Design Tools and Software

Photoshop

Main Use: Adobe Photoshop is a versatile raster graphics editor, primarily for photo editing and creating complex graphics for different types of online materials. It is an essential tool for tasks requiring detailed image manipulation, such as retouching photographs, compositing images, and designing web and print.

Useful Tricks:

1. Non-Destructive Editing: Always create smart objects to make edits without altering the original image. This allows for easier revisions and experimentation. In your Layers Panel > Right-click on the Layer you wish to convert > Select 'Convert to Smart Object' from the drop-down menu.
2. Keyboard Shortcuts: Learn essential shortcuts like Ctrl + J (duplicate layer), Ctrl + T (free transform), and Ctlr+W (quick selection tool), Ctrl+M (shape tool) to speed up your workflow.
3. Create Guide Layout: Setting up guides and margins is a crucial step in creating well-organized and visually balanced designs. Go to View > New Guide Layout.

Illustrator

Main Use: Adobe Illustrator is a graphics editor for creating scalable graphics such as logos, icons, and illustrations. Unlike raster images, vector graphics can be resized without losing quality, making Illustrator ideal for creating artwork that needs to be printed at various sizes or used across different media.

Useful Tricks:

1. Pen Tool: The Pen Tool (P) is essential for creating paths and shapes. Practice using it to draw and edit vector objects efficiently.
2. Shape Builder Tool: Combine or subtract shapes easily using the Shape Builder Tool (Shift + M). This is great for creating complex shapes quickly.
3. Anchor point tool: it allows designers to create and manipulate paths and complex shapes, refine curves, and ensure smooth transitions between points in your designs. To activate it, press Shift + C and click or drag on a path or an object.
4. Artboards: Use multiple artboards within a single document to manage different versions or parts of a project.

InDesign

Main Use: Adobe InDesign is a professional desktop publishing software for creating print materials like roll-ups, coupons, magazines, brochures, and books. It excels in layout design and typography, offering powerful tools for managing large amounts of text and images.

Useful Tricks:

1. Master Pages: Use Master Pages to create consistent layouts for recurring elements like headers, footers, and page numbers. This ensures uniformity across your document.
2. Styles: Implement Paragraph and Character Styles to apply consistent text formatting throughout your document. This saves time and ensures consistency.
3. Preflight Check: Use the Preflight panel to catch potential printing issues before they become problems. It checks for missing fonts, low-resolution images, and other common errors.
4. Preview: Looking at your artwork's image through grid lines can become overwhelming. To take a look at it without them, simply press W.

Figma

Main Use: Figma is a web-based interface design tool that facilitates real-time collaboration among design teams. It is ideal for creating UI/UX designs, wireframes, prototypes, and other interactive elements for web and mobile applications.

Useful Tricks:

1. Components and Variants: Create reusable components with variants to manage different states (e.g., hover, active) efficiently. This streamlines the design process and ensures consistency.
2. Auto Layout: Use Auto Layout to create flexible and responsive design elements. This feature adjusts the layout automatically based on the content and screen size.
3. Real-Time Collaboration: Take advantage of Figma’s real-time collaboration capabilities to work simultaneously with team members. Use comments and version history to track changes and feedback.
4. Plugins: Extend Figma’s functionality with plugins. Popular plugins include Content Reel for placeholder text/images, Unsplash for stock photos, and Figmotion for creating animations.