Adobe Illustrator vs Sketch (best graphic design software for mac)
Compare | Winner | |
User Interface | ||
Ease of Use | ||
Affordability | ||
Feature Richness | ||
Compatibility | ||
Customer Support | ||
Creation Tools | ||
Templates | ||
Integration | ||
File Format Support | ||
FREE / PAID | Monthly Subscription – $20.99/month | Annual Subscription – $99/year |
Conclusion | Adobe Illustrator is the go-to for professionals, with vast features and integrations🏆💼. Though it can be pricey💸, it’s worth the investment📈 if you regularly use graphic design software. | Sketch is a great tool for UI/UX design🌟🖥️. It’s Mac-specific and more affordable than Illustrator, but its uses are more limited❗. |
Adobe Illustrator Pros & Cons
Professional quality output📈
Vast features🔥
Great Compatibility🔄
Excellent customer support🤝
Highly flexible creation tools🛠️
Sketch Pros & Cons
Intuitive user interface🖥️
Great for UI/UX design🌟🖥️
Affordable pricing💸
Smooth integration with other tools💡
Good range of templates🎨
Flexible file format support🔄
Expensive💰
Steep learning curve📚💼
Can be resource hungry 🍽️🔋
Monthly Subscription💳
Overwhelming for beginners😵
Limited free templates🎨
Limited use beyond UI/UX design⁉️
Only for Mac-users 🍎
Limited tools compared to AI🔨🚫
Annual subscription required💳
Limited customer support🤝
Other best graphic design software for mac
Affinity Designer holds its own with a one-time purchase fee🎉💰. It lacks AI’s extensive features, but is a solid choice for those on a budget👍.
CorelDRAW is a well-established, robust tool great for vector art🎨🖌️. It runs only on Windows, a downside for Mac users👎.
Gravit Designer is beginner-friendly, and free!🎈😃. Despite a few limitations, it’s a great option for beginners or those seeking a no-cost tool🏷️.
FAQ
What are some of the best graphic design software programs for Mac?
Some of the top graphic design software programs for Mac include Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, Affinity Designer, CorelDRAW, and Photoshop. Each has its unique features and capabilities that cater to various design needs.
Can Adobe Illustrator be used efficiently on a Mac?
Yes, absolutely. Adobe Illustrator is fully compatible and works efficiently with Mac systems. Its smooth functionality and numerous tools make it a top pick among professionals for vector graphics designing.
What kind of software is Sketch and is it a suitable choice for Mac users?
Sketch is a powerful vector graphics editor specifically designed for Mac OS. It has a simple, intuitive interface and is popular among web and app designers due to its robust plugins, rendering capabilities, and a multitude of design tools.
How does Sketch compare to Adobe Illustrator for graphic design?
While both Adobe Illustrator and Sketch are excellent tools, they serve different purposes. Illustrator is known for its flexibility and is used for creating complex vector graphics, while Sketch’s intuitive interface and built-in prototyping capabilities make it ideal for website and app design.
Are there any free graphic design software options available for Mac?
Yes, there are several free graphic design software options for Mac such as GIMP, Inkscape, and Gravit Designer. While not as powerful as Adobe Illustrator or Sketch, they offer a good starting point for beginners.
Is Adobe Illustrator better for print design or digital design?
Adobe Illustrator excels in both print and digital design due to its powerful vector-based capabilities. It is widely used for creating logos, icons, typography, and complex illustrations for any medium.
Are there any major differences between Sketch and Adobe Illustrator in terms of interface?
Yes, the interfaces of Adobe Illustrator and Sketch are quite different. Illustrator’s interface is more complex due to its wide range of tools, whereas Sketch provides a simpler, cleaner work area mainly focused on UI/UX design.
Can Adobe Illustrator files be imported into Sketch?
Yes, Adobe Illustrator files can be imported into Sketch. However, due to the differences in the way the two software handle vectors, some minor tweaks may be required after import.
Is Sketch a one-time purchase or a subscription-based software?
Sketch follows a subscription-based model. Users receive a year’s worth of updates with the initial purchase and can opt to renew the subscription for the following years to continue getting access to the updates.
Can I utilize both Sketch and Adobe Illustrator for my graphic design projects on Mac?
Absolutely, it’s common for graphic designers to use multiple tools for different purposes. You can harness the strengths of both Sketch and Adobe Illustrator depending on the nature of your design project.
How easy is it to learn Sketch as compared to Adobe Illustrator for a beginner?
Sketch is generally considered easier to learn for beginners due to its simplified interface and focused features. Adobe Illustrator, with its wide array of tools and functionalities, might have a steeper learning curve.
Does Adobe Illustrator provide any specialized tools for logo design?
Adobe Illustrator is often the preferred choice for logo design because of its vector graphic capabilities. It provides precision drawing and shape-building tools, beautiful typography, and freehand drawing functions which are very useful in logo designing.
Do I need to have coding knowledge to design UI/UX in Sketch?
No, you do not need coding knowledge to use Sketch for UI/UX design. The software is designed to simplify the design process, although understanding the basics of web and app structures can be beneficial.
Are there any online platforms or resources to learn Sketch and Adobe Illustrator?
