This is an open discussion where you can discuss about fireworks and photoshop for web use.
Pick a side, Fireworks or Photoshop , and state why you think it’s better for web use. From designing website mockups, forum signatures, headers, web icons , fancy headers , web buttons and many more.
Give at least two reasons why you choose the program.
Discuss =)
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11 Comments
Hi Blue very important information . Thanks a lot
Fireworks hands down. And limiting this to two reasons is not easy. Here are just two of several:
1)Multiple pages. For creating wireframes, web site mock ups or application prototypes, FW pages give me the flexibility to easily create a realistic mockup for user testing and client approvals
2) Image compression. Independent testing has proven that FW generates smaller files than PS. with comparable retained quality. There's also the added benefit of being able to create varible transparent 32 bit AND 8 bit png files.
If my work is going to the screen, I can guarantee I'll be working in Fireworks to get the job done.
I'm sure I'm in the minority in this but I actually use Illustrator. I would probably use Fireworks if I had the most recent version but I opted for the version of the Creative Suite that included InDesign instead. I've done some web layout in Photoshop but it's proved to be extremely fussy, requiring 5 clicks and a lot of mouse movement for an action that takes 2 clicks in Illustrator. I can understand the argument about using P'shop's splicing tool but the reality is that I'm doing 95% or more of my page visuals in CSS anyway so it's really not a factor.
Actually Dave you are now in the majority, since there are only 3 of us responding. I love, love, love Illustrator. The difference is that both of us know how to write CSS. Look at all of your modern web sites, those with the web 2.0 look. They all look like vector art. With so many database-drive web sites, bg images need to be repeated.
Those who don't know how to write code rely on Photoshop's slice and export as html features. Same with Fireworks. But if you know how to write CSS then it's much faster to create background images in Illustrator.
Jim B, I have to disagree with you on your statement about Fireworks compressing images smaller than PS. They're both using Adobe's "Save for web and devices." Same maker. Why would Adobe make a separate compression for a different software app?
is easy, Photoshop is for photo manipulations and effects.
FW is for banners, gif animations, web layouts etc…
@Chad I think that Jim could be referring to the experiment done over at Web Designer Wall.
Fireworks is a nice halfway point between Photoshop and Illustrator with more focus on page layout than fancy effects. Fireworks is the final place to import your graphics from other applications. You create pages, add html symbol elements, and export from there to Dreamweaver.
Fireworks, hands down.
After having switched to FW about 6 months ago, I can't believe how more people don't use it. I used Photoshop and Illustrator for years before that (while I was still mainly doing print design). I love them both and feel comfortable designing in either, but with the FW hybrid it seems you have the best of both made specifically for web. Plus it takes wayyy less time. Text and alignment take so many steps in PS, and AI has hardly any bitmap editing.
I remember having to search and search forever through layers in PS to make a simple change. Whereas with FW, it's all so fast with pages. I still use PS for heavier image editing and AI for icons or more complex vectors, but for layouts/mockups, it's FW all the way.
This is simple. I've been creating websites for almost 15 years now for some very high profile clients. It's Fireworks, hands down. I still like PS for some image editing (although FW has some great tools as well) but PS is a retro-fitted web design program and it shows.
Too many benefits to mention them all but start with quick cut, copy, or paste in place – BAM – anything, any object, any effect, slices included – from the same file or to other files, that alone is a monster time saver. Next, the vector tools, vector objects and selection tools – forget it, FW is like Illustrator without the cryptic keystrokes and multiple tools or PS with masks everywhere, AND you can very quickly copy, or cut and place anything inside any shape. I love FW vector and fill tools (although Adobe lost a couple of unique preview features, I'm not sure why), and FAST boolean tools for making odd, or symmetrical geometry a breeze . Next, actual working rollovers, and image swaps, seamless integration with Dreamweaver, CSS, and (with FW CS4) – verbatim export to PS (if you have to) with editable text. The text tools are intuitive, solid with no 'bouncing' text bounding boxes (PS users you know what I mean), and no multiple 'return' strokes every time you do something.
Add to this Multiple PAGES with separate layers and you have an entire site in one EASY to understand file. I could go on but you get the idea. Nothing against PS which I started on and still use for some tasks (fewer as time passes) but as a former PS guy I'll swear by FW for anything web or even design-related.
Fireworks is a nice halfway point between Photoshop and Illustrator with more focus on page layout than fancy effects. Fireworks is the final place to import your graphics from other applications. You create pages, add html symbol elements, and export from there to Dreamweaver.online website design
I’ve always had photoshop, dreamweaver and illustrator in my workflow.
I’ve recently tried out fireworks since the interactive team I work with recommended it. I was a bit scared since the last time i used fireworks it was for animated gif’s mostly ( macromedia).
I have to say that it blew me away how efficient it is for digital workflow. It’s so efficient now and i’m adding it to my workflow… actually I’m using it as my hub fro web/mobile/etc and jumping to photoshop for cropping and illustrator for custom vector icons but bringing them into fireworks.
Ps. John..awesome tuts on Linda. I watched them on my iphone at nights and it got me up to speed very well.
Bokkah
yah me too , I work in photoshop, dreamweaver and flash before it really works great .
But in building sites in current I used WordPress the advantage of this are net spiders can” crawl because of the div tags and the site you build is RRS feed.