Writers - would you suggest learning photoshop when starting out? How helpful have you found it for your position (or getting into it)?

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I've found it super helpful. Mostly it empowers me to make my own spec stuff if I can't get an ad on board. I feel less helpless and can understand / critique my partners work better and have an idea of their capabilities and limitations. Knowing illustrator and Indesign helped me too

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Absolutely. When we are all-hands-on-deck comping for a pitch I can make myself useful rather than twiddling my thumbs and proofing the deck for the 20th time. My CDs really, really appreciate it. The ADs do too.

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Example : an AD friend made/designed my resume for me on illustrator. It was really nicely done but since then a lot of the info on it has changed, and it's been nice to be able to do all that on my own than wait for the same AD to be available for every little update. Self-reliance ftw!

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I thought it was super helpful. I would sometimes help my partner do simple stuff, like resizing things, changing file type etc. Also helpful in prepping images for keynote presentations and personal website. I look forward to time spent working with photoshop. Of course I’m not as talented or fluent as most ADs in that regard, but I have some tricks.

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Learning design programs totally helped my career as a writer.

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Really recommend writers to learn photoshop as soon as they can. Echoing some of the previously mentioned comments: it can be really frustrating when your designer/AD doesn’t understand the vision you’re trying to convey, and it’s more rewarding to be able to express your ideas yourself

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Yes. Learn PS, learn InDesign, learn Illustrator. On a pitch, when things are flying fast and furious, it comes in handy. As you level up, it's invaluable when you want put your finishing touches on a presentation deck (like order, like tweaking copy/idea write ups). It also comes in handy assembling your portfolio site-- like enhancing images in a TV/Video thumbnail, or getting better lines into Print/OOH/Display.

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I made my own complex animated gifs for my website thumbnails on photoshop. It always impresses people and it makes me feel so good about myself!

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I am a technology architect who spent 3 years working at a printing shop and learned what was then called Aldus Pagemaker, Quark, Photoshop, and eventually InDesign and Premier. It led to my first web development job, which led to my first computer networking job, which led to my work in the trading industry. As UX/UI design converge with tech, that experience has become incredibly important and valuable. Any skill in a toolbox can come in handy.

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You need those skills for life, not just your career.

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Absolutely. If you can write and photoshop, all you need is a client, and you have yourself an ad agency.

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Thanks for all your insight everyone! I ended up taking a photoshop boot camp this past weekend and have been playing around with it. I already feel more in control of what I’m able to put together. I’ll look into Indesign and Illustrator next!

likeuplifting

^ exactly. You don’t need to be a master at it, but knowing the basics and how to speak the terminology makes things a lot easier. Whether it’s lending an extra hand like CW2 said, or talking with your AD/CD about something going on in a comp, using the terms makes it that much easier to understand each other

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wouldn’t be able to make dank memes like this if i didn’t have PS chops. plus working in creative suite is highly therapeutic.

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Learn it but stay in your lane and let art directors art direct and design.

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Absolutely agree, and I encourage AD/Designers to become more articulate communicators and writers too. Having beautifully designed work with no solid rationale or explanation can often drag down great work as well.

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Leo Burnett: that advice is terrible. Use whatever tool works best.

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@facebook1 curious if you started in advertising before moving to Facebook, and how comparable the work is?

No one should use photoshop unless you are shopping photos. Learn to draw instead. If you can clearly communicate your idea with a “bad” drawing you’re all good

Ok. Maybe I came out a little harsh but I see time and time again ideas getting lost because they are being concepted in photoshop. People will only take their ideas as far as their photoshop skills will allow. Take it to photoshop (or whatever) after the idea is crystal clear in a sketch. It will save you time. And you’ll do smarter work.

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