: Photoshop vs. Illustrator for Icon Development My client is requesting SVG files (saving as an SVG would require me to build the icon in Illustrator), but I have always designed icons in Photoshop
My client is requesting SVG files (saving as an SVG would require me to build the icon in Illustrator), but I have always designed icons in Photoshop (importing vector art from Illustrator, and placing as smart object, + applying layers styles)—I find that Photoshop allows for greater flexibility in layering effects (for drop-shadows, gradients… for an embossed look).
Has anyone had any experience in building icons in Illustrator and creating the same effect that Photoshop provides?
I'm hoping to pitch my case, that I can build the icons in Photoshop and easily scale them to any required sizes—but I'm happy to build them in Illustrator if I can create the same effects.
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A lot of great answers here already. I would recommend checking out the Icon Handbook by Jon Hicks iconhandbook.co.uk/ for further reading. Personally I'd use illustrator unless making a 16x16 favicon
I am a vector artist, I always do things vector-ly then rasterise it to required size. Doing an icon in vector is desirable as you can scale them to any size afterwards, yes even to A0 size without losing quality.
My solution for you is this. Do in Photoshop as raster, do it in a slightly bigger size, say 256 x 256 with sufficient details and line thickness which would look good even at 64 x 64.
When you are happy with the rasterised result, then convert to .svg by using Inkscape (yes, there is a function in it to trace bitmap!) or Vectormagic. And you will end up with a nice .svg to make your client happy.
Depending on your effect, you might end up with a bigger vector file, anyhow don't be too heavy on special effects, as these programs will take time to translate your raster into regions (vectors) of colours.
Later you can use Illustrator or Inkscape to fine tune your .svg.
Let me know if this solution feasible for you. All the best.
If SVG is the desired output, I'd suggest giving InkScape a try. It's open soure. While the UI isn't quite as polished as AI, it's quite robust and the native file format is SVG, so ideally suited for SVG work.
As for 'effects', you can emulate raster effects with vector files and vice versa. It can be tricking depending on the type of effect, but certainly doable.
It greatly depends upon the art and your skill level with Illustrator.
Illustrator does have drop shadows, gradients, glows, etc. So it can all be done in Illustrator. It's merely a matter of one's proficiency.
SVG offers a great deal more than any Photoshop format will. SVG can be scaled on the fly and maintain appearance... png/gif/etc. can't.
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