Sometimes, after a quick bit of research, it sounds like two software are similar in their purpose and uses. It’s only when you delve into them deeper that you start to realize they might not overlap as much as you originally thought. That’s often the case when it comes to comparing Adobe Photoshop and CorelDRAW.
Adobe Photoshop is used more often when it comes to manipulating and editing photos and images. It can be used for creating images, but not quite as often. CorelDRAW, however, focuses more on graphics than images. It’s often used for designs for businesses like logos.
There are other differences between these software. If you want to know which one fits your needs better, and has the features you need for your job or hobby, then you need to continue reading below.
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Key Takeaways
- Adobe Photoshop is primarily used for photo editing and manipulation.
- CorelDRAW is more for graphic design.
- The two software are quite different in their purposes but do have some overlap in their suites.
Adobe Photoshop Vs CorelDRAW Comparison Table
| Adobe Photoshop | CorelDRAW | |
| Price | Adobe Photoshop is available for $22.99 a month by itself. It is also available in several package deals including the Creative Cloud All Apps Plan, which includes many Adobe applications, for $59.99 monthly. | CorelDRAW offers a subscription service and a one-time purchase for their Graphics Suite, depending on your needs. The annual plan is $22.42 a month, or $269 a year. The one-time purchase is $549. If you just want the standard CorelDRAW, it’s a one-time purchase of $299 |
| Company | Adobe Inc. | KKR |
| Main Uses | Adobe Photoshop is mainly used for image editing, but it also has amazing digital drawing and painting capabilities that are often favored. | CorelDRAW’s main purpose is to create and edit vector-based graphics. It works for illustrations, technical graphics, and business-based work. |
| Experience Level | Intermediate to advanced | Intermediate to advanced |
| Best For | More advanced photography designers or editors who are looking to elevate their work and find ultimate control in the details. | CorelDRAW is vector-based, which means it works best for those who need images to scale. Businesses often use CorelDRAW to make logos that can later be scaled to any size. Graphics enthusiasts also benefit from this one. |
| System Requirements | Adobe Photoshop is available on Windows devices of Windows 10 or newer. MacOS must be version 11.0 or newer. Both must have standard graphics cards, 8GB of RAM, and a connection to the internet. | The Graphics Suite version of CorelDRAW works on both Mac and Windows. You need Windows 11, or MacOS Ventura with either an M1 or M2 chip. Mobile devices like iPads and Android Tablets, or smartphones and iPhones within the last few generations also handle CorelDRAW Graphic Suite. |
| Key Features | Application for desktops and tablets integrates with other Creative Cloud Adobe applications, complex interface with various uses. | CorelDRAW’s smooth transition from a mobile device to a computer makes it excellent to take on the go for quick edits before making final touches on your computer. |
| Platforms | Adobe Photoshop is available on both Windows and macOS devices | The standard CorelDRAW is available on Windows only. However, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is available on Windows, Mac, and most mobile devices. |
| Acceptable Import File Types | PSD, PSDC, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, HEIC, PSB, RAW, PDF, GIF, EPS | AI, PSD, PDF, JPG, PNG, SVG, EPS, TIFF, HEIFF |
Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is primarily used for photo editing. It works based on rasters, which means that it uses layering and pixels to create images and image effects. Adobe Photoshop is a great tool for animations, illustrations, and standard photo editing.
Though it only touches on the basics for each of these features, it’s a great tool for someone who is handling a lot of different image editing tasks. It also works for a wide audience, which is one of the reasons it’s so popular.
Key Features
- Is pixel-based for raster images
- Comes from Adobe, a trusted and widely-used company
- Works with all other Adobe products, especially if you purchase the Creative Cloud Apps
- Made for editing, cropping, resizing, special effects, and manipulation of images
Uses
Adobe Photoshop is used for all aspects of photo manipulation. That includes adjusting the lighting, composition, cropping, and more. You can even create composites, layer images, edit out parts of an image, convert files, and create collages.
