Adobe Illustrator - Illustrator v Draw

Author

Illustrator v Draw

Paul Breslin

2006-04-03, 6:16 pm

Hello -

I am interested in purchasing an art program - one to draw from scratch
original works.
Which program would you recommend? Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw?
Thanks,
Paul

Connie Pierce

2006-04-03, 6:16 pm

In article <xjbYf.6280$L7.1210@bignews2.bellsouth.net>, Paul Breslin
<pbreslin@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Hello -
>
> I am interested in purchasing an art program - one to draw from scratch
> original works.
> Which program would you recommend? Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw?
> Thanks,
> Paul
>

Having used both for the past 11 years, I would recommend Adobe
Illustrator. The brushes are much nicer and more versatile, the
formats/files are much more reliable, and it's overall a more stable
environment. Too, it's industry standard. And you can buy it bundled
with some of the best apps in the GD industry! : )

--
C Pierce

Tommy Westbrook

2006-04-03, 6:16 pm

I own and use both. I prefer the ease of use of Draw. Plus you can't beat
the price. It really depends on which interface you are more comfortable
with. You could download and give each a run-through in the trial versions.

klikaralo

2006-04-04, 3:16 am

Well, if you are working in a printers shop as I am, I would reccomend Corel
for the better finishing capabilities. The Print dialogue is not beaten yet.
On the other hand, the versatility is clearly on the Illustrators side, not
that Corel does not have the same things, but, you know...
--
Klikaralo

Duncan Allan

2006-04-04, 6:17 am

I started off with Freehand and ended up using them all.

They all have nice features and ways of works that suit different jobs.

Duncan

"klikaralo" <ferdo.fulgosi brisi @inet.hr> wrote in message
news:e0t26n$9vc$1@ss405.t-com.hr...
> Well, if you are working in a printers shop as I am, I would reccomend
> Corel for the better finishing capabilities. The Print dialogue is not
> beaten yet. On the other hand, the versatility is clearly on the
> Illustrators side, not that Corel does not have the same things, but, you
> know...
> --
> Klikaralo
>

CMP

2006-04-04, 6:17 am

In article <e0t26n$9vc$1@ss405.t-com.hr>, klikaralo < @inet.hr> wrote:

> Well, if you are working in a printers shop as I am, I would reccomend Corel
> for the better finishing capabilities. The Print dialogue is not beaten yet.
> On the other hand, the versatility is clearly on the Illustrators side, not
> that Corel does not have the same things, but, you know...

That's funny . . . out of say, 10 print shops that I know of
personally, all but one or two use Illy. Even back when I jockeyed a
PantherPlus, we were Illy . . .

What exactly about Corel do you prefer? Not trying to be smartass . . .
just curious. For one thing, I always had more problems getting Corel
files to print - unless it was a CPS file (back in the day). Taking
Corel to my local printer usually means hours of trouble-shooting - and
yes, they are Corel, too.

Again, honestly, just curious . . .

--
C Pierce

klikaralo

2006-04-04, 6:17 am

> What exactly about Corel do you prefer? Not trying to be smartass . . .

For the first thing multiple pages, for the second multiple pages with
masterpages, for the third Print Merge, For the fourth layout possibilities
in the Print Dialogue, text layout possibilities...
All things that are very useful with for example businness cards one
design - many people, diplomas, numerated ID cards for congresses, need
more?
There are many occurencies when I combine Illustrator or Photoshop with
Corel.
--
Klikaralo

klikaralo

2006-04-04, 6:17 am

> just curious. For one thing, I always had more problems getting Corel
> files to print - unless it was a CPS file (back in the day). Taking
> Corel to my local printer usually means hours of trouble-shooting - and
> yes, they are Corel, too.

Well, see, I dont have half as much problems with printing from Corel as you
say here. Main thing I expect from my customers is to curve the text, and
not to use shadows, or if the shadows are needed than to turn them in bitmap
merged with the background. What hours of trouble-shooting, what CPS? (whats
CPS anyway?)
Or better, I prefer PDFs wether it be from Corel, Illustrator, Freehand or
whatever (if the customer knows his sh*t). Saves me not only work hours, but
buying all those programs as well. Those are very important issues to me,
arent they to you?
--
Klikaralo

Tommy Westbrook

2006-04-04, 6:16 pm

I work in a printshop and run an Adobe RIP. I have to be at least somewhat
savvy in every program - on both platforms. I find that Corel gives me the
least problems of the two. I don't blame the program for that but the
artists themselves. If artists give you bad files you have problems. With
Corel's print preview, at least you can see ONSCREEN where the problems are.
If you haven't looked at Corel since, say, version 6, it simply isn't the
same program. From what I gather with a lot of other printshops, they want
to stick everything in Quark and output it. That creates its own set of
problems - should I say nightmares. If I get good Illustrator - or Corel
files - I can generally make EPS files or PDFs for print, place them in
InDesign and output them no problem. Theoretically this should work in Quark
also, but the Adobe RIP doesn't always see it that way.

