i made the same design in every program ever

elliotisacoolguy

1 May 202323:33

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRGraphic designer Elliot makes identical posters in 21 different design programs to evaluate them. He starts with industry standards like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, appreciating their power but feeling trapped paying their monthly fees. Elliot explores free alternatives like GIMP and Inkscape which feel clumsy at first but offer impressive capabilities he could master over time. He tries beginner-friendly tools like Canva, finding them limiting creatively but great for social media posts. In the end Elliot concedes people likely wouldn't notice if he quietly switched from Adobe to Affinity or Inkscape, but he's too stubborn to change his ways.

Takeaways

😊 The video compares various graphic design software like Photoshop, Canva, Affinity etc.
🖥️ The host designs identical posters in different software to evaluate them.
🤔 Categorizes software as blank canvas Adobe alternatives or template-based like Canva.
👍 Recommends Affinity and Inkscape as top Adobe blank canvas alternatives.
👎 Dislikes complexity of CorelDRAW and has issues with GIMP.
📱 Shows potential of mobile and web-based tools like Figma and Adobe Express.
😄 Has fun designing in programs not meant for graphic design like Excel and Minecraft.
😣 Struggles with limitations of basic tools like Publisher and PosterMyWall.
💡 Suggests Canva is still best template-based tool while Adobe leads in flexibility.
🤷‍♂️ Concludes designers should use software that works best for their needs.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?
-The main purpose is to test out and compare various graphic design software programs to determine which ones are the best and most capable.
What are the two main types of design programs discussed?
-The two main types discussed are the 'Adobe' type programs which are blank canvas, flexible but hard to master, and the 'Canva' type which rely more on templates and stock assets.
Which program does the narrator seem to prefer overall?
-The narrator seems to prefer and be most comfortable with Adobe Photoshop overall, even though he tried out many alternative programs.
What open source vector program was the narrator impressed by?
-The narrator was very impressed by Inkscape, which he described as having all the best parts of Illustrator plus some improvements, and felt it was fantastic for beginners.
What is the one thing all the free trials had in common?
-None of the free trials for the various programs required entering credit card details except for Adobe.
What does the narrator think of Canva?
-He says that Canva gets too much hate for no reason. While limited in capabilities since it focuses on templates and assets, the narrator thinks Canva is good for what it aims to provide.
What was the overall biggest takeaway about design software?
-That there are many capable programs that could replace Adobe, but it comes down to personal preference and comfort in choosing software to design with.
What silly design 'program' was tested out?
-Microsoft Excel, which has some basic design capabilities like coloring cells, was tested in a silly section. KidPix art software was also tried.
What other creative medium did the narrator use to design?
-He resorted to paper and markers at one point when lacking printer paper. The narrator also made a design in Microsoft Paint.
What industry did the narrator compare graphic design to?
-He compared it to game design, saying both industries offer many software choices and strong opinions on which ones are best.

Outlines

00:00

😊 Introducing the Graphic Designer and Their Software Preferences

The paragraph introduces the narrator as a graphic designer who uses Canva. This elicits amused reactions from others who don't consider Canva a serious design program. The narrator agrees Canva has limitations but argues it serves a different purpose than advanced software like Adobe programs.

05:00

💻 Comparing Raster vs Vector Software and Alternatives

This paragraph contrasts raster-based software like Photoshop with vector-based software like Illustrator. It also mentions alternative vector programs like CorelDRAW and Affinity, though the narrator has difficulty learning CorelDRAW. Excel is humorously presented as a design tool.

10:01

☁️ Reviewing Various Cloud-Based Design Programs

The narrator explores several cloud-based design tools including Pixlr, GIMP, Figma, and Sketch. GIMP has a steep learning curve. Figma offers advanced collaborative features and Sketch enables browser viewing.

15:02

🖨️ Evaluating Publishing and Print Design Software

This covers publishing and print design programs like InDesign, QuarkXPress, Scribus, and Microsoft Publisher. InDesign is great for print and PDF work. QuarkXPress seems needlessly complex and corporate.

