need to Know

When it comes to images on a screen or printed on a medium like paper, it always seems to come down to resolution. And while it is safe to say that everyone is on the same page as far as wanting the highest resolution possible, a lot gets lost in translation because there is much confusion about what various graphic design terms actually mean.

Take for instance the common use of the term DPI (dots per inch) to refer to the visual quality of vector images like those contained in Adobe Illustrator ^TM (.ai) and encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files. There are plenty of those in respected industry circles that use DPI to describe the resolution of vector images.

And while it may seem like splitting hairs to some, there are fundamental reasons why DPI should not be used in reference to vector images, starting with what a vector image actually is and why dots and pixels have nothing to do with its resolution.

What is a Vector Image?

When it comes to images that are created through digital (i.e., with the aid of a computer) means, there are two basic categories:

• Raster images are comprised of tiny colored blocks known as pixels that are positioned next to each other to create an image. The more pixels it contains the more intricate and detailed a raster image can be (even rising up to photographic quality). The resolution of raster images is referred to as DPI or PPI (pixels per inch), with higher values corresponding to better quality.
• Vector images do not contain any pixels, but rather, consist of lines, curves, and fixed points that are determined through mathematical equations and geometric principles to create borders, shapes, and incorporated colors that together form an image.

Whereas the individual pixels of a raster image can be plainly seen if the view is zoomed in enough, a vector image can be infinitely enlarged or scaled without any loss of fidelity. In other words, the quality of a vector image will remain the same whether it is the size of a business card or a billboard, but a raster image will appear more block-like and pixelated the more it is enlarged beyond its original size.

To put it yet another way, a vector image is, in theory, infinitely scalable (whether it is enlarged or shrunk down) without any loss of visual quality, and therefore, the concept of resolution does not apply in this instance. And by extension, terms used to quantify resolution, namely DPI, do not apply to vector images either.

What does DPI Actually Mean?

DPI simply means the number of dots making up an image that can fit within a square inch. Technically speaking, this measurement refers specifically to the dots that are printed on a medium like paper. Thus, DPI quantifies the quality of a printed image (as opposed to one that is viewed on a screen) by expressing a numerical value correlating to the size and density of the dots that comprise the image.

As a general rule:

• The more dots (or pixels as they are also known) that fit within a square inch, the higher the DPI, and the better the image resolution and quality
• Conversely, the fewer dots that there are within a square inch, the lower the DPI, and the poorer the image resolution and the more pixelated its appearance

As far as DPI ranges are concerned, image quality can be broken down into three basic categories:

• High-resolution images are those that are 300 DPI and this is the industry standard for commercial printing processes like offset press (it is worth noting that modern presses cannot print at a higher resolution than 300 DPI)
• Medium resolution images fall between 200 to 300 DPI and produce good print results that while not as crisp and sharp as 300 DPI, are still perfectly suitable for many applications
• Low-resolution images are those that print below 200 DPI and produce results that are noticeably grainy and pixelated

Thus, as far as proper graphic design terminology is concerned, DPI is a gauge of print quality and not a quality indicator for vector images.

Putting it All Together

With respect to the terms DPI and PPI, although they are often used interchangeably to refer to image quality in any format, they more accurately describe two different and very distinct types of resolution.

• As previously described, DPI specifically refers to the number of dots contained within a square inch on a printed medium, be it paper, cardstock, or any other substrate
• PPI (pixels per inch) is the number of pixels contained within a square inch of an image appearing on a screen or monitor

As far as vector images are concerned, because they are not created from pixels, neither PPI nor DPI is a measurement that has any meaning as far as the resolution of vector images is concerned.

Conclusion

Vector images are pixel-less art forms that rely on mathematical equations in their creation. Because they are fully scalable, vector images are ideal for images that need to be utilized in different forms and sizes without loss of quality. A good example is a company logo that needs to be printed on business cards, brochures, and posters while maintaining the same image quality. Because vector images consist of smooth lines, curves, and shapes, rather than dots or pixels, their visual integrity remains the same whether they are small or large and DPI has nothing to do with it.

Despite Photoshop being used by various professions, it can still be intimidating to tackle on your first, second, or even third attempt. Whatever the purpose of using Photoshop, you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of the program. Graphics cards, or GPUs, are hardware on your device that translates data into displayed images. Can they be helpful with Photoshop performance?

Graphics cards can be a big help with Photoshop. Mainly, GPUs allow you to use an extensive library of features on Photoshop and assist in the efficient performance of the program.

