Photoshop or Fireworks?

[Ascendancy]

Which software is better for designing images for the web, Adobe Photoshop or Fireworks?

[Major Payne]

You'll probably get a lot of opinions here with a question like that. I like Photoshop CS2 along with Xara, SwishMax and Flaming Text Gimp.

Ron

[Ascendancy]

Well since Fireworks graphics can be resized to any size, they are more flexible. However, Photoshop has a lot more options for customizing graphics and adding neat effect, so I just wanted to know some people's opinions.

[banev]

Better used both in combine Photoshop with Fireworks

[bathurst_guy]

Well since Fireworks graphics can be resized to any size, they are more flexible. What do you mean by that - they are vector images? You can save vector based images with Photoshop also. An EPS is a vector image. Why would you need a vector image on a website anyway?

[KDLA]

I prefer Fireworks for web-related (or screen) application.
I tend to make images too complicated in Photoshop, so either the web optimizing really degrades the quality, or the image's file size doesn't go as low as I want it.

I use Photoshop for print publications.

KDLA

[freshair]

neither actually. I'm tired of programs that attempt to suck all resources and energy out of your PC, no matter how much memory you have. I also find that I don't want software that tries to organize me and build bridges between software suites. I like to organize myself. I'm old fashioned that way I suppose. Yes, I like the convenience of the filter gallery, but I find I can work just as capably otherwise, especially when converting images for the internet, which is what I mostly do. I generally prefer Elements to Photoshop since I usually don't need to dicker with color values for print. To answer your question directly, Photoshop has a great program for maximizing images for the net, but Elements has that too. For low resource drain, use GIMP or *gosh* "Serif Photoplus 5.5" works great for jpgs if you know what you are doing. If you need compatibility with other graphic artists that use similar standards then I prefer a slightly older version of Illustrator to get the job done. Corel does great photomanipulation. Fireworks leaves me cold and the interface was obviously designed by a minimalist (like Flash Professional). I suppose purpose and then preference is everything.

[BA.Barcolounger]

I use Photoshop to create, and Fireworks to slice.

[hon]

I would Recommends photoshop. and if you don't know just try the trials of both of them and decide for yourself.

[artcase]

Actual "creation" and editing I do in Photoshop (you know, changing the sky background with a fluffy cloud sky from a clip art image, adjusting contract, blending edges, etc. Photoshop is the best I've found to do that.

However, it is much easier to create a web template (say a box 320 x 320 with 1px solid #ccc border, watermark text with drop shadow) and pull your pictures in that file and export with a default web setting in Fireworks.

Of course, you could design the same file in Photoshop (with a vector box output from Illustrator for the border) and be done with Fireworks altogether. It's a preference thing, at that point.

Amy

[pathfinder74]

I love me some Photoshop. I started out with Paint Shop Pro, which I guess has a lot of the filters and layers and all that but PS just seems a lot more intuitive and the controls/shortcut keystrokes are pretty standard across the Adobe Suite, so for me it just seems easier to learn on.

I keep hearing about Gimp.... I really need to give it a try.

What do you mean by that - they are vector images? You can save vector based images with Photoshop also. An EPS is a vector image. Why would you need a vector image on a website anyway?


Any chance SVG will makes it's way from XML to XHTML?

[novemberGrey]

For some real designing, use Photoshop.

[redbeef88]

fireworks all the way- i even made a facebook group for it lol