Adobe is a highly recommended software that has been around for quite some time. They have a few competitors, but no one seems to match up to the superior software. The Adobe Creative Cloud also comes with a large collection of different apps that can cover anything your imagination wants to create.

Adobe Creative Cloud is expensive because of everything the software has to offer. It is a collection of over twenty apps for:

• Photography
• Video
• Design
• Web
• UX
• Social Media

There is also have a wide range of color palettes and fonts. It is expensive because it has everything you will need.

It does not matter if you are a professional or just dipping your toes into the water of creativity, Adobe has an app for you. The cost can seem a little off-putting as it is quite expensive to use the software. Read on to find out the top reasons why it is not only expensive but why it could be a good choice for you.

Adobe Creative Cloud Is Packed With More Than Enough Apps

From photographers needing to touch up images to book illustrators, Adobe Creative Cloud has an app for everything you could imagine. This is the biggest reason behind the software being so expensive you are not only getting a photoshop app, but you are also getting everything.

Let’s look at the apps that are included with Adobe Creative Cloud and what you can use them for.

Photoshop Apps

Five main apps can be used for photoshop when using Adobe Creative Cloud. There are basic to more advanced apps that can be used for all of your photoshop needs.

• Photoshop – The basics app
• Photoshop Camera – Take and share photos
• Photoshop Express – Edit your photos from anywhere on the go
• Photoshop Lightroom – Can be used on any device
• Photoshop Lightroom Classic – The app created for a desktop

These apps are perfect for making the most out of your pictured. Whether you are editing pictures for a wedding or an inspiring artist. You will be able to create the perfect images.

Graphic Design and Illustration Apps

These apps are perfect for those wanting to create an image from nothing. There are added features to help those that are new to drawing or just need a little extra help.

• Acrobat DC
• Adobe Fonts
• Adobe Fresco
• Adobe Stock
• Capture
• Illustrator
• InCopy
• InDesign

You could illustrate a children’s book or create a great magazine cover. The options are endless.

Video Apps

If you are wanting to bring a story to life or create animations with these easy-to-use apps.

• After Effects
• Animate
• Audition
• Character Animator
• Media Encoder
• Premier Rush
• Premiere Pro

Whether it is a 2d animation or audio added to the video these apps will help create a great visual. Many of the photoshop apps can be used for illustration, social media creating videos, etc. This list is just a simple overview of all of the apps included in the Adobe Creative Cloud package.

Plans For Everyone – Discounts for Students and Teachers

Cost is a huge factor for those wanting to use new software. Adobe Creative Cloud is quite expensive but thankfully they do have different plans to pick and choose from. If you are only needing a few of their apps to use illustration you can only pay for those apps.

It is less expensive to buy the whole bundle though if you plan to use a few apps. Individual apps and those that come in packs of two or three are roughly $10 a month. The whole bundle of Adobe will set you back almost $60 a month.

There is one great thing about this software if you are a student or teacher the whole bundle will only cost $20 a month for the first year. You can also choose to pay early, pay yearly, or promo codes. All of which will change the overall cost.

Ability To Work Anywhere – Mobile, iPad, Desktop

Another great feature that sets Adobe Creative Cloud above and beyond others is the ability to take it anywhere. Almost all of the apps can be used on a desktop, tablet, and even your phone. Whenever you get the creative bug, you can get to work.

You are also able to work on your tablet, save that work, and pick up where you left off on a different device. There are a few apps that are only for a particular device but for the most part you can go back and forth seamlessly.

Adobes Included Apps Are Very User Friendly

Adobe Creative Cloud may seem very intimidating when looking into the whole bundle of apps. Thankfully the apps are extremely user-friendly. You will be walked step by step on set up. You will also be able to watch hundreds of helpful videos online.

Other than being very user-friendly there is also a great feature called crash recovery. For those that may accidentally turn off their device, the battery dies, or the app fails. It takes a lot of work to create works of art so knowing you are protected can ease your mind.

Easily Collaborate With Adobe Creative Cloud Libraries

Adobe Creative Cloud has a large online library filled with work from users around the world. Here you can meet new people, view their work, and showcase your own. This can open you up to new ideas or give you the chance to collab with someone to create a work of art.

If you are good at one side of a project you can find someone who can pick up where you left off and bring your project to life. This will help you become better at your craft and not leave you stuck on a certain project. If you sell your work this will also mean more money.

Adobe Creative Cloud Is Worth The Higher Cost

For someone who wants to use an app every once in a while, the bundle would not be worth it to you. If you are one of the many that would use the apps in the bundle daily it will be a great idea and worth the higher cost. The apps are top of the line, and you get a lot of the money.

For those of you looking for a more beginner friendly tool for graphic design, Placeit.net is a highly recommended option. You can create designs from pre-made templates, making it a lot easier to create professional designs.

