11. Tools of the Trade

A Quick Guide to the Software You Need for Web Design

Every craft has a toolset. That’s why art school is so expensive. Each class requires different tools—$200 worth of pencils and charcoal for drawing; $400 worth of brushes, paint, canvas, wood, and staples for painting; and $600 worth of film, lenses, and chemicals for photography.

Print designers have tools, too. In addition to software like InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, our desks are cluttered with X-Acto knives, spray adhesive, loupes, and other implements of creation. There’s no way around it—we’ll need these tools eventually.

Web Design Doesn’t Require Many Tools

You don’t need expensive software to transition from a print designer to a Web designer—at least, ...

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