Numerous well-established design tools are available in the market but a designer has to opt for one that is most appropriate to their needs and workflow. Picking out the best one is another major challenge for graphic designers. This detailed blog gives you an insight into the best design tool for your personal and professional purposes. Looking at the usage stats, you will observe that Adobe XD is the most commonly used tool for creative designing and prototyping. Our complete objective in this guide is to compare the two popular design tools Adobe XD and Photoshop. Most essentially, our aim is to search out the best tool for the development process.
Basically, Photoshop and XD are just two different products under the same brand structure, Adobe’s ecosystem. Adobe Photoshop is the original and oldest design game while Adobe XD is the latest enhancement based on Creative Cloud. For years, Adobe Photoshop has been the top-rated choice for designers to create websites, mobile apps, and UI. Just don’t say that Photoshop is merely a photo editing software, it’s a lot more than that. So, we are here to decide which is the best design tool for 2020?
Primarily, Adobe XD is used for UI/UX and web design. Fortunately, you have many advantages in working with XD over Photoshop. Well, both can assist in creating ultimate designs but that totally depends on what kind of application it is. If you want to edit a specific photo then go for Adobe XD. Alternatively, if you are working on something that has more images to edit including 3d models, clipping paths, etc, then Photoshop would be the best choice.
Why Prefer Adobe XD Over Photoshop?
What’s the reason someone should go for XD instead of Photoshop? This question paves the way to another discussion. Let’s check the features one by one.
1. XD is a vector-based designing tool while Photoshop is raster-based. So, designing and shaping graphics is easier using a vector pencil.
2. Secondly, you must know that both XD and Photoshop work on layers. Though image editing can be executed using Photoshop, while XD is just meant for UI/UX.
3. XD offers the Repeat Grid feature that allows the creator to replicate the exact design as many times it is required. Comparatively, there’s nothing like that in Photoshop.
4. XD provides a prototyping option that connects the artboards with each other and allows us to feature the transition effect in the artboards. Subsequently, you have a real-time scenario of how the design looks like. On the other hand, Photoshop allows you to work with the 3rd party prototyping tools.
As a result, Photoshop does not bring you so many productive features and so it becomes simple in innovating with XD prototyping. XD covers all the preliminary tools as in Photoshop that is actually required for Website designing and beyond that. Whereas using XD, you can publish a prototype to give a better idea and design that is sharable among users.
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Top Criteria for Choosing Best Design Tool 2020
#1 Reason: Ease and Convenience
Almost every Adobe program brings you usage simplicity, specifically Photoshop and Illustrator, and now Adobe XD. Secondly, the criteria which are most relevant to the tool choice are the industry standard. Additionally, you need to focus on tool comfortability and Adobe XD gives us all that. Mostly, keyboard shortcuts work for making creative graphics in less time. Actually, they speed up your workflow tremendously, and when you get used to them it’s hard to get over another tool. Switching to another tool consumes more of your time.
#2 Reason: Optimized Designs and UI
Adobe XD offers a much simpler and intuitive interface in comparison to Photoshop. Originally, Adobe XD was developed to be used for screen design. Subsequently, you will notice that the interface of XD is very limited and minimal in comparison to Photoshop’s robust amount of tools, panels, and configurations. Though Photoshop offers many tools and configuration settings, those features are impractical when designing for websites and apps.
#3 Reason: In-Built Prototyping
Adobe XD leverages an all-in-one platform for designers to use for creating websites and apps. The integration of seamless prototyping features is a key component of websites that involves all the working parties ranging from developers, designers, and clients. With prototyping format, each and every party is likely to contribute to the design structure of the app that is specifically the final product itself.
In the final analysis…
Designers who have already worked and have hands-on experience in Photoshop or Illustrator, Adobe XD will be much easier to work with as they have quite common tools. The only major differences and comparisons in Adobe XD vs Photoshop occurs in their file sizes. Adobe XD is lightweight and smooth as the .xd files are 5–10 times smaller than .psd files. If you are one who is focusing majorly on UI/UX then go for XD which is available for both MAC as well as Windows 10.
Visualizing opinions, which design is better and best for your work? Work with the iByte team of designers, walk through the design tool showdown Adobe XD vs Photoshop and begin dropping new ideas in your creativity.
Create best, engaging, and interactive visuals with the best design tool 2020
