[deltsigjoe]

Hello all, I have been screen printing for a few years now and I started with CorelDraw. I have been hearing nice things about Illustrator. I don't have any experience with Illustrator. I have access to Illustrator, but never used it. What is better to use? Any pros or cons?

Any advise would be much appreciated.

(I've heard that Illustrator is good for color separations)

 

[4C Print Shop]

We have both and Corel Draw is more user friendly by far in our opinion

 

[royster13]

Illustrator is by far my favourite.....Especially like all the other stuff I get with the cloud....If you are used to Corel and do not send or receive many outside files, there is probably no reason to switch...

 

[Airbrushdude]

I've messed with Illustrator since version 4 or 5 and never truly felt comfortable with it...In contrast I've been using Corel X6 for just under a year, and I find that I like it 200% better...I can't explain how, but for me, it just seems easier to use and more intuitive then Illustrator.

So in my opinion, if your already used to CorelDraw, don't bother switching.

 

[Mtnview]

I like using Corel Draw but that is because it is the software I cut my teeth on. Learned it back in the late 90's. I have an older copy of Illustrator and it just seems harder to work with. A lot of that could be the fact it is not what I am familiar with. I don't know that I would make the switch to Illustrator without a very good reason. Corel Draw will do just about everything I need it to do. About the only thing I use Illustrator for is to convert the occasional AI file that won't import to Corel to an EPS file which nearly always opens in Corel.

 

[charles95405]

Like the others, mostly, I like Corel as that was my first and so far easiest for me. I do have illustrator but is harder for me. Illustrator is a super program and has tons of users. It is sort like which best, a Ford or a Chevy. You can't go wrong with either

 

[BroJames]

un ohh. not again

But like James and Charles corel draw is the vector program I started with and just stuck with it. Tried illy as I heard a lot of great things about it but as they say, it is hard to teach an ld dog new tricks.

 

[GHEENEE1]

I also have both, mainly use Corel. Use Illy for file conversion and I like Illy's trace function better than Corels.

 

[msiok]

We use both. Found Corel easier to manipulate artwork and Illustrator more convenient with the cloud function. Would say use the one you are most comfortable with as you'll complete your work faster and with less frustration.

 

[Pak sherm]

I use Corel X6 (and X7) but throwing another program in to the mix I really like Xara Pro X9. It does things that Corel attempts but falls short on. I use Xara mostly for vectoring images and image manipulation.

 

[joesmithers]

First used Corel back in the mid 90's, but later on switched to Illustrator and been using it ever since. Whatever program you most comfortable with....I just prefer Illustrator because I'm most comfortable in using it.

 

[Different]

I have tried different vector programs in the past, and they all have their pros and cons. You just have to bend and adapt to the way the program works.

Now, I use Illustrator. Adobe's Creative Cloud is very convenient and inexpensive in terms of initial cost of a new software program and upgrading to a newer version.

I discovered the "Brush" tool a few years back and now I rarely draw or ink on paper.

 

[BroJames]

You use a tablet?

 

[Different]

Yep! I bought my first Wacom in '98

 

[sullyman]

Learn them both

 

[lemorris]

#1 Love Mitch...no joke.

#2 Find your bliss. The "this software vs that software" line is so blurred now.

I've haven't once been able to look at a finished vector piece and just know what it was done in.....or on for that matter.

maybe yyou wanna expand a little...look into Sai...look into sketchbook pro

Bottom line is...you could be drawing right now....you could be like Mitch. (if you work hard)

 

[Ripcord]

About the only thing I use Illustrator for is to convert the occasional AI file that won't import to Corel to an EPS file which nearly always opens in Corel.

I do that too, and the other day I learned something that will help with this. If you get an AI file that you can't open in Corel Draw, ask the customer to save it as an SVG file (which is an option in AI) Then you can import it into Draw without an error message.

(I usually open the AI file that's giving me trouble in Acrobat Reader, save it as a new PDF, open that in Ghostscript and then convert it to a writable PDF. This works 95% of the time.)

I love Corel Draw (and I'm sure AI is equally versatile, I've just never used it except for a few times.) For all vector applications, I can think of no reason I'd feel the need to switch from one program to another, especially when I've invested countless hours continuously learning one of them.

 

[Different]

#1 Love Mitch...no joke.

#2 Find your bliss. The "this software vs that software" line is so blurred now.

I've haven't once been able to look at a finished vector piece and just know what it was done in.....or on for that matter.

maybe yyou wanna expand a little...look into Sai...look into sketchbook pro

Bottom line is...you could be drawing right now....you could be like Mitch. (if you work hard)

#1 Lemorris, Love ya back! If we lived close by each other, we would sit around on Saturdays sketching on our drawing pads and putting down a few brewskies while our wives were out shopping at T J Marshall's as we are jamming out to some sweet soul sounds stirring our souls! But cell phones, the internet and boards like this are the next best thing! I hold your friendship closely. . .

#2 I love your work. Hopefully this thread will open the eyes of a few fledglings, and inspire them to jump in the water and go after there heart's desire and stick with their art as they experiment and learn something new everyday. Whatever software program they can get their hands on will work! Just do it!

 

[BroJames]

An artist would be an artist with an interactive, pencil, chalk, brush, etc.

 

[bentcycle]

CorelDraw vs. Illustrator?
none of the above!

xara!
cheaper than either of those, easier to learn, and works faster as well as supports illustrator's vector format as well as pdf, and their photoshop plugins AND it does photo editing and website design to boot.

i like the sound of everything about the program myself. i don't care if illustrator is the "industry standard". their head's gotten too big charging customers $30+ a month rent to use their already expensive program. i'd like to see xara catch on and destroy them for their greed.

most of the reviews i've read were very favorable towards xara with a couple people actually switching over from illustratot for the program's speed or because of that cloud ($$$) feature

WOW! i'm surprised by just how popular coreldraw is here. it really gets disrespected elsewhere because it's not "the industry standard" and because if it's file incompatibility issues, but seeing that so many here are fine with it, it reassures me that my chosing xara, which has better file compatibilty, isn't so drastic a choice as illustrator minions would have you think.

maybe people here are satisfied with corel because they don't have to swap files for a range of graphics customers. i actually have an old CD i bought in a thrift shop i wanted to teach myself, but i still like the sound of xara's speed and ease of use

the comment someone made about working within a given program's limitations resonates with me. as xara can do pretty much most of what illustrator and coreldraw can, i don't picture not being able to use special effect #397 or whatever as worth spending a few thousand more that i don't have.

to paraphrase that old cliche...
"it's not the size of your toolbox that counts, but how you use it"

good design transcends technique