InDesign vs Illustrator?

Question

I know that InDesign is for text layouts and Illustrator is more for drawing. My question is though, doesn't InDesign have the same drawing tools as Illustrator?

If I want to design vector stuff on my magazine for instance, do I even need Illustrator at all?

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

InDesign has similar tools, and if all you are wanting is basic vector art (as in, lets put a square here, and a circle over there), then, no, you don't need illustrator.

If, however, you're going to make anything more complex, or if you're going to get any graphic designer/artist friends of yours to help with art, you'll most likely want Illustrator.  Illustrator is much easier to handle for creating art.  Just like you CAN use a minivan to move, you'd find it much easier to use a moving van.  And while a moving van can take 6 kids to soccer practice, it's not the easiest way to do it, either.

Basic, no frills, background art?  Just use InDesign.

Actual vector art of any complexity, where you're going to have to do fine editing of many, many vector objects, get Illustrator.

(Nice side point as well:  InDesign integrates well with Illustrator, so if you import an illustrator object and need to edit it, you can get it done right through InDesign's interface.  How cool is that?)

Answer 2

They have basically the same tools, and you don't absolutely need illustrator, but your images will come out a lot better if you do.  a professional designer rarely uses indesign to create images, only to lay them out.  illustrator is a lot easier to use for that stuff, and indesign would just be unnecessarily awkward.  its like using microsoft excel as a replacement for microsoft word.  you can do it, but you shouldn't.