A transparent PNG can be an incredibly useful tool for any business or individual. Logo PNGs with no background can be placed on promotional graphics and products without having to worry about unsightly borders. If you’ve ever dabbled in graphic design, you’ve probably asked, “Why is my PNG not transparent?” too many times.

PNGs can lose their transparency in a number of ways, from being read incorrectly in a browser, to compression, to incompatible conversions. There are a few solutions you can use for each scenario to retain the transparency of an image.

Here are the four reasons why your PNG files aren’t transparent.

1. Browser PNG Transparency Issues

Some browsers, such as Chrome or Firefox, have issues reading transparency in PNG files if they’re not tagged correctly in the image optimization exclusion list. Your browser may read the image as AVIF, a newer optimized format for browsers that reduces file size. Unfortunately, reading the file in this way loses details and transparency in compression.

The easiest way to solve this is by adding “.png” to your comma-separated exclusion list. This should allow the browser to read the full PNG without compressing it, so the transparency will transfer to the final image. Be aware that allowing your browser to read an image as a PNG may cause loading speed issues. PNGs are larger files, and may take time to load in or may not load at all.

These issues may also be caused by other settings, and will vary from browser to browser. To see whether a particular image will load correctly in your chosen browser, you can look up a PNG transparency test. These tests include a selection of PNG images with different settings, including bit size (from 8 to 64) and transparency modes (more on that below).

Simply open the test in your browser and find the image with matching settings to the PNG you wish to upload. This will show you how it will look. From there, you can see which settings look best on a particular browser and adjust your image accordingly.

2. Compression Loses PNG Transparency                                                   

As mentioned, compression can cause a loss of transparency with PNG images. If a PNG is compressed enough, the details of the image will be lost, and it may appear to have a black background that cannot be easily removed.

The solution to this would be to use a specifically transparent-friendly compression software that will bring the compression along to the smaller file size. You’ll also want to make sure that your image remains a PNG, as JPGs don’t often support transparency at any size.

You may also choose to make your image smaller from the beginning. Be aware, though, that this will mean the PNG retains less detail overall and may appear blurry or pixelated when shown on larger screens.

3. Conversion to JPG Loses Transparency

JPG is a significantly smaller file size than a PNG. If done correctly, you can convert a PNG image to a JPG file without losing quality up to a certain size. Unfortunately, there are some things you simply can’t transfer to a JPG, and transparency is one of them. Transparent backgrounds are not supported at all in JPG images.

Some websites may require JPG files instead of PNGs and may convert your image automatically. This means that the transparency of the background on your image will be lost in translation from one format to the next.

There’s no easy way to prevent this with uploads. However, if you’re using an editor, you can simply check to make sure your image is exporting in PNG format rather than being converted upon saving. Unfortunately, transferring an image back into a PNG format will usually mean having to redo the background’s transparency.

4. Using Alpha Channel Transparency Instead of Indexed Mode Transparency

There are different ways to make a PNG image transparent. Some PNGs use alpha channels to determine color; this means that a percentage of opacity is assigned to a certain layer of color from 100% (totally opaque) to 0% (totally transparent). Setting the background of a PNG image to 0% in the alpha channel causes it to become transparent.

Unfortunately, some browsers do not read alpha channel PNGs correctly. Instead of being transparent, a 0% background will be read as black, and the image will lose its transparency. In order to maintain it, the PNG can be converted to indexed mode coloration. This means that the colors are managed by a background code system that saves the computer memory and makes the file size smaller.

To convert an image to indexed mode, you can use an editing software. Most programs will have an option to select the color-coding method or mode for your image before it’s exported, giving you more control over the color arrangement and retention. For example, if using GIMP, you can select “Image,” then go to “Mode” and select “Indexed.”

How Placeit Can Help

Online graphic design tools are becoming more common, and Placeit is one of the best.

Placeit has three goals – make it easy, make it repeatable, and make it affordable.

Placeit allows you to click “Background Color” and then “Transparent” to remove the background of your design in a single click.

They have over 90,000+ pre-made templates to customize, and you can download them straight to your computer.

Hopefully this article helps you create, and use, your PNGs with a transparent background.

For the longest time, Adobe Photoshop has been one of the most popular editing apps on the market. Despite the price, it’s kept an established group of followers for a long time. What makes Adobe Photoshop so popular? There are a few reasons why it’s stayed so strong.

Read on to learn why Adobe Photoshop is so popular, despite the onslaught of software on the market. It’s quality technology that anyone can love, right from the comfort of their home. Let’s talk about why so many people love it so much.

1. Adobe Photoshop Has Vast Features

Adobe Photoshop is packed to the brim with features. Once you have the program, you have access to tools to help you accomplish tasks. Adobe Photoshop appeals to those who want something that holds everything.

Some of the things you can do on Adobe Photoshop include:

• Photo editing
• Graphic design
• Retouching
• Illustration
• Product design

These, and more, can happen right on Adobe Photoshop, right from the comfort of your bed.

