Photoshop or Illustrator? Why choose one over the other?

In a web designer's perspective:

I feel the two programs are used for very different reasons.

Photoshop is awesome for images with lots of detail. Illustrator cannot generate that much detail because it is paths and mathematical based, so the file size will be incredible. If I need to work with an image taken from a camera, I will open Photoshop for that.

However, Illustrator is perfect for logos, icons, illustrations and flat design. And if you are a responsive web designer, logos in SVG format is the way to go.

I use Illustrator for converting filetypes and Fireworks for cropping. Photoshop for the actual artwork.

I think it's more down to the fact a barely know how to use these programs.

Just play around with each one and see which you prefer.

Keith Monaghan - Maybe this comparison chart will help:

bigger version

source: http://www.printwand.com/blog/when-to-use-adobe-illustrator-vs-photoshop-vs-indesign

There is no way I could choose one or the other. I would be crippled without one. Amy Coulson really nailed it.

In addition to that, I use both programs to work on the same image. For instance, I my create my lines, layers, patterns, etc in Illustrator, and than take that file over to photoshop to add in my colors, gradients, noise, or their subtle details.

Illustrator has a very power way of drawing, tracing, or in other ways creating shapes, logos, or other items, and photoshop is beautiful and color and details.

They are a great 1-2 punch.

All of that assumes you know the difference between Illustrator being vector based, and photoshop being raster based. If you don't, start taking the lessons here. The Illustrator lessons just dropped this morning.

Excellent References. I'll have to take a look myself.

Thanks everyone! That helps a lot.

I really appreciate they feedback. I'll take a look at the Treehouse videos.

Keith Monaghan,

The first stage of the newly released Illustrator Foundations also touches on this subject.