Opening up more of what Photoshop has to offer is an exciting prospect, but there is more to GPUs and their utilization in Photoshop than a simple yes or no answer. It’s important to know exactly how they help with specific features in Photoshop and which are the best GPUs to use for this program.

How Do Graphics Cards Help With Photoshop Performance?

It’s important to note that your computer already has a GPU integrated into the system that will perform the task of calculating and translating data to display images onto your monitor. However, other more advanced graphics card options will give you further use of Photoshop.

An upgraded GPU provides the following advantages when using Photoshop:

1. Enhanced performance (speed)
2. Use of specific features
3. Helps with system memory

Let’s take a closer look at each of these features or advantages to get a better understanding of how the graphics card helps.

1. Enhance Performance

Your computer’s central processing unit (CPU) is responsible for graphics calculating, allowing images to be displayed on your monitor. Programs like Photoshop demand a lot of your CPU and can cause a lag in editing images or designing graphics. If you use Photoshop professionally, slow processing simply won’t do.

Faster performance is where the graphics card comes into play. The GPU will essentially step in for your CPU and take over the graphics calculating. Since the card is built for this work, it can do so at a much higher speed than your CPU, compensating for the demand of the program.

2. Use of Specific Features

Part of the reason that Photoshop can be so demanding on your PC’s CPU is because of specific features in the program. For example, certain graphics, like architectural images, are too sophisticated for your CPU to calculate fast enough. Due to the flat surfaces and straight lines of these images, you would utilize a feature called Perspective Warp, but without an upgraded GPU, you will likely experience a long lag or not be able to use the feature at all.

Other features that require the use of an upgraded GPU:

• 3D Imaging
• Oil Paint
• Render
• Flick Panning
• Scrubby Zoom
• Bird’s Eye View
• Smooth Brush Resizing

This list does not include features that would benefit from an upgraded GPU in terms of performance acceleration. That list encompasses nine other features, including Image Size, Lens Blur, and Select Focus.

3. Help With System Memory

All the pieces of information that relate to displaying images and processing data are stored in your system’s memory through your computer’s graphic solutions. It’s not unusual for Photoshop to utilize several GB of RAM, not to mention a great deal of scratch disk space.

One thing to note about Photoshop is that it does not return the RAM until you have closed the program. So, this not only accounts for your computer to slow down or even freeze on occasion, but it makes it nearly impossible to use other programs simultaneously.

Luckily, GPUs contain their own memory bank that stores the information related to displaying images and processing data while using Photoshop. The use of a GPU allows you to free up your memory, preventing your computer from freezing while trying to use Photoshop and keeping the processing moving at an acceptable speed. You may even be able to open up and use other programs while running Photoshop.

What to Look For in a Graphics Card for Photoshop

When considering purchasing a more sophisticated GPU for using Photoshop, you’ll want to ensure the GPU you’re eyeing is compatible with the program. Most GPUs released after 2004 will likely be compatible, but they also must contain at least 512 MB of processing RAM. According to Adobe, 2 GB of RAM is best when using Windows and Mac.

All you need is one GPU. Photoshop does not take to the use of multiple graphics processors. If used, it will likely cause a crash or other potential problems with the program.

GPUs will range in price depending on their sophistication. Since GPUs are utilized for more advanced features or more serious use of Photoshop, you may want a GPU fit for a professional graphic designer or illustrator, even if you are not at the professional level. Keep in mind that more video memory will be required of your graphics card depending on the resolution of your display.

How to Enable Photoshop to Use A Graphics Processor

Once you’ve selected the GPU you want, you’ll need to go into Photoshop and change the settings to ensure that it’s using your graphics card; this can be accomplished in three easy steps.

1. Go into Edit>Preferences>Performance for Windows or for Mac Photoshop>Preferences>Performance.
2. Select Graphics Processor under Graphics Processor Settings.
3. Go into Advanced Settings and enter the following option: Use OpenCL: Enable to accelerate the new Blur Gallery filters, Smart Sharpen, Select Focus Area, or Image Size with Preserve Details selected.

Conclusion

All in all, if you want to take your graphic design, photo-editing, or illustrations to the next level in a program like Photoshop, you will need a GPU. Otherwise, you could be missing out on key features and experiencing delays or worse.

If you find yourself needing a less resource-heavy editing software, consider online image editors like Placeit.net. They are hosted on the internet so they require very little resources, and can even be used on a smartphone or tablet if needed.