The convenience of having everything in one place makes Adobe Photoshop one of the best of the best. Although other editing tools have many features, Adobe Photoshop is one of the most diverse choices. They’re made themselves well-known on the market for the features they offer, all in one spot.

Once you make your creation on Adobe Photoshop, you can upload it on sites like Placeit.net to see what your creation would look like on an actual product. Transporting your creation from Adobe Photoshop to another platform is incredibly easy. It’s truly one of the best tools out there for getting everything done at once.

2. Anyone Can Use Adobe Photoshop

Another reason Adobe Photoshop is so popular is that anyone can use Photoshop. Whether you are just starting or have years of experience in the digital world, Adobe Photoshop can become your best friend. Its tools are simple to use, and they even offer instruction right inside the program for the best results.

Some examples of people who can use Adobe Photoshop include:

• College students who are taking classes where photoshop is necessary
• Moms working on making flyers for a garage sale
• Grandparents trying to host a get-together with friends

The opportunities are endless with Adobe Photoshop, no matter what stage of life you’re in or the generation you’re from.

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular choices out of these because anyone can pick up the basics in an instant. Even those with no technology experience will have little trouble learning how to handle Adobe Photoshop. The world is your oyster if you decide to go with this unique tool.

3. Adobe Photoshop is Fast

Anyone who uses tools like Adobe Photoshop for a living knows that the worst thing ever is slow software. Sometimes, you need to make a fast change to an image. While other software would require a long loading process, Adobe Photoshop permits users to enter the space, make an edit, and exit out just as fast. It’s designed for efficiency like no other.

A fast system means you can get more done in a shorter period. Imagine what you could accomplish if it only took moments to edit your creations rather than hours?

Once you know how to use Photoshop, it’s speed is certainly something that draws people to it.

4. There Are Many Courses for Adobe Photoshop

Since Adobe Photoshop has been around for so long, there are many courses available for the program. Whether you want to learn right inside the software or want to look somewhere on YouTube, there is instruction available. You can learn about anything from just getting started to editing advanced photos for your profession.

Some of the courses you can take for Adobe Photoshop include:

• Essentials training courses
• Advanced editing courses
• Digital retouching courses
• Advanced courses

These are all available on platforms like YouTube and Skillshare, often for free.

The open market of knowledge available on the internet is vast, and the information out there about Adobe Photoshop feels even bigger. If you don’t know how to do something, it’s almost certain that someone out there has made a tutorial about it. Adobe Photoshop is a collaborative effort between the online world.

5. Adobe Photoshop is Worth Its Cost

Finally, it’s safe to say that Adobe Photoshop is worth the cost. Although it’s expensive, you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck. It’s a professional program that charges about ten dollars a month. With that ten dollars, you can produce professional-quality products that could land you your next job or help you keep your current one.

Adobe Photoshop is worth the cost because:

• It gives you access to Photoshop’s entire photography studio
• It provides multiple features
• It’s more affordable than advanced programs and provides the same product

You’ll get many benefits if you decide to invest in Adobe Photoshop for yourself.

Whether you like saving money or are looking for the best, Adobe Photoshop is worth the cost. You can cancel at any moment, so it doesn’t hurt to give it a shot for just ten dollars a month.

Conclusion

When you think of photo editing, Adobe Photoshop probably comes to mind. This high-quality brand has been around for a long time, providing ways for users to edit their way to the vision they see for their work. It’s super popular because anyone can use it, and the features it provides are more than worth the payment they ask of users.

We hope this information was helpful! If you’re on the fence about getting Adobe Photoshop, you can feel safe knowing it’s a popular product for a reason. You’re sure to enjoy the time you spend editing and changing your creations right in the world of Photoshop – and afterward, you can try Placeit.net to see the completed product shine!

It happens to everyone at least once. That design or photograph looks amazing on screen, but it comes out dull, muted, and muddied when it prints. This is because it was set to RGB instead of CMYK when it was sent to the printer.

Printing in RGB instead of CMYK will result in muted and muddy colors that will not compare to the design on screen.

It helps to always remember to do a test print before doing a full run to make sure things are the way they should be. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between RGB and CMYK, and why one is better for print than the other.

What are the Key Differences Between RGB and CMYK?

There are a few ways that RGB is different from CMYK which might help make the understanding a little clearer. For starters, RGB is made out of light where CMYK is physical. Here are some other ways they are different:

Difference	RGB	CMYK
Colors	Red, Green, Blue	Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black)
Use	Digital	Print
Color Variety	Many/Vibrant	Fewer/Sharper
Resolution	72ppi	300ppi
Color Mode	Additive	Subtractive

It’s easiest to remember that in RGB, black is the absence of color whereas in CMYK it is all of the colors. Imagine RGB like a prism of white light and CMYK like a couple buckets of paint and it helps make a little more sense as to how they interact with each other.

Why Do Printers Use CMYK Instead of RGB?

