How does Adobe Photoshop compare to Figma for design work?

Last Updated

October 28, 2025

Photoshop vs Figma Design Tool Comparison

Photoshop and Figma serve complementary roles in professional design workflows, with Photoshop excelling at complex image manipulation and photo editing while Figma dominates UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design development. Understanding each tool's strengths enables strategic tool selection for optimal design outcomes.

Professional design workflows often require both tools, leveraging Photoshop's advanced image processing capabilities alongside Figma's collaborative design and prototyping features to create comprehensive design solutions that serve different project requirements.

Photoshop Strengths and Applications

Photoshop dominates complex image manipulation, photo editing, and advanced visual effects creation through sophisticated pixel-level control, extensive filter systems, and professional-grade colour management capabilities.

Advanced Image Processing Capabilities

Photoshop's image processing includes layer masking, colour correction, retouching, and compositing that enables professional-quality photo editing and complex visual content creation impossible in other design tools.

Professional image work includes product photography enhancement, brand photography editing, and complex visual composition that requires Photoshop's advanced pixel manipulation and colour management capabilities.

Tool Comparison Categories

Image manipulation: Photoshop's advanced pixel editing vs Figma's vector-based design
Collaboration features: Figma's real-time collaboration vs Photoshop's file-based workflow
UI/UX design: Figma's interface design tools vs Photoshop's image-focused capabilities
Prototyping abilities: Figma's interactive prototypes vs Photoshop's static design output
File management: Figma's cloud-based system vs Photoshop's local file storage

Figma Advantages for UI Design

Figma excels at user interface design, collaborative development, and interactive prototyping through vector-based design tools, component systems, and real-time collaboration capabilities that streamline design team workflows.

Collaborative Design Development

Figma's collaboration features include real-time editing, comment systems, and version control that enable team-based design development without file management complexity or version conflicts.

UI design capabilities include component libraries, design systems, and responsive design tools that accelerate interface development while maintaining consistency across projects and team members.

Workflow Integration and Tool Selection

Professional workflows often integrate both tools strategically, using Photoshop for image preparation and complex visual effects before importing into Figma for interface design and collaborative development.

Tool selection depends on project requirements, with image-heavy projects requiring Photoshop's capabilities while interface design projects benefit from Figma's collaborative features and prototyping tools.

Learning Curve and Team Adoption

Figma offers easier team adoption through browser-based access and intuitive interface design, while Photoshop requires more extensive training but provides unmatched image manipulation capabilities for complex visual work.

Team productivity considerations include collaboration requirements, skill development needs, and project complexity that influence tool selection and workflow design for optimal design team effectiveness.

Cost and Accessibility Considerations

Tool accessibility includes subscription costs, hardware requirements, and team collaboration needs that influence strategic tool selection and budget allocation for design team productivity and project success.

Strategic tool investment includes considering project types, team size, and collaboration requirements that determine optimal tool combinations for design workflow efficiency and quality outcomes.

Ready to optimise your design tool selection for maximum productivity and quality? Our design expertise includes strategic tool selection, workflow optimisation, and team training that ensures your design projects leverage the right tools for optimal results and team efficiency.

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Similar FAQs

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We start with research, understanding your brand, audience, and competitors. Our team develops messaging, visuals, and ad formats tailored to each platform. We use a mix of copywriting, design, and video to create ads that stand out and drive action.

Creative is tested and refined based on performance data, ensuring your ads stay fresh and effective.

What types of content do you create?

We have in house services for copywriting, design and video production as well as a network of specialists for high end photography and full ad video production. Each type is chosen based on your goals and audience preferences. Our team blends creativity and SEO best practice to deliver content that performs.

What is website design and development?

Website design and development is the process of planning, creating, and launching a website that represents your brand and achieves your goals. It covers everything from user experience (UX) and visual design to coding, testing, and launch. We build modern, scalable websites that look great and convert visitors into customers.

How do you ensure my website is mobile-friendly and accessible?

We design every site to be fully responsive, so it looks and works great on all devices. We also follow accessibility best practice, making sure your site is usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. This includes clear navigation, readable fonts, and proper colour contrast.

What’s the difference between UX and UI design?

UX (User Experience) design focuses on how users interact with your site. Think how they would get to the main pages you want them to get to, if they have to go through 5+ pages to get to your revenue making page, probably not good UX. UI (User Interface) design is about the look and feel. Is it clean and easy to read? Both are essential for a successful website, and we integrate them in every project.

How does Figma improve collaboration between designers and developers?

Figma bridges the design-development gap through real-time collaboration and specialized tools that ensure seamless handoff and implementation of design work.

Collaboration features include:

Real-time editing allowing multiple team members to work simultaneously
Dev Mode providing developers with code snippets and specifications
Design systems that maintain consistency across design and code
Version control and commenting for clear communication
Live prototypes that developers can inspect and interact with
Asset export in multiple formats for immediate implementation

Our website design and development service leverages Figma's collaborative features to ensure smooth project delivery and maintain design integrity throughout development.

Why is Adobe Photoshop still the industry standard for professional image editing?

Adobe Photoshop remains the industry standard because it provides unmatched depth and precision for professional image work that goes far beyond what's possible in other design tools.

Industry-leading capabilities include:

Advanced layer management and non-destructive editing workflows
Professional colour correction and calibration tools
Sophisticated masking and selection capabilities
RAW processing and professional photography workflows
Extensive plugin ecosystem for specialized industries
Pixel-perfect control for complex image manipulation

Our design team relies on Photoshop for all complex visual work in our website development and marketing campaigns. Read more about our Adobe workflow insights and how professional tools impact creative quality.

What are the key differences between Figma and other design tools like Sketch or Adobe XD?

Figma stands out through its cloud-based architecture and comprehensive collaboration features that make it superior for team-based design work and modern product development.

