This is an exciting time because technology in the editing and design industry is advancing at a rapid pace. The original Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, Webflow, and now Figma are the best examples of this, particularly in the field of UI/UX design.
These tools have made the process of creating an app or website easier than it has ever been. However, as UI/UX designers, it can be challenging to determine which software editing tool is necessary at what time, given the abundance of options accessible.
If you are a designer, you might be confused between choosing Photoshop and Figma. You need to know the right tools suitable for specific design tasks. To find answers to all your questions, read the comparison between Photoshop and Figma below.
What is Figma?
Figma is a tool that facilitates design interface creation and collaboration with all parties engaged in the process. In addition to gathering data and input regarding the design, it assists in the development of products, app designs, websites, and prototypes.
It’s the hub for collaboration and real-time updates and design modifications for UI/UX designers, product managers, copywriters, project managers, engineers, and other team members.
Regardless of experience level, any designer can produce creative products with the use of Figma’s plugins, design systems, or UI kits. Therefore, Figma might be the area where you can grow and feel safe to learn if you are just starting out in the design industry.
What is Photoshop?
Photoshop is the popular editing software for editing and retouching your images. It is a tool where graphic designers can work on illustrations, edit, and manage specific designs and other digital artwork. Photoshop is insanely popular, and it is what comes to mind when you first think about photo editing.
However, Photoshop focuses more on manipulating images and animations, whereas Figma is more focused on UI/UX designs, such as app or website design.
When graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers need certain visual effects, they go to Photoshop. However, designers who want to make banners, posters, or even logos can also use it. And Photoshop’s design tools, filters, layers, and other features enable people to do that.
The difference between Figma and Photoshop
Purpose of Figma and Photoshop
When distinguishing features between the two, it’s critical to recognize that Figma aspires to be different from Adobe Photoshop. This understanding will help you decide which tool to use for which purpose. Photoshop is mostly used to modify the visuals of your platform, but you can also use Figma to build an app or website in terms of both functionality and aesthetics.
Usability of Figma and Photoshop
In terms of platform comparison, Figma features an intuitive user interface that enables users of all skill levels to engage with each other. Figma’s intuitive user interface makes it easier for users to get to understand the software quickly.
This makes sense as to why Figma is one of the most widely used UI/UX design platforms out there in the industry. On the other hand, Photoshop is not the most user-friendly program because it’s more technical. You might need to watch several tutorials first when using it. If you’re just starting out in your career, Figma is undoubtedly simpler than Photoshop.
Collaboration of Figma and Photoshop
The ability to collaborate is exactly what sets Figma apart from other design tools. Do you understand how Google Workspace functions? It is also how Figma operates.
In fact, its release has been a game changer for all UI/UX designers. You can now interact with one another, exchange comments, view changes in real life, and collaborate on the same project – all within the app. There is also a collaborative feature in Photoshop. However, it isn’t as sophisticated as what Figma might accomplish.
Components of Figma and Photoshop
Sadly, there are no built-in design component libraries in Photoshop. To preserve consistency, it is necessary for the designers to manually duplicate and update items.
However, you can develop reusable design elements (such as buttons and icons) with the help of Figma’s component architecture. The finest thing in Figma is that when you change even a small thing in a component, all the other components are changed automatically.
Final thoughts
In short, recognizing the importance of user experiences in producing visually stunning user interfaces is important. After reading this comparison of Photoshop and Figma for 2024, you can now make a decision as a professional.