RGB is made due to how light works, reflects, and is seen by the eye. It’s an additive color, meaning that black is the absence of color and white is all of the colors combined. CMYK on the other hand is subtractive color and is not made of light. It instead absorbs or reflects light just like any other tangible object. White is the absence of color whereas black is all of the colors in one.

Since printers are making something tangible, they have to use CMYK. If the color can’t quite be made with the physical ink, it’s going to try and do something as close as possible. However, it can only reach about half of what RGB can do which can lead to RGB designs becoming muddied in transition. It’s just a limitation of the system.

Should Designs Be Made in CMYK or RGB?

It depends on if the design is going to be used for print or web. If it is going to be for web, it definitely should be designed start to finish in RGB as that is going to help the colors be at their very best.

If the plan is to print the design, it needs to be at least converted to CMYK before printing. How it starts though is up to personal preference, though just doing the whole thing in CMYK can help prevent disappointment and loss of quality during conversion.

Do Professionals Print in RGB or CMYK?

All printing is done in CMYK, though some high-end inkjet models have space for additional colors including more saturated red, green, and blue. Inkjet can typically get more vibrant in color as it’s a translucent dye that is mixed and layered on, whereas laser printers use a dry powder that is essentially baked on in a way that makes it look like the color instead of four individual ones.

If the printing company accepts RGB formatted files, they have every image go through their devices’ native raster image process (RIP). This allows a file that was made in RGB to be converted to CMYK immediately through the printer itself. Since RGB is made by light, the brightest hues and tints will not transfer over to the final product even with devices such as this.

What are the Brightest Colors CMYK Can Print?

CMYK will never be as bright as the digital screen, however not diluting the colors will make it so that those colors are the brightest of the bunch. 100% Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow print the most vibrantly. Black can actually be made richer by mixing all of the colors with the black ink, which is why even a greyscale print might use up the colors if it wasn’t set to print with only the black.

Unfortunately, that is about as far as it can go. While some brighter mixes can happen especially with an inkjet printer, it can never be nearly as bright as what RGB can do. Achieving neon or glow-in-the dark has to come from different sources and materials, not a printer.

How to Know if the File is in RGB or CMYK?

Most programs have a mode option that can be checked in their menus. Some of them also state up on the very top bar of the program which mode it is in next to the file name. If using a template such as those on PlaceIt, selecting something for Web will be in RGB and selecting for Print will be in CMYK. Additionally, there is nothing wrong with asking for help from friends or even the printer themselves.

If all else fails, run a test print to make sure that it is going to be produced to satisfaction. That will help solve issues before they become a problem and save a whole lot of headaches and disappointment down the line.

Why are CMYK colors so Dull?

Due to the subtractive process of CMYK, colors are mixed together. For inkjet printers, these are translucent liquid dyes which then have to dry on the page, whereas laser printers are a dry powder that has to be heated in order to be set. This combining of colors in turn makes it so that light is removed or absorbed instead of reflected back like in RGB.

In the end, this means that there are fewer colors that the eye is actually going to be able to register as light isn’t being entirely reflected back onto the retinas. In short, only about half of the colors RGB can produce are able to be converted to CMYK.

Conclusion

CMYK is how all printers make their colors and RGB is how all monitors make theirs. The former uses a liquid in an inkjet printer to mix the colors together, which will end up darkening them as it makes more and more mixes. Laser printers layer on more and more colors which will make things darker as well. RGB on the other hand gets brighter the more it adds to itself due to being made entirely of light. Simply put, they are just two separate processes for separate uses. CMYK for print and RGB for digital.

There has been one question that has long plagued the graphic design world – is graphic design art? There are indeed many factors that make these two creations similar. However, there are a few reasons why we think graphic design is not considered art, despite these similarities.

Read on to learn more about why graphic design isn’t considered art. Everyone is subject to their opinion on the topic, but these are pretty strong reasons supporting graphic design in its category. Let’s dive right in.

1. Graphic Design is Not Self-Expression

Although graphic design can be a form of self-expression, it often is not. Art is almost always an individual expressing themselves in the medium they see fit. A graphic designer can put their heart and soul into their work, but it still must fit within a specific purpose for their job.

Here are some examples of this:

• Banksy creates his work to express his feeling about the world around him
• Van Gogh sought to craft painting to deal with his viewpoints
• Modern Art is a self-expressed spectacle with no other purpose

Art comes in existence for expressing the self, more often than not, with no other purpose.

As stated previously, graphic designers can put themselves into their work. It’s not impossible. It’s just not likely that the majority of their work is based on self-expression. One is more interior-driven than the other.

2. Graphic Design is Observation

Graphic design is an observation of the world around us. It takes real things and compiles them into a design that will draw the eye and pull everything together. Art is an exploration, moving through colors and shapes to conclude. One is more on the nose than the other to get the job done.

A graphic designer will typically:

• Look at the problem set before them
• Make world observations to see reactions to this problem
• Create based on what they see as the solution

This process results in a design that works to observe and solve an issue.