Piggy

2006-04-04, 6:16 pm

Hmmmm.... Nice conversation is going on... ;)

I also have used both + Freehand too. But my opinion would be Adobe
Illustrator. :D

BUT... ofcourse others have their points on money...!!!

* Illy is at Industry Standards, but CorelDraw.

* For a beginner Draw would be easier.

* Adobe presents a bundle (CS or CS2) with many industry standard,
worldclass GD software and Adobe is the No1 for GD software.

* Illy is stable (?? but not always, Draw ??) :D (I think both r in the
same boat in this case)

* Multiple pages... Only CorelDraw has that. But in Adobe bundle you
get InDesign to design books or such.

* On top of every thing... Adobe has seporate software for each needs.
+ Photoshop : Image editing, special effects
+ Illustrator : For Illustrations
+ Indesign : For Desktop Publishing
+ [But above mentioned are only there main
stream. Any one can use them in anyway they want. For instant design a
book in Illy, page by page in seporate files, I have done that ;) ]

* Even you use Draw, you'll have to use Photoshop, since its THE best
in the market. Or else are you guys gonna use Corel PhotoPaint or
something? (Jasc Paint Shop Pro was a good one, but failed to compete
with Photoshop)

* Last but not least... It depends on the budget you gonna spent on
software. :D That tells all...

Anyways... now anyone would understand each of these have mastered
there own way. So it's really up to you to choose one from these. Trial
versions are there to nothing but try out. :) Or if you can describe
more of wat u need, we can suggest a package for u.

BUT STILL ILLY IS ON TOP OF THE COMPETITION...!!!

Adios...!

Piggy

2006-04-04, 6:16 pm

:D

Whats CPS ??? An old format of CorelDraw?

> Having used both for the past 11 years, I would recommend Adobe

Interesting...!!! What are the versions in both cases you started with
? I'm just about 4 years in the field.

I just Googled for "Jasc PaintShopPro", and found that it has taken
over by Corel. I never knew it. (Just like Adobe took over Macromedia)

CMP

2006-04-04, 6:16 pm

In article <e0tgqh$eoj$1@ss405.t-com.hr>, klikaralo < @inet.hr> wrote:

>
> Well, see, I dont have half as much problems with printing from Corel as you
> say here. Main thing I expect from my customers is to curve the text, and
> not to use shadows, or if the shadows are needed than to turn them in bitmap
> merged with the background. What hours of trouble-shooting, what CPS? (whats
> CPS anyway?)

LOL, I'm a dinosaur - CPS was Corel's version of EPS. While EPS is
Encapsulated PostScript, CPS is Capsulated PostSCript. Corel EPS was
never predictable, while CPS was. The big difference with the two was
that you could place or open up an EPS, but not a CPS - it was written
for a PS printer and nothing else. That was a bit stressful - not being
able to SEE the file you're sending off to have printed and spending $$
on. But it was the most reliable way to get good output from Corel.
I'll have to knock the dust off of Corel and see if they still have it
as an option . . .

I do all of those things in Illy - I always curve/convert text (saves
mucho hassles and it only takes but a minute or two - nothing pisses me
off more than somone who won't take the time to be considerate and
convert the text to outline). As for shadows, I usually create them in
Photoshop and then bring'em in.

But bear in mind, that I was a PPA quite some time ago. Corel HAS come
a long way since then. Corel used to be a printers' nightmare. Just not
reliable and stable. I had customers who HAD to have the piece done in
Corel and I'd have the printers getting furious with me and having to
troubleshoot my files. I solved that problem by no longer using Corel
(if a client wants me to, I'll create it in Corel for their fiiles and
then import/open in Illy and then modify where needed for the printer.

> Or better, I prefer PDFs wether it be from Corel, Illustrator, Freehand or
> whatever (if the customer knows his sh*t). Saves me not only work hours, but
> buying all those programs as well. Those are very important issues to me,
> arent they to you?

I do PDF whereever I can. But for some projects, esp coming out of
InDesign, I've run into several bugs. But I am a big fan of PDFs - I
think it was the best innovation since FireWire! : )

--
C Pierce

CMP

2006-04-04, 6:16 pm

In article <1144155958.326142.72440@z34g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
Piggy <srishanu@XXXXXXXXXX> wrote:

> :D
>
> Whats CPS ??? An old format of CorelDraw?

