DESIGN SOFTWARE
This is a list of frequently-used design software.
Program	File Formats	Description
Adobe Illustrator	.ai, .eps, .pdf	Adobe Illustrator is an illustration and graphics program that can also be used for single-page documents such as posters, business cards, buckslips, take-ones, etc.. It works with vector formats, so graphics are highly compressed for small file size. Raster images (i.e., photographs) may be embedded in an Illustrator document. Illustrator can export a variety of file formats, including pdf, eps, jpg, gif, psd, swf, etc.
Adobe InDesign	.indd, .pdf	Adobe InDesign is a page layout program ideal for brochures, books, catalogues, etc. It is quickly surpassing Quark as the page layout program of choice for designers and corporations alike. It can produce files that can be sent natively to printers, and it can export PDFs and other print-ready formats. It may also be used for interactive presentations, providing a rich level of design control, far exceeding that of PowerPoint.
Adobe Photoshop	.psd, .jpg, .gif, .pdf, .tif	Adobe Photoshop is the grandaddy of all image editing and manipulation programs. Its highly sophisticated interface and powerful tools allow for an incredible variety of design possibilities. It can produce files for use in print, Web, video, TV, etc. It is often the starting point for Web page design and layout.
Adobe Acrobat	.pdf	Adobe Acrobat software comes in many varieties, from the Reader which is only able to read and print pdf documents, to the program itself, Acrobat, which is able to do many more things. However, Acrobat is not a file creation program, such as Quark and InDesign. Minor edits can be made to a pdf using Acrobat, but it is not used to create the source file itself; major modifications should be made in the source application, e.g., Illustrator, InDesign, Quark, etc.
Flash	.swf, .fla	Flash is an animation and interaction program. Its primary purpose is to create rich media for the Web, but it can also export movies and stand-alone applications and projector files.
Fonts	n/a	Many people do not realize that fonts are tiny applications, or software, themselves. Most fonts are licensed, and we purchase the license to use them. Some are free; however, those that are not cannot be distributed legally without proper permission. When a client asks for a font, we should direct them to purchase the fonts from the appropriate vendor.
Macromedia Fireworks	.gif, .jpg	Fireworks is a program used by many Web designers and developers for creating Web graphics such as jpegs and gifs. It works with most Adobe Photoshop files, but because of its excellent compression algorithms and interface, it is often the tool of choice for developers.
Macromedia Flash	.swf, .fla	See "Flash" above.
Quark XPress	.qxd, .pdf	Quark Xpress, or just Quark, is a page layout program ideal for brochures, books, catalogues, etc. It is quickly being surpassed by Adobe InDesign as the page layout program of choice for designers and corporations alike. It can produce files that can be sent natively to printers, and it can export PDFs and other print-ready formats.