On the other hand, art is an exploration of feelings and emotions. It doesn’t look to solve a problem, and it often creates one for the world to look at and solve for themselves. The creation strategies tend to vary, separating graphic design from art.

3. Graphic Design is Objective

Graphic design is objective. Art is subjective. This argument is one of the strongest when stating that graphic design is not art. With traditional works, there are multiple interpretations you can get. With graphic design, the intent is to give the user only one meaning from the company they’re working for.

If you look at Van Gogh’s Starry Night, you can note the style. You can read the rationale behind the painting. But, you can also come up with your interpretation of the piece, determining why YOU think he made it and what his intentions were.

With graphic design, you should look at the work and find the meaning right away. Graphic design differs from art in its straightforwardness for the user. It has a goal, and it is here to accomplish that goal as fast as possible. If you can look at a piece from a graphic designer and understand what they want you to see, they have succeeded.

4. Graphic Design is For the User

When a graphic designer makes a work of art, they’re not making it for themselves. Their creation comes with the user in mind, like whether they can use it right on their company site. Art, on the other hand, was made for the artist. It’s not made for a particular person or entity unless commissioned.

A graphic designer might create a piece for:

• A company’s website or other personal information locations
• An Instagram page or another social media platform
• A comic book or another literary item
• A program for a stage play

Graphic design is everywhere, and it is made for the person or entity who wants to display it.

Artists tend to make things for themselves. This difference is one of the most critical to consider when trying to determine if graphic design is art. Art is for the individual, while graphic design comes to be for the user. Thanks to this, you tend to see graphic design in more places than you see traditional works.

5. Graphic Design Evokes a Commercial Reaction

Graphic design is often used to invoke a commercial reaction. When people see a particular form of graphic design, they should be drawn to a product, company, or link that the graphic design advertises within its form. On the other hand, art is simply there to be looked at and make a statement by itself.

If someone sees graphic design, they might think to do one of the following:

• Click on a link for a website or fundraiser
• Buy a product from a company
• Subscribe to a service
• Read more about the company

The goal of graphic design is to get people interested in what’s going on and help propel the company or individual forward.

While visual art works for attention, it doesn’t have the commercial intent like graphic design. One is not better than the other – graphic design is made with the intent to make money, while art comes intending to give others insight into a piece of themselves

Conclusion

Although graphic design isn’t art, it’s another creative field in itself. Those who work in graphic design solve rather than express creatively.

This debate has gone on for a long time, and it will continue to go on forever. Some may consider graphic design art, and some may not. Whatever category it falls under, graphic design is a creative endeavor that has supported many. If you’re a graphic designer, you’re creative on a whole new level.

When it comes to any medium of art, the proper tools can make a significant difference. An artist with amazing raw talent can make do with a two-dollar marker, but any artist worth their salt will also tell you that there is a major difference between markers you can get in the craft aisle of your local market and professional markers from an art supply store. When it comes to digital art specifically, the format of your piece could serve as a vital tool.

JPEG and PNG serve as the best for digital art in different capacities. JPEG is better for images that require more space, so detailed pieces or images on the web. PNG is better for more simplistic pieces or images on the web that require transparency.

It may be difficult to know which format would best suit different art pieces. There are a few factors you can consider when deciding so that your art can service whatever your need is at the moment, whether that be space in your library or clarity and sharpness when saving to a device.

What’s the Difference Between JPEG and PNG?

JPEG or Joint Photographic Experts Group uses a method of lossy compression to save images. It is especially popular with photographic images. In fact, digital cameras automatically save images in this format. PNG or Portable Graphics Format is the direct opposite using a lossless compression method for saving images. It’s typically used for web graphics, but can be used for photography as well.

Because there is overlap in use when it comes to JPEG and PNG, it may make it a little more difficult to tell which one should be used and when. However, there are some factors you can consider that will help you decide.

1. Storage Space
2. Editing
3. Detail of the Image

Taking a deeper look into each one of these topics should give you the understanding to know which format to choose no matter what digital art you are wanting to store, edit or upload.

1. Storage Space

The amount of space an image requires will be a major factor in deciding which format to use. Out of all the image file types, PNG is normally the largest. Which would require more storage in your CMS file library and take a longer time to upload when used on the web. This is due to PNG’s lossless compression method not shrinking down the image for storage.

It’s really a give and take when it comes to each format, because while JPEG may compress the image in order to use less storage and also takes less time to upload, with certain images there may be loss in quality as the image is being compressed down. While this is not the case with every image, it’s worth taking notice of if you choose the format.

2. Editing

Most images, whether photos or other digital art like logos, icons, or graphics require some form of editing. Among forums on the internet that debate PNG versus JPEG there are complaints against JPEG causing a loss of quality when it comes to the image, making it grainy and the colors of the image muddled. However, others have noted that most current design tools will allow you to determine quality via a sliding scale, so loss of quality is not as big of a factor sith JPEG as it once was.