CPS stands for Capsulated PostScript file, while EPS is Encapsulated
PostScript file. EPS you can open, import, place, etc and SEE it.
Whereas CPS is written ONLY for the PS printer. You can't see it. It
was, back in the early to mid nineties, the only reliable format for
output available for Corel.

I'm *thinking* it was a convention of Corel, but am not sure. I'm
thinking that CPS was Corel's answer to Adobe's EPS - in faxct, now
that I think about it more and more, I'm almost positive of that.
>
>
> Interesting...!!! What are the versions in both cases you started with
> ? I'm just about 4 years in the field.

I started with CorelDraw v3 on PC (learned beziers on it - my first
vector app). And I began using Illy about 3-6 months later when we got
a Mac (I'm thinking v 3 as well - back when PageMaker was still owned
by Aldus. Aldus, BTW, was also the original creator of FreeHand, for
those who didn't know. Kinda funny - Adobe ended up acquiring both!).

I remember the first time I used Illy, after using CD, I felt like I
had gotten rid of my kid's bike and was driving a Ferrari!! It was so
much more powerful, versatile and reliable. It offered creative options
that absolutely blew my mind! You could actually NATIVELY draw with a
brush tool (you had to APPLY a brush effect in Corel - and they
weren't as artistic and modifiable as Illy's). From that point on, I
was deeply in love with Illy.

We still, year to year, upgraded to the newest versions of Corel, but
Corel REALLY blew it when they gypped us on artboard area in v6. That
just sealed the deal. They took away about 25% of the active drawing
area for a glitzy, metal like interface. To us, that was so insulting
and so counter-productive.

I'm on v12 now (Mac) and I have v13 on my PC. But I rarely, if ever use
it. I do like the multiple pages in Corel, but I have an insider at
Adobe who says that Illy will have that feature, too, two revisions
from now (it's not gospel - it's a well circulated rumor). Personally,
I think that feature will further push Corel out in the industry.

For Illy, I'm using CS2 and I love Illy/Adobe so much that I'll even
suck it up and buy an Intel machine if it's the only way of keeping up
with Adobe's apps. Each revision gets better and better. Using Corel is
like going back to riding a bike (no offense to anyone who prefers
Corel). It's just not versatile enugh for an illustrator. I can see how
it might be better on the production end (though, not really - I still
have problems getting them to print correctly). But as a tool for
illustrators, Illy is still the BEST.

I also have FH (latest and probably last, version), but I don't use it
very often - mainly because I've become so comfy with Illy. FH is much
more "technical" iMHO. It's not as intuitive as Illy. But it is more
precise, has mult pages, and is more powerful and accurate for
technical illustrations (which I do A LOT of). But since it's been
bought out by Adobe, I don't think it will survive (again, not only the
public scuttlebutt, but also from my friend @ Adobbe). It's a shame -
it's a really good app.
>
> I just Googled for "Jasc PaintShopPro", and found that it has taken
> over by Corel. I never knew it. (Just like Adobe took over Macromedia)

Yeah, I tried PhotoPaint ONCE and it was like riding a tricycle! I went
Photoshop and never looked back. PP just didn't have all the tools
necessary for good image manip as PS did. I've never tried PSP -
figuring (I guessz) that I was already using industry standard, so why
bother? I'm not THAT smart that I can afford to learn apps that I'll
probably never actually use.

Anyone remember WordPerfect (or just us dinosaurs??)?? That ended up
being eaten by Corel, too. Can't remember the original creator, though
.. . . I just remember that it was bundled with CorelDraw (and
PhotoPaint) for so long and then Corel acquired it.

Speaking of which, I still have Sketch-up - which I've never even
opened once! LOL

Thanks for the trips down Memory Lane - I feel about 15 years younger!
: )

--
C Pierce

CMP

2006-04-04, 6:16 pm

In article <aRwYf.2928$i41.2646@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
Tommy Westbrook <tapmid@mindspring.com> wrote:

> I started with Draw version 3 (1992). I think Illustrator 7 was my first. I
> don't know what CPS stands for. CPT is Corel PhotoPaint, CDR is CorelDraw
> and CMX (I believe) stands for Corel Media Xchange.

If you didn't use CPS, what did you use for output? Our printers would
only print using CPS files - CDR files were w-a-a-a-y too unpredictable
and didn't play nicely with PS printers. CPS was the only formaqt that
wouldn't gum up the works and would reliably (as much as possible)
print effects, brushes, etc.