Yes, there are several online resources to learn Adobe Illustrator and Sketch. Both companies offer tutorials on their respective websites, and there are also third-party platforms that provide comprehensive courses.
What is the primary difference between vector and raster graphics in terms of Adobe Illustrator and Sketch?
Both Adobe Illustrator and Sketch are vector-based design tools, which means they represent images as a series of points, lines, and curves. This contrasts with raster graphics that represent images as grids of pixels. Vector graphics are resolution independent and maintain quality even when resized.
Can I use Sketch for 3D designs just like Adobe Illustrator?
No, Sketch is not designed to handle 3D designs. It’s primarily focused on 2D vector graphics for user interface and user experience (UI/UX) design. On the other hand, Adobe Illustrator, while mainly 2D, can simulate 3D effects.
Can you use custom fonts in Adobe Illustrator and Sketch?
Yes, both Adobe Illustrator and Sketch allow the use of custom fonts. This feature helps to enhance the flexibility and creativity of your design process.
Are there any collaboration features available in Adobe Illustrator or Sketch?
Both Adobe Illustrator and Sketch have collaboration features. With Illustrator’s co-editing feature, teams can work together on the same design in real-time. Similarly, Sketch offers Sketch Cloud, which allows teams to share, collaborate and gather feedback on design files.
Will my Adobe Illustrator or Sketch files look the same on different devices?
As long as the device supports the file format, your Adobe Illustrator or Sketch files should appear the same. However, color reproduction may vary depending on the display quality of the device.
What file formats can be exported from Adobe Illustrator and Sketch?
Adobe Illustrator can export files in a wide variety of formats, including AI, EPS, PDF, SVG, JPG, and PNG. Sketch, meanwhile, supports export to SVG, PDF, EPS, JPG, TIFF, PNG, and WebP formats.
What is the top graphic design software suitable for Mac?
The best graphic design software for Mac would be Adobe Illustrator followed by Sketch. Both these tools provide sophisticated features and are widely used by professionals.
What makes Adobe Illustrator a prominent choice for graphic design on Mac?
Adobe Illustrator is an industry-standard tool that provides a vast range of capabilities like drawing, typographic designs, color blending, and more. It’s primarily appreciated for its vector graphics editing capabilities.
How does Sketch stand out as a significant graphic designing tool for Mac?
Sketch is a Mac-only vector graphics editor, making it solely productive for Apple users. Its primary focus lies in user interface and user experience design, making it fitting for web and mobile design workflows.
Can Adobe Illustrator work efficiently on a Mac?
Yes, Adobe Illustrator works gracefully on a Mac. It offers seamless integration with other Adobe products and a consistent workflow across macOS.
Is Sketch software unique to Mac?
Yes, Sketch is exclusive to macOS. It integrates precisely with the Mac ecosystem, offering an optimal performance that is precisely tuned to Apple hardware.
What unique features does Adobe Illustrator offer for graphic designing?
Adobe Illustrator offers numerous distinct features like the creation and editing of vector graphics, advanced typography controls, precise drawing tools and brushes, integrated stock image libraries, and more.
What are Sketch’s influential features as a graphics design tool?
Sketch offers its users a refined interface and functionality for UI/UX design. It provides vector editing, a reusable components system, collaborative features, and an extensive plugins ecosystem, making it a powerful design tool.
Does Adobe Illustrator offer any free trial for new users?
Yes, Adobe Illustrator does provide a free trial for potential customers. New users can utilize these trials to evaluate the tool before purchasing a subscription. Get more information on the Adobe website.
Is there a free trial available for Sketch?
Yes, Sketch does offer a free trial to familiarize new users with its services. To start your free trial, visit the Sketch website.
What are the pricing details for Adobe Illustrator on Mac?
Adobe Illustrator for Mac comes with a monthly subscription based pricing. The details of pricing can be found on the Adobe website.
How much does Sketch cost for Mac users?
Sketch comes with a yearly subscription for Mac users. The price details can be checked on the Sketch website.
Is Adobe Illustrator better than Sketch for Mac users?
Adobe Illustrator and Sketch both have their strengths. Illustrator is an overall powerful design tool, while Sketch focuses more on UI/UX design. The choice between the two depends on the user’s requirements.
What is the learning curve for Adobe Illustrator on Mac?
Although Adobe Illustrator is a powerful tool, it has a relatively steep learning curve. However, Adobe offers extensive tutorials and resources to aid in learning the software.
How user-friendly is Sketch for beginners?
Sketch is known for its user-friendly interface. It has a cleaner and more intuitive interface compared to many design tools, making it an excellent fit for beginners.
What are alternative graphic design tools to Adobe Illustrator and Sketch on Mac?
Other than Adobe Illustrator and Sketch, tools like CorelDRAW, Affinity Designer, and Gravit Designer are also popular among Mac users for graphic design.
Does Adobe Illustrator offer any mobile application for designing?
Can Sketch be used on any mobile platform?
Currently, Sketch does not offer a mobile application. It can only be used on Mac systems.
Does Adobe offer any customer support for Illustrator?
Yes, Adobe offers various support options for Illustrator users which include online chat, phone support, forums, and tutorials.
What kind of customer support is available for Sketch users?
For Sketch users, customer support is available via their online help center and email. The company also has a community forum for additional support and discussions.