Editing Graphic design (section)

===Computers and software===
Designers disagree whether computers enhance the creative process.<ref>[http://www.designtalkboard.com/designtalk/index.php/topic,1030.0.html Designtalkboard.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629214914/http://www.designtalkboard.com/designtalk/index.php/topic,1030.0.html |date=29 June 2007}}, topic 1030 and [http://www.designtalkboard.com/designtalk/index.php/topic,1441.msg6356.html#msg6356 Designtalkboard.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135842/http://www.designtalkboard.com/designtalk/index.php/topic,1441.msg6356.html#msg6356 |date=12 June 2018}}, topic 1141. Retrieved 18 March 2007</ref> Some designers argue that computers allow them to explore multiple ideas quickly and in more detail than can be achieved by hand-rendering or [[paste up|paste-up]].<ref>Jann Lawrence Pollard and Jerry James Little, ''Creative Computer Tools for Artists: Using Software to Develop Drawings and Paintings,'' November 2001 Introduction</ref> While other designers find the limitless choices from digital design can lead to paralysis or endless iterations with no clear outcome.

Most designers use a hybrid process that combines traditional and computer-based technologies. First, hand-rendered [[Comprehensive layout|layouts]] are used to get approval to execute an idea, then the polished visual product is produced on a computer.

Graphic designers are expected to be proficient in software programs for image-making, typography and layout. Nearly all of the popular and "industry standard" software programs used by graphic designers since the early 1990s are products of [[Adobe Inc.|Adobe Inc]]. [[Adobe Photoshop]] (a [[Raster scan|raster]]-based program for photo editing) and [[Adobe Illustrator]] (a vector-based program for drawing) are often used in the final stage. [[CorelDraw]], a vector graphics editing software developed and marketed by [[Corel|Corel Corporation]], is also used worldwide. Designers often use pre-designed [[Raster graphics|raster images]] and [[vector graphics]] in their work from online design databases. Raster images may be edited in Adobe Photoshop, vector logos and illustrations in Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw, and the final product assembled in one of the major page layout programs, such as [[Adobe InDesign]], [[PagePlus|Serif PagePlus]] and [[QuarkXPress]].

Many free and open-source programs are also used by both professionals and casual graphic designers. [[Inkscape]] uses [[Scalable Vector Graphics]] (SVG) as its primary file format and allows importing and exporting other formats. Other open-source programs used include [[GIMP]] for photo-editing and image manipulation, [[Krita]] for digital painting, and [[Scribus]] for page layout.