--
C Pierce

Tommy Westbrook

2006-04-04, 6:16 pm

That was before my time with outputting computer files. I actually did not
get in on this stuff until after 1996 and yes I remember how unreliable the
old Corel was. There was not a really decent version (for prepress) until 7.
Now I mostly output native files (if possible). If not I make EPS, PDF -
whatever works.

klikaralo

2006-04-05, 3:17 am

I started designing in 94. After a few weeks in Corel 5, I got my hands on
Ver. 6. It was unpredictable, unstable (so were PCs), But when I installed
Illy for the first time I opened it, opened a few menus, closed it and
uninstalled it. Didnt understand a thing :o).
It took some three years for me to be forced to open Illy again because I
received some *.ai files. Thats when I understood the advantages. But, thats
when I had Corel 7, which is a legend, and kept that as my main tool untill
Ver. 9. In combination with PS, of course. For books I used Pagemaker, later
Indesign, for magazines and newspapers Quark (untill Indesign 2). Mostly on
PCs, but Mac is no stranger to me.
--
Klikaralo

slimick@gmail.com

2006-04-05, 3:17 am

I have Illustrator CS2 and CorelDraw 12....you can buy CorelDraw on
eBay for about $90...and this comes with PhotoPaint....from a cost
standpoint CorelDraw wins if you're on a tight budget.

CorelDraw has a couple of killer features that I wish to God that
Illustrator had: The "Add Perspective" feature is awesome for creating
perfect perspectives of your artwork....the 3D Bevel effect is great
too. It also has WYSIWIG for choosing fonts, showing what you're text
will look like. Otherwise, I use Illustrator due to compatibility.

CMP

2006-04-05, 6:18 pm

In article <e0vlmv$8fh$1@ss405.t-com.hr>, klikaralo < @inet.hr> wrote:

> I started designing in 94. After a few weeks in Corel 5, I got my hands on
> Ver. 6. It was unpredictable, unstable (so were PCs), But when I installed
> Illy for the first time I opened it, opened a few menus, closed it and
> uninstalled it. Didnt understand a thing :o).

Well, at first, the interface of Illy didn't seem as intuitive as
Corel, but it only took me a day or two (at the most) to get over the
differences. I think that was mainly just a "I'm used to this, rather
than this" thing, though.

> It took some three years for me to be forced to open Illy again because I
> received some *.ai files. Thats when I understood the advantages. But, thats
> when I had Corel 7, which is a legend, and kept that as my main tool untill
> Ver. 9. In combination with PS, of course. For books I used Pagemaker, later
> Indesign, for magazines and newspapers Quark (untill Indesign 2). Mostly on
> PCs, but Mac is no stranger to me.

What v of Quark are you using? I just got 7 a short while ago and it
seems to be the best yet - more creative, more versatile, just plain
better . . .

As much as I like InDesign (and use it almost exclusively), I still
miss PageMaker . . . : ( I don't have a copy of Pagemaker, it just
seemed too redundant.

--
C Pierce

Tommy Westbrook

2006-04-05, 6:18 pm

We have Quark 6.5 here on the Mac and PC. Frankly I don't like it. It just
seems like a dinosaur - kind of like Pagemaker does after you have used
InDesign. I have Pagemaker 7 and InDesign CS2 (Pagemaker Edition). Like you,
I miss Pagemaker. Still use it occasionally but I gradually am migrating all
of my old Pagemaker files over to InDesign. I was going to Beta test Quark
7.0. Signed up for it. Told them I would be using the Windows version, not
Mac. They sent me test files and MAC FONTS (dFonts). Go figure. I figured if
they weren't aware that Mac fonts don't work on a PC (except OpenType) then
I didn't want to be bothered with their software.

klikaralo

2006-04-06, 3:24 am

> What v of Quark are you using? I just got 7 a short while ago and it

Dont use it anymore. The last Ver. was 5.
--
Klikaralo

Jim

2006-04-16, 3:17 am

"Paul Breslin" <pbreslin@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:xjbYf.6280$L7.1210@bignews2.bellsouth.net...
> Hello -
>
> I am interested in purchasing an art program - one to draw from scratch
> original works.
> Which program would you recommend? Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw?
> Thanks,
> Paul
>

Overall, if you can only have one, I'd have to say go with CorelDraw.

I use both, and I also use the PhotoPaint packaged with CD as well as
Photoshop. It can depend a lot on what you plan to do with the vector
images. If you will often take the images into Photoshop or InDesign (as I
do) you find Illustrator more convenient.

What you may want to do is buy whichever one is making the best offer right
now, and then grab the other one later on. That way you get the best of
both worlds. They are different.

Jim