One thing that is worth noting is transparency. PNG allows for transparency, while JPEG does not. What that means practically is if you are wanting to remove or possibly replace a background of an image, you can not do so with the JPEG format. This could apply to product photography or logos or graphics that require a white or black background to go on a website. However, if you are just wanting to display or export an image for view then the lack of transparency with JPEG shouldn’t be an issue.

3. Detail of the Image

When it comes to more detailed or dimensional digital art work, especially as it relates to photography, the go-to seems to be JPEG. When it comes to more simplistic, flat images, like logos or icons, PNG is the go-to. Now, this is not always the case, so there are exceptions to the rule.

The main issue with JPEG is that there is a degradation of quality each time the image is opened, edited and saved. If the image is edited and saved once, you may not notice a real difference at all. Either way, the more detailed and dimensional a photo is, the less likely you are to notice a loss of quality. Whereas degradation in a more simplistic image, especially one edited multiple times could be very noticeable.

To the average person, the loss of quality may not be visible to the naked eye; but if it’s something you are concerned about you could always do a side by side comparison of any image in JPEG or PNG and see if your eye can spot any differences. The context in which the image is being used will likely play a factor in determining how picky an artist needs to be in terms of quality.

Conclusion

The debate between JPEG and PNG really boils down to quality of the image versus the size of the image. If you’re needing the space in your storage or quick upload times then JPEG would be the way to go. If you have an image that may require multiple edits and you want to maintain the integrity of the quality of the photo or need to change or eliminate any background elements, then PNG would be the way to go.

The general consensus from digital artists is that both formats are used interchangeably and is entirely dependent on the circumstance and the artist’s preferences. Now that you know how each format functions, you can determine for yourself what you will need and when you will need to use it.

Graphic design and illustration are two different creative fields of work. While graphic design focuses on communicating concepts and resolving issues through visual compositions like color, form, typography, and so on. Illustration is less about communicating to a specific audience and more about personal creative exposition. Not all artists can jump from one creative field to another, however, some are multi-talented and able to dip their pens in multiple fields.

It is possible for a graphic designer to be an illustrator. Fortunately, there is overlap between these two fields. This tends to be the case mostly with those that are creatively or artistically ambidextrous.

It’s even possible to learn while working in one of these fields because graphic designers and illustrators at times work side-by-side to accomplish a single task. Quite a few creatives will switch fields amid their career depending on what is most profitable. Keep reading to discover a few factors in accomplishing the leap from one industry to the other.

How Can a Graphic Designer Become an Illustrator?

There are creative fields that are closely related enough that there is not only overlap but the possibility for an artist to go from one field to the other. This transition may not be seamless and may require a learning curve of some kind, but it can be done in the case of graphic design and illustration.

When transitioning from graphic design to illustration there are a few factors to consider and some helpful tools that will help make the move a bit easier.

1. Kind of Illustration
2. Focus on Style
3. Finances
4. Continued Learning

In considering these factors, you will be better equipped to not only decide if a career change is in your near future but how to take the first steps to make that dream become a reality.

1. Kind of Illustration

Even within one creative field, there are many kinds of work under the umbrella of that field. When considering moving from graphic design to illustration, it is important to figure out what field of illustration you are wanting to delve into. Here are some examples of the extensive list of jobs you can do using illustration:

• Courtroom Illustrator
• Film Storyboarding
• Comic Book Illustrator
• Fashion Illustrator
• Medical Illustrator

Narrowing the list of potential professions may prove difficult and may require dabbling in a few of these industries to know what suits you best or what you are most passionate about. Once you know what job in illustration you are interested in you can move to the next factor, honing in on your style of illustration.

2. Focus on Style

Style is multi-layered when it comes to illustration. You want to think about the medium you’re going to use, techniques, and your personal brand. There is traditional illustration and modern illustration, this is the place where you might want to start your decision-making.

Once you know if you want to go traditional or modern you can move to technique or medium. There are quite a few ways in which you can illustrate.

• Pencil Illustration
• Wood etching
• Watercolor Illustration
• Charcoal Illustration
• Acrylic Illustration
• Pen & Ink Illustration

After deciding what medium or mediums you would like to use, then it’s a matter of branding your specific style of this medium. What is going to separate you from other illustrators who use this same medium or work in the same industry? As a graphic designer you are working within the confines of guides of style or brand identities but as an illustrator, you will have complete control of your style of illustration, which will be the very thing that potential clients will contact you about.

3. Finances

One of the biggest pieces of advice for any career change is to check your finances before transitioning. This may require that you stick to your current field for a little while longer while simultaneously storing up funds for some rainy days you may experience at the beginning of your new career.

When it comes to a switch from graphic design to illustration this advice should most definitely be heeded. Illustration is not as lucrative of a career as graphic design, perhaps because the demand for graphic design is greater, especially in this internet-driven culture. Therefore, there may be a lag in between paychecks that would require you to dip into your savings to fill the gap.

In an ideal world, you would want to save at least six months’ worth of the current salary you are making. However long it takes for you to save this amount, it is worth the peace of mind you will be getting in exchange for your time and effort.