Many graphic designers use Adobe InDesign as their desktop publishing and design software choice. Using the software, they can create beautiful design copy such as flyers, posters, magazines, books, and more. But, many wonder if you can use Grammarly to check for errors in InDesign.

While Grammarly is an excellent tool for editing and proofreading, it currently cannot be used in InDesign. This is mainly because there is no integration between the two sites, nor are there plans to do so. There are, however, other tools that can be used inside InDesign to check for grammar and spelling errors.

Creating designs that are suitable for the public eye in InDesign depends heavily on not only the design itself but also on whether the words flow together and are used correctly. Keep reading to learn more about how you can check your grammar in InDesign if Grammarly is not possible.

Can You Use Grammarly in InDesign?

Those who use InDesign regularly for their projects have wondered if Grammarly can be used within the software to help them ensure everything is grammatically correct. The quick answer is that the two applications are not currently integrated.

While Grammarly can often be used across most platforms to ensure that you are not making errors in your final work, InDesign is not one of those applications. This is mostly because InDesign is said to have its proofreading and editing checker within the application.

Currently, InDesign does have the capability to check for spelling errors by incorporating their Dynamic Spelling integration. Grammar, however, while it should be checked prior, may need more of the human eye within InDesign.

Grammarly is a popular choice for those in the writing and editing industry to assist with making sure everything is clear, concise, and spelled correctly. Although InDesign has InCopy to allow users to do their proofreading and editing, many people still prefer a more robust system.

Many of those who are in the marketing realm have stated that you should not need Grammarly or any other type of editing or proofreading product once your work has been put into InDesign. This is because they believe that InDesign is the final piece of the puzzle, and any editing and proofreading should have been done before this stage.

Although the belief may have some merit, others would still like to ensure that no mistakes have been made while transferring the information from other sources into InDesign. For this reason, Grammarly would be a nice integration.

How Can You Check Your Grammar in InDesign?

Even though you cannot use Grammarly within InDesign, it does not mean that you are left to flail in the wind with your proofreading and editing needs. InCopy, a word processor, can be used to do a final check of the spelling and grammar before dumping it into InDesign.

InCopy can be used as a collaborative tool between:

• Graphic designers
• Copywriters
• Editors

To ensure the copy is well-written before it goes into the design stage using InDesign. Most creative professionals use the two applications in conjunction with each other to create well-designed and grammatically correct copy.

Additionally, within InDesign, as stated previously, there is a way to check for any spelling errors once you have created your product. Activating Dynamic Spelling can help you check for any final spelling errors that may have occurred in your layout.

What If I Still Want to Use Grammarly for my Text?

Although Grammarly cannot be used directly in InDesign, many experts suggest that if you would like to do a final edit and proofread of your design, you can export it, edit it, and then import it back to InDesign. 

You will simply need to copy and paste the content you would like to have edited into Grammarly on a new document. Grammarly will suggest any edits that you should make to create well-written content.

Once you have everything the way you want it, you will copy and paste your content back into InDesign. This should give you concise content, spelled correctly and grammatically correct.

However, you should be aware that sometimes when you do this, you may run into some formatting issues that may be difficult to fix. This is mostly because the two software applications do not communicate with each other; therefore, your pasted information may look different.

For example, you may find that either your font or font size changed once you imported it over from Grammarly. This formatting issue can be fixed pretty easily by just changing the font and size back to the original.

Additionally, the formatting issue can be more complex than simply changing the font and size back to where it originally was. In some cases, copying and pasting from Grammarly can alter your entire design. If this happens, you may need to either start over or attempt to figure out how to fix the errors.

Finally, you may be able to avoid this issue altogether by not copying and pasting the content back into InDesign at all. You can have the two documents side-by-side and insert the information directly into InDesign. This should help you to avoid any formatting issues that may arise.

Final Thoughts

Overall, although InDesign is a great desktop publishing software that is used by many marketing professionals and graphic designers, you cannot incorporate the use of Grammarly to proofread or edit your final work. For some, this is acceptable since they believe InDesign to be the final product. But others still hold out hope that this will be an integration that happens shortly.

If you are a creative professional looking for an alternative software application to help with your branding and your product, you should consider checking out Placeit. This is a software solution used to design phenomenal designs using thousands of templates.

Using Placeit means that you do not have to have a degree or training in graphic design but can still create product and branding materials that are professional and beautiful. With templates for just about anything, this software can be used for all of your marketing, branding, and product creation needs.