20:03

😄 Final Thoughts and Software Recommendations

In conclusion, the narrator states designers can find capable alternatives to Adobe software. Inkscape and Affinity balance power and price well. Canva leads simpler cloud-based tools. QuarkXPress wins the silly category.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Graphic design

Graphic design refers to the practice of visual communication and problem-solving through typography, photography, and illustration. This is one of the central themes of the video, as the narrator experiments with different graphic design software to assess their capabilities. He creates posters and graphics in each program as a way to test them out from a graphic designer's perspective.

💡Software

Software refers to computer programs used for various tasks. Evaluating graphic design software is the main premise of the video, with the narrator showcasing features, strengths, and weaknesses of numerous options on the market. This includes advanced software like Adobe Photoshop as well as simpler online tools such as Canva.

💡Adobe

Adobe is the industry standard suite of graphic design and creative software. Products like Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign dominate the market. The narrator uses Adobe as a benchmark to compare all other programs to, evaluating if any can match or exceed Adobe's capabilities.

💡Canva

Canva is a free, online graphic design platform known for its templates and simplicity. The narrator creates a "Canva bucket" to designate these template-based, easy-to-use programs in contrast to advanced softwares like Adobe. He makes designs in Canva and other Canva-like tools as part of his testing.

💡Posters

Posters are used as the narrator's test designs throughout the video. He chooses to recreate the same simple poster template across all the different graphic design platforms, using the software's name as the header text. This allows him to directly compare the feature sets and output of each program.

💡Affinity

Affinity is professional graphic design software positioned as a more affordable alternative to Adobe programs. The narrator was impressed with Affinity Designer's similarity to Illustrator and sees it as a viable option for those seeking to save money over Adobe's subscription-based pricing.

💡Inkscape

Inkscape is a free, open-source graphic design platform for creating vector graphics. The narrator highlights Inkscape as one of his favorite pieces of software tested, praising its illustration tools on par with premium counterparts like Adobe Illustrator.

💡Cloud-based

Cloud-based refers to design programs hosted online rather than locally installed. Cloud platforms like Canva, Pixlr and PicMonkey allow easy collaboration and access from any device. The narrator evaluates differences in capabilities between installed softwares like Adobe and web-based tools.

💡Illustration

Illustration features like drawing tools, brushes, and vector manipulation allow designers to create custom graphics, logos and more. The narrator analyzes illustration functionality across tools, using his custom "poster graphics" as a test of these illustration capacities.

💡Subscription model

Many advanced design platforms like Adobe use a subscription model requiring monthly/annual payments to use. The video touches on how this can become expensive over time compared to one-off purchases and free software options. The narrator considers cost and pricing models in his assessments.

Highlights

The joke here is that if you use Canva, you're not a real graphic designer

Adobe is the industry standard for graphic design because it offers powerful tools with a blank canvas approach

Canva revolutionized graphic design by creating an accessible, free program filled with templates and assets to lower barriers to entry

Inkscape is an impressive open source vector graphics editor that deserves more recognition

Affinity products offer a much cheaper one-time payment alternative to Adobe that retains familiar layouts and shortcuts

Figma stands out for its collaborative tools and integration capabilities that likely justify its huge $20 billion acquisition by Adobe

Blender 3D demonstrates unexpected and creative graphic design potential beyond its intended 3D modeling purpose

The texture tab in PicMonkey provides easy access to Shutterstock's extensive library of textures to enhance graphics

KidPix retains a nostalgic charm but lacks essential professional design tools

Microsoft Publisher feels dated and limited compared to more modern alternatives

Photopea successfully emulates Photoshop for free in your web browser

Adobe Express squeezes impressive design capabilities into a mobile interface

PowerPoint surprises with some useful graphic design functionality

Online tools like Piktochart cater more to infographics over general design

Despite testing many new programs, the designer feels reluctant to switch from familiar Adobe tools

Transcripts

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