4. Continued Learning

Though you may have been doodling in your notebook for years before deciding to make the move from graphic design to illustration, there is always room to improve your skills or learn new skills. This could be done in a few different ways.

It could look like taking a few classes on the weekends to tighten up some of the weaker spots of your illustration or learn a different technique you might be interested in. It could also look like utilizing new tools and software or websites that will assist you in creating your illustrations and getting them out into the world, like Placeit.net.

Conclusion

Whenever you decide to make the transition from graphic designer to illustrator and however you make it, the most important thing to do is to follow your passion. Figuring out what job you want, what technique you want to use, saving for the move, and where you want to display your work are secondary to first saying yes to a new career path.

The level of difficulty is not only predicated on your level of talent and experience in illustration but your dedication to learn and grow in the field. The ever-evolving nature of art will surely see you through my phases of your style to the one that will have clients knocking down your door. The first step is just to simply say yes.

GIMP, short for GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a freeware photo editing and manipulation program which also supports free-form drawing, transcoding between different file formats, and specialized graphical tasks. It is commonly compared to Adobe Photoshop as it can do just about everything.

For the most part, Photoshop is best for those in larger professional settings who need to use a lot of the advanced features and have enough training to get past its steep learning curve. GIMP has its advantages over Adobe’s prized program though, so keep reading to find out what they are.

What are the Advantages of Using GIMP?

GIMP is the biggest competitor for Photoshop. Just about everything the photo editing juggernaut can do, so can GIMP. There are quite a few reasons why hobbyists and amateurs prefer GIMP over its paid counterpart, and not all of them are grounded in money.

1. Free Means Free Forever

GIMP is freeware with no hidden fees, trials, or subscriptions. There is no premium version with better features and no paywalls whatsoever. It is completely free, and that includes any and all updates. It is free and will always be free if the development team has their way.

2. It is More User Friendly

While Photoshop tends to be more widely accepted in professional circles due to some of the more advanced features and the attractive Creative Cloud that can be used on multiple devices with the proper plan, GIMP is more for the amateur, novice, and hobbyist. Therefore, it is a lot more user friendly with a nicer interface, customizable tabs and keys, and less junk to bog down the program with. More and more user-friendly graphic design tools are surfacing, including internet based tools that don’t require downloading software at all, like Placeit.net.

3. Open Source Architecture Makes It So Anyone Can Help Develop

GIMP is an open source software on top of being freeware. This means that anyone can make their own patches, assets, or developments without fearing repercussions from the original company. This also means that people are encouraged to make their own tutorials and share them whenever possible. Photoshop has a whole brand it has to uphold and a mega corporation behind it who are trying to turn a profit with the program. It’s got how it’s going to run and Adobe really doesn’t want that to change.

4. It Can Still Open and Edit PSD Files

One issue so many things face in programs that have their own file types is that they try to make it so only that program can open it. GIMP has its own XCF file type, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also open Photoshop’s PSD files. Not only that, but it can edit them too.

5. Tiny File Size in Comparison

Since Photoshop is made for professionals and backed by a massive company, it takes a lot of space and resources on the computer in order to have it run properly. GIMP on the other hand is comparatively tiny. It makes for an excellent option for computers without a lot of processing power or large amounts of storage space.

6. There is a Portable Version

GIMP has a really fun option to be even smaller than it already is. So small that it can be installed on a USB drive and then plugged into any device that accepts them to be able to use the program straight from there. No installing it fifty times and putting in key words and passcodes, just take the USB and go.

7. Superior Automated Batch Processing

Since a good chunk of GIMP is about photo editing, one really attractive function is for automated batch processing. This is something that the program destroys its competitor Photoshop. It has much greater and more efficient batch processing capabilities that nothing else really compares to.

8. Customizable User Interface

Since Photoshop is part of a whole brand of software, it has one set way that it wants to be. There’s very little opportunity for customization. It really is a solid what you see is what you get while being on an extremely steep learning curve.

GIMP on the other hand has widgets and windows that can be adjusted easily to suit the user’s needs and preferences. There’s customizable keybinding which is a godsend, and making custom assets is far easier than in similar programs.

9. Linux is Supported

Photoshop might think it has the photo editing software in the bag, but it excludes an entire operating system. It only appears on Windows and Mac computers, whereas GIMP also has Linux support. GIMP also is small enough to not need a special version for every device out there and can also be simply used with a USB drive making it technically more compatible of the two.

10. Amazing Support, Both Official and Unofficial

The support staff behind GIMP are top notch, ready and willing to help with whatever they can. There’s also such a massive community of users out there that it does not take much to find someone who knows what is going on. With it being open source, there’s ton of resources people have made including modifications to help make things easier.

Photoshop is notorious for poor customer service and frustrating its userbase. Their modules are lengthy and difficult to understand which doesn’t help matters when that’s all support wants to use for assistance.