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More experienced users can even use Photoshop to create website mockups and design a whole platform. It works on Windows and MacOS, even with a basic subscription.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Constantly updating with cutting-edge tools and features | Expensive, with no one-time purchase option |
| Easy enough to pull off simple editing | Some updates mess with the system until they are patched |
| Integrates AI for a faster and easier process overall | Difficulty rendering high-quality graphics |
| Works with all other Adobe products |
Popular Companies That Use Adobe Photoshop
Because Photoshop is relatively standard and a lot of people know how to use it, it’s common to see companies using this software for some aspect of their design. Some companies that use Photoshop include:
- Puma
- Amazon Web Services
- Home Depot
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology
- Brilliant Earth
- DoubleDown Interactive
- Levi Strauss
CorelDRAW
Corldraw is a tool made for vector artists. For those who don’t know, vector-based graphics use math and formulas to create art. It strays away from traditional art methods, but there are benefits The main benefit is that since the art isn’t based on pixels, it’s scalable forever without any fear of pixelation.
For this reason, CorelDRAW has a somewhat limited customer base. It’s not often used by traditional artists or those looking to mimic traditional art. However, it’s the ideal method for business designs like flyers, banners, logos, and more.
Key Features
- Mostly used for banners and logos, as it allows for quick size adjustments without pixelation
- Is vector-based for resizing
- Available in a variety of different languages
- Overall, pretty cheap with a variety of purchasing options
Uses
CorelDRAW is a program used for vector graphics, illustration, and design. Like Adobe, it has a suite full of other software to increase its use, but the basic CorelDRAW focuses on graphics design.
There are many benefits of graphics software. For example, you can easily edit each object of the design separately, changing the shape, color, position, size, and more. All of this can be done without losing quality or messing up the design as a whole.
This makes it a great tool for creating mockups of logos and designs. It’s easy to make changes that the client wants without having to completely redo the entire graphic.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Is affordable | Somewhat difficult to use |
| Offers a few different payment options | A lot of complexity when you get down to the finer details. |
| Creates images that don’t pixelate | Autosave sometimes doesn’t work |
| The features aren’t hidden or hard to access |
Popular Companies That Use CorelDRAW
Mostly, big companies use CorelDRAW for their logos. You’ll some big-name brands under their clientele list, including:
- JP Morgan Chase
- Yale University
- Fujitsu
- New York Life Insurance
- Ecobank Transnational Inc.
So, Which Is Better?
Both software and companies have their own benefits. If you’re looking for more of a design tool for photo manipulation, and you have experience with Adobe products, you may enjoy Adobe Photoshop better.
However, if you’re more into vector graphics and graphic design, you’ll want CorelDRAW. Both suites have options that overlap. But if you’re looking for a single software to do your task, you need to take into account their differences and what they’re best suited for.
Of course, there’s always the option to use both, if you’re not limited by money. Both have their own pros and cons that make them ideal for different reasons and having both could provide you a greater range of tools.
Or, perhaps decide on the company and software you enjoy best by watching videos and taking advantage of free trials. Then, you can purchase not only the single software but the suite. This gives you a wide range of software at your fingers but sticks to tools and layouts you understand.
Either way, there’s no clear winner. Both software are excellent and used by hobbyists and professionals alike. As long as you pick one that fits your needs, you can’t go wrong with either product.
Do Professionals Use CorelDRAW?
CorelDRAW is still very popular with professionals. It’s primarily used by graphic designers. In recent years, the popularity of CorelDRAW has gone down a bit as Adobe Illustrator has gotten better as design software, but CorelDRAW is still up there as a competitor.
Is CorelDRAW Equivalent to Photoshop?
CorelDRAW isn’t quite equivalent to Photoshop. However, the Graphics Suite from Corel does have an alternative that’s a bit closer. It’s known as Corel PHOTO-Paint. So when you get the Graphics Suite for CorelDRAW, you also get the benefit of getting a tool that compares with Photoshop.
Is CorelDRAW Good for Photo Editing?
CorelDRAW is good for basic photo editing. It has features such as resizing. However, if you want something more similar to Photoshop, the best option is Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
If you get the Graphics Suite, this tool is included. Unlike CorelDRAW, it’s made more for photo editing and has a lot more features in that area.
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