One of the biggest misconceptions of graphic designers is that they use standard business software like Microsoft Word, Publisher and Paint. The software developed for designers is much more specialised and enables them to work with a much higher level of control and output the final artwork to go to a printer/magazine/newspaper.
The most common programs are Indesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. These allow for generating artwork for print, and Photoshop along with Dreamweaver gives most of what a designer will need for creating material for the web.