Conclusion

GIMP is an amazing freeware program that is nearly identical to Adobe Photoshop, with some exceptions. First and foremost, it’s free and open source, making it much easier to get ahold of without dunking a small fortune into it or subscribing to another service. It has a much smoother learning curve, heavy customization, and a lot of support for files coming in or exporting to services such as Placeit.net for mockups. If nothing else, it’s a good introduction into heavier image manipulation software without worrying about wasted funds.

If you’re looking for a drawing tablet, you’ve probably stumbled across the iconic Wacom brand. With tablets that can hit almost $250, they’re one of the most expensive brands out there. Still, people continue to buy them for their art. Why are these small tablets so expensive? 

There are a few reasons Wacom tablets are so expensive, despite the rise of lower-priced competition. It’s critical to understand the price if you’re thinking about buying a Wacom tablet for yourself. Let’s dive right in.

1. Wacom Has Little Competition

One of the main reasons Wacom is so expensive is because they have little competition in the digital art world. There aren’t many companies that make drawing tablets, and most that do haven’t been around as long. Wacom tablets have a monopoly, so they can charge what they want.

A few of the Wacom competitors that exist on the market include:

• Huion
• XP-Pen
• Gaomon
• Apple

These are the biggest competitors that exist in the drawing tablet market.

Still, none of these companies come close to what Wacom has built over the years. They offer tablets of the utmost quality to users, which is getting hard to find in a fast market. You can’t beat what comes with investing in a Wacom tablet. 

If your focus is saving money, one of these competitors might be a better choice for you. However, if you want the best of the best, Wacom tablets are at the top of their game.

2. Wacom’s Products Are Well-Known

Wacom is a company that has long produced quality products. Through high praise, recommendations, and a multitude of customers, their products have become well-known throughout the art world. For this reason, they can up the price without worrying that they will lose customers as a result.

A well-known product has a group of people that will stand behind it at all costs. People who love Apple will pay thousands for their products. Lovers of video game systems will offer their funds for a new system. It’s the same with Wacom. They’ve worthily established themselves over time, and they have a solid fanbase of loyal customers.

3. Wacom Has Ideal Driver Support

Wacom tablets have excellent driver support which is difficult to find in the drawing tablet world. Most Wacom tablets have produced at least eleven years of continuous driver support. Each year, they work to support their upgraded products more than the previous years. This move makes their tablets more expensive.

A few of the reasons you need good driver support include:

• Linking everything together for ease of access
• Permitting your tablet to work properly when you go on to draw

Solid driver support will make a difference for your art.

It’s impressive that Wacom drawing tablets have driver support that lasts more than ten years. It’s a sign that the company works to keep its technology up-to-date and ready to collaborate with the artist behind the pen. Wacom works diligently to produce excellent products rather than creating for the sake of making the most money.

4. Wacom Has Excellent Technology

It’s an indisputable fact that Wacom tablets have excellent technology for artists to have fun with while they create. They have up to 2048 pressure sensitivity, far higher than most will ever need but convenient nonetheless. They also have items like tilt sensitivity and multitouch for those who get more advanced models of the tablet.

Some other technologies that exist inside the Wacom drawing tablet include:

• Various ink data technologies
• Advanced pen sensors
• Pen-on-paper feel when working on the tablet

These are some of the integral items Wacom has developed to fit inside their drawing tablets.

The price is high because of the technology packed inside each tablet. Wacom has worked hard over the years to develop a product that holds a similar feel to drawing and writing on actual paper. The final product puts that on display and permits artists to take advantage of the technology for their work.

5. Wacom Makes Quality Tablets

Finally, Wacom tablets are expensive because Wacom makes quality products. Many customers have said that their Wacom tablets have lasted them more than ten years, and are still in full functionality. They’re an authentic business that has grown its marketplace and earned consumer trust.

Some of their best drawing tablets that Wacom offers include:

• Wacom Intuos
• Wacom Intuos Pro
• Wacom Intuos Pro Paper
• Wacom One (with digital screen)

These are some of the best choices out there if you want a Wacom drawing tablet for your life.

If you look at the reviews for these tablets, you can see the many happy customers who have invested in this product. Wacom drawing tablets are one of the few pieces of technology left that will last for years and years. If you’re an artist and you need something that will stick around, the expense of the Wacom tablet is more than worth it.

You can feel confident that the work you create with a Wacom tablet is top-notch. The price is worth it for everything you get packed inside one tiny tablet.

Conclusion

Art is expensive, and one of the most expensive items you can buy for your work is the Wacom tablet. Even though they are high-priced, Wacom tablets have reasons behind this choice. They have little competition, make quality tablets, and have driver support that stretched beyond what most of the modern competition offers.

We hope this information was helpful! It can be shocking to see the tag, but there is a rationale here. If you’re thinking about a Wacom tablet, it’s a worthy investment. The price comes with beneficial features that will help push your art career forward in the best ways. A Wacom tablet will stick by your side throughout your career and beyond.