Key advantages over alternatives:

Cloud-based platform accessible from any device or operating system
Real-time multiplayer collaboration vs single-user editing
Integrated developer handoff tools and code generation
Built-in whiteboarding (FigJam) and presentation tools
AI-powered design assistance and automation features
No need for separate prototyping tools or plugins

We choose Figma for our design projects because it enables seamless collaboration with clients and ensures consistent design implementation across all team members.

How do you use Figma's AI features for faster design workflows?

Figma's AI capabilities accelerate design workflows by automating repetitive tasks and generating initial concepts that designers can refine and customise. Our design team uses these AI features to accelerate initial concept creation while maintaining the creative control needed for high-quality, custom designs.

What types of marketing projects require Adobe Photoshop over other design tools?

Adobe Photoshop becomes essential for marketing projects that demand sophisticated image manipulation, professional photo editing, and complex visual compositions that other tools simply cannot achieve.

Projects requiring Photoshop include:

Professional product photography retouching and enhancement
Complex brand asset creation with detailed visual effects
High-end campaign visuals requiring photo compositing
Print marketing materials needing precise colour management
Social media content with advanced image manipulation
Website hero images and promotional graphics requiring pixel-perfect quality

Our content creation and website development services leverage Photoshop's advanced capabilities when projects demand professional-grade visual quality that exceeds standard design tool limitations.

What is Figma Dev Mode and how does it help with design handoff?

Dev Mode is Figma's dedicated workspace for developers that provides everything needed to translate designs into code accurately and efficiently. We use Dev Mode to ensure pixel-perfect implementation and reduce back-and-forth between design and development teams, resulting in faster project delivery.

How do you integrate Adobe Photoshop into modern marketing workflows?

Integrating Photoshop into modern marketing workflows requires strategic coordination with other design tools and platforms to maximize efficiency while maintaining creative quality. The key is treating Photoshop as part of a larger creative ecosystem rather than a standalone tool.

Integration strategies include:

Asset creation in Photoshop with export to collaborative platforms
Integration with Creative Cloud for seamless file sharing
Workflow coordination between Photoshop and web design tools
Version control and approval processes for complex image work
Automated export and optimization for different marketing channels
Team collaboration through Creative Cloud Libraries and shared assets

We integrate Photoshop with Figma workflows and team communication systems to ensure complex image work enhances rather than delays our ongoing client projects.

How do you build and maintain design systems in Figma?

Figma's design system features enable teams to create scalable, consistent design languages that maintain brand integrity across all digital products and marketing materials. Our design and development team creates comprehensive design systems that ensure brand consistency across all client touchpoints while enabling rapid scaling of marketing materials and digital products.

What are the key Photoshop features that marketing teams should master?

Marketing teams should focus on mastering Photoshop features that directly impact campaign quality, brand consistency, and efficient asset creation for various marketing channels.

Essential features for marketing include:

Layer management and non-destructive editing for flexible revisions
Selection tools and masking for precise image manipulation
Colour correction and adjustment layers for brand consistency
Smart objects and filters for scalable, editable effects
Export and optimization features for web and print delivery
Batch processing and actions for efficient asset creation

Our team training focuses on these core capabilities to ensure efficient delivery of content marketing assets while maintaining the professional quality standards that distinguish our work.

What does Figma cost and which plan should you choose?

Figma offers flexible pricing tiers from free to enterprise, making it accessible for individual designers and scalable for large organisations with advanced collaboration needs. Free plan supports up to 3 files, while Professional plans start at £10/month per editor with unlimited files and advanced features.

How does Adobe Photoshop pricing work and is it worth the investment?

Adobe Photoshop operates on a subscription model with pricing from £9.98/month for the Photography Plan to £49.94/month for the full Creative Cloud suite. For marketing agencies handling professional visual content, the investment pays for itself through improved quality and capabilities other tools cannot match.

How do you use FigJam for marketing strategy and brainstorming sessions?

FigJam transforms marketing strategy sessions through collaborative whiteboarding that enables teams to visualise ideas, map customer journeys, and plan campaigns effectively. We integrate FigJam into our strategy consulting process to ensure all stakeholders align on marketing objectives and creative direction before execution begins.

What are the performance and system requirements for running Photoshop efficiently?

Adobe Photoshop demands significant system resources for optimal performance, especially when working with large files and complex operations common in professional marketing work.

Recommended system specifications include:

16GB+ RAM (32GB recommended for large file work)
Dedicated graphics card with 4GB+ VRAM for GPU acceleration
Fast SSD storage for scratch disk and file access
Multi-core processor (8+ cores recommended)
Calibrated monitor for accurate colour representation
Regular software updates for performance and security

Our technical infrastructure recommendations include proper workstation setup to ensure Photoshop performance doesn't become a bottleneck in creative workflows.

How do you integrate Figma with other marketing and development tools?

Figma's extensive integration ecosystem connects design workflows with project management, development, and marketing tools for seamless team collaboration. We connect Figma with ClickUp and other tools using Zapier automation as part of our technical infrastructure to create efficient design-to-delivery workflows.

How do you maintain brand consistency when using Photoshop across marketing campaigns?

Maintaining brand consistency in Photoshop requires systematic approaches to colour management, asset organization, and standardized workflows that ensure visual coherence across all marketing materials.

Brand consistency strategies include:

Custom colour swatches and brand colour profiles
Standardized layer styles and text formatting
Template systems for consistent layouts and proportions
Creative Cloud Libraries for shared brand assets
Colour calibration and profile management
Documentation and style guides for team collaboration

Our approach to brand consistency combines Photoshop's professional capabilities with systematic asset management, ensuring all visual content maintains brand integrity across paid campaigns and content marketing initiatives.

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