Do I Need Illustrator or Photoshop to License Art? A Simple Answer for Surface Designers

Do I Need to Know Illustrator or Photoshop to License Art?

This question comes up constantly and if you’ve ever wondered it yourself, you are not alone.

Do I need to know Illustrator to license my art
Is Photoshop enough
What about Procreate
Or something else entirely

It can feel like the answer to this question determines whether you are ready to move forward or not.

So today, I want to gently simplify it for you.

You do not need to master every program to license your art.

But you do need to understand what each tool is best used for and how your artwork will be delivered professionally.

Let’s break it down.

Tip 1: Start with the tool that matches how you naturally create

If you paint, draw, or work in a more organic way, Photoshop or Procreate often feels like home.

If you love clean shapes, precise repeats, or more graphic layouts, Illustrator may eventually become helpful.

Neither program is more professional than the other.

Licensing is about the artwork and how it serves the product, not the software badge you wear.

If you are just starting, choose one tool and get comfortable creating consistently in it.

Depth matters more than variety.

For example, I personally worked solely in Illustrator for two years before learning Photoshop. There is no one right pace or one right program. Every creative journey looks different, and that is a good thing.

Tip 2: Know what brands actually need from you

Most brands are not asking what software you use.

They care about things like
Clean files
Correct sizing
Strong resolution
Professional presentation

Many licensed collections are created entirely in Photoshop or Procreate and finished in Photoshop.

Illustrator becomes especially useful when
Patterns need to scale infinitely
Artwork needs easy recoloring
Files need to be edited by a production team

This does not mean you need to learn everything right now. It simply means you can learn with intention when your work asks for it.

Tip 3: Think in seasons, not pressure

You do not need to learn everything at once to be successful.

Many artists license for years using one main program before slowly adding another.

A gentle progression might look like this
One season focused on creating confidently in Photoshop
Another season learning analog pattern basics
A later season exploring Illustrator when it supports your goals

This approach removes pressure and keeps your creative momentum intact.

Software should support your work, not stall it.

A reminder before you move on

You are not behind because you do not know Illustrator yet.
You are not unprofessional because you prefer one program over another.
You are allowed to grow your skills as your work grows.

If you are creating art you love, building a body of work, and learning step by step, you are already doing the right things.

Keep going. One tool, one collection, one season at a time.

From my studio to yours

(or the kitchen table, where I started too)

If surface pattern design feels big, let it start small.

Observe what pulls you in and what the market is asking for.
Create with one focus at a time.
Share in a way that feels doable.

Return to this rhythm whenever you feel overwhelmed or unsure of your next best step.

I am cheering you on every step of the way, and I am grateful to walk alongside you as you grow one brave choice at a time, including choosing rest and play.

As a small gift to help you step into the new year with clarity rather than overwhelm, I am sharing:

• An Annual Planning Guide designed to help you focus on what matters most
• A brand new mockup to help you visualize and share your work as you begin the year with intention (grab them by joining Studio Notes below)

p.s. Want weekly encouragement, creative tips and resources like a custom monthly mockups? Join Studio Notes Here🤎