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Photo editing and graphic design are often intertwined, but to call them the same would be untrue. In this guide, we’ll deetail the differences between photo editing and graphic design—along with outlining the ways they are similar.
What Is Photo Editing?
Photo editing is, as the name suggests, the process of editing photos. It has traditionally been done on a computer, but editing pictures on a smartphone is becoming increasingly common. Photoshop and Lightroom are two of the most popular tools, but alternatives like Capture One also exist.
When editing photos, you normally work with RAW files, they give you much more flexibility and let you go deeper with your edits compared to JPEGs. However, if you’re only casually editing photos, JPEG is more than fine.
Many photo editing software and apps require manual work, butyou’ll also find a number of AI photo editors.
What Is Graphic Design?
Graphic design involves putting together different graphics, such as posters, logos, and infographics. It can sometimes involve photo editing, especially when it comes to putting together advertising campaigns.
Graphic designers work with several file formats, including PNG and SVG. Besides images, you’ll sometimes need to work with text and illustrations. In essence, your job is to make sure that all elements complement one another in whatever you’re designing.
What’s the Difference Between Photo Editing and Graphic Design?
There are two key differences between graphic design and photo editing.
Graphic Design Can Involve Photos, but It Doesn’t Have To
Graphic design can involve photos. For example, if you’ve ever seen a billboard with images and text, it has elements of both. Book covers often include both photo editing and graphic design, too.
Sometimes, however, graphic design doesn’t include any photo editing elements. If you look at a lot of company logos, for example, they use more illustrative aspects. Photo editing is a skill that graphic designers should learn, but it’s simply one part of the job.
Graphic Design Involves Text More Than Photo Editing
You can include text in your photo editing, but I’d argue that you start to blur the lines between photo editing and graphic design at that point. Graphic design often involves text much more than photo editing, and you need to have a good understanding of different fonts. Moreover, you should know how their designs work together on your pages.
If you want to get started with different fonts and practice your graphic design, you can check out this list ofthe best free font websites.
Are There Any Similarities Between Photo Editing and Graphic Design?
While graphic design and photo editing are fundamentally different, the crossover between them is substantial.
You’re Still Bringing a Creative Idea to Life
Okay, sure—you technically already have something to work with when editing your photos. But at the same time, you still have to add your own creative twist. Photo editing is also something that takes years to get right; it’s not as easy as going into Lightroom and hitting the Auto adjustment button.
As a professional photographer myself, I’d also argue that editing photos starts with having an eye for what you want to capture in the first place. I often think about what I’m going to shoot weeks in advance.
You Must Understand Composition
Composition is vital in both photo editing and graphic design. You need to understand how different objects interact with each other on your page, and it’s also vital that you know about spacing. For example,using the rule of thirds in photographywill help your photo editing significantly.
You’ll also need to learn about different aspect ratios to ensure that your art fits wherever you put it.
Technical Expertise Is Beneficial in Photography and Graphic Design
Regardless of whether you’re a photographer or a graphic designer, you have to have some degree of technical know-how. For example, you must learn how to use apps like Adobe Lightroom, Figma, and InDesign.
Some creators place too much emphasis on specs, but knowing which cameras, computers, hard drives, etc. will meet your needs can be very helpful. For example, I’ve written aboutwhy I would never buy a Mac with 8GB RAM again; it’s handy for general stuff, but the constant crashes when you perform demanding work are annoying.
Free Photo Editing Tools and Resources
You’ll find several photo editing tools and resources online, many of which are for free. As a starting point, you can always check out ourcomprehensive catalog of image editing tips.
Adobealso has various resources to learn more about Lightroom, including several workflows you can try. Furthermore,Brendan Williamsis an excellent resource on YouTube for Photoshop editing.
As for free photo editing tools, I’d recommend the following:
If you want to try Apple Photos and VSCO, don’t forget tocheck out this comparison between VSCO and Apple Photos.
Free Graphic Design Tools and Resources
Free graphic design tools worth checking out include:
You should also check out thesebasic design elements and how to use them.
Graphic design and photo editing are two different things, but they’re very closely linked. You need to have a good creative eye for both, and technical expertise will help you significantly in the two disciplines. Knowing how and when to use either will help you improve your creativity significantly.
