Illustrator: meaning, definitions and examples

Focuses on producing images to accompany text in books, advertisements, and other media, often with a unique style and interpretation.

• As an illustrator, he created visuals for the cookbook.
• They hired an illustrator to bring their storybook characters to life.

A broad term that can refer to anyone who creates visual art, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators. It is often used when talking about the creative process and artistic expression in general.

• He is an artist known for his abstract paintings.
• The artist's work was displayed in the local gallery.

Refers to someone who uses computer software to create visuals for websites, advertisements, and branding. It often involves combining images and text to communicate a message.

• The graphic designer created a stunning logo for the new startup.
• She works as a graphic designer for a marketing agency.

Usually refers to someone who draws, but is less commonly used in everyday language. It can sound somewhat informal or old-fashioned.

• She is an excellent drawer and loves sketching portraits.
• As a child, he was always known as the best drawer in the class.

Can also refer to specific software, notably Adobe Illustrator, which is widely used for creating vector graphics.

• He created the logo in Illustrator.
• Adobe Illustrator is a popular tool among graphic designers.

Refers to computer programs used for creating and editing designs, including graphics, layouts, and more.

• He used the design software to create the website layout.
• Design software allows professionals to produce stunning visuals quickly.

Can refer to any instrument or software feature used for drawing, whether digital or traditional.

• The pencil is a common drawing tool for artists.
• The drawing tool in the app lets you sketch directly on your tablet.

Denotes software specifically used for creating and editing images and graphics.

• He edited the photo using a powerful graphic editor.
• Learning to use a graphic editor is essential for any digital artist.

Used for professionals who create detailed artwork for books, magazines, posters, and other media. Illustrators focus on visual storytelling and often work on a single image at a time.

• The illustrator did an amazing job bringing the children's book characters to life.
• We hired an illustrator to create the cover for our new album.

Used for experts who create animated sequences for movies, television shows, video games, and other digital media. Animation artists bring static images to life through motion and often work on frames or sequences.

• She worked as an animation artist for a popular cartoon series.
• We need an animation artist to help with the graphics for our new game.

Typically used for creators who draw comics or humorous illustrations, often for newspapers, magazines, or online media. The term generally carries a light-hearted or entertaining connotation.

• The cartoonist's strip in the Sunday newspaper always makes me laugh.
• He became famous as a political cartoonist.

Refers to professionals who focus on the appearance and aesthetics of digital and print media, such as websites, apps, branding, and advertising. Their role often involves creating cohesive visual experiences.

• The visual designer revamped our website to be more user-friendly.
• She’s responsible for the visual design of our new marketing campaign.