Photoshop vs Fireworks

[Nacho Man]

Hello i am a web development student and have been commissioned to write a report on photoshop vs fireworks which is most prefered within the graphics community.

If you could please get back to me and let me know what your preferences are and why you prefer them, or why you dislike them that would be great help.

Thanks.

Nacho Man

[Ryan Fait]

I've only used Photoshop so I can't compare the two, but I doubt I'd ever switch to Fireworks. It's expensive enough to keep up with one application. I'm used to Photoshop at any rate, so switching at this point would be impractical.

[JacobHaug]

hmmm, I have used them both. I like them both, photoshop is a little harder to learn, but you can do some amazing graphics with it. Fireworks is super easy and is nice for a quick text effect.

[c010depunkk]

I've used both and find Photoshop better in all areas although I have to admit that the learning curve was steeper by Photoshop than by Fireworks.

[pa007]

I use both regularly. As a rule fireworks is used for mock-ups adn photoshop for anything more advanced. Fireworks' ease of use gives is the advantage for mockups. Photoshop is a more powerful program though.

As a side note, I have actually been trying ps elements for mockups recently and it's very good but not quite as simple as fireworks.

Pete.

[Ryan Fait]

I'm kind of interested now. I make mockups extremely fast in Photoshop, however. Maybe I'll download the trial.

[JacobHaug]

You mean you don't already have fireworks? Does it not come with flash? Don't you have flash? Ryan...please tell me you have flash...infact if you don't have flash...just don't answer!

[pa007]

It comes with macromedia studio i think. Well it used to. You used to be able to get them all seperate or all together, same as now really. Why am I still typing? You know what i mean anyway. Ryan if he has flash, probably got it on it's own.

Pete.

[pa007]

Just realised from my earlier post that I can't type. It's always good to know.

Pete.

[Ryan Fait]

Yeah, I've got Flash. I upgraded from an old version about 8 months ago because a client was willing to pay for the upgrade and the work! But I didn't buy the studio or anything. I won't be buying Adobe Flash, however. I believe CS3 is both for Mac and PC, Jacob. You'll be able to use the same purchase on both systems. I wish all programs were like that.

[moojoo]

Fireworks imo is better for logo design, icon design, web comps, slicing etc, while photoshop is a power house and awesome I find it to be overkill for web work. (Before any one says anything I have 4 levels of photo shop training + 10 years experience using it for dtp, restorations etc.) Fireworks for web, photoshop for print and raster image corrections/manipulation.

Basically FW is designed to be a web app of sorts while photoshop plays many roles.

[Ryan Fait]

I refuse to download Fireworks. If I do, and I like it, then I'll be forced to fork out more money than I can afford. Stop with this peer pressure, I just bought a MacBook Pro! No more bills please.

[snow]

As other posters mentioned previously, I only use Fireworks for making images of re/designs for web-pages, just to see how things work together or to show to clients. This is due to the speed and ease anything can be thrown together and rearranged using it.
I'd also use it for bascially any vector manipulation; so often the beginning of logo's, or other shape based graphical work. I find that Photoshop is a comparitive nightmare to do vector stuff in - but I will always then transfer the basic shapes into Photophop to do the real work.

So Fireworks for web-page mock-ups and vectors, for everything else there's Photoshop...

[pa007]

I tend to use Illustrator for any vector work from start to finish. Just easier (compared to ps) and such a good program. It's actually my favourite program ever. So much fun.

My god, do I need a life or what!

Pete.

[Ryan Fait]

Me too, I use Illustrator for anything vector.

[Sgaspar11]

I'd have to say photoshop is my tool of choice between the two, and with the new updates to photoshop, dreamweaver etc with CS3 I will definately stick with photoshop for all mock ups since you can now import the native photoshop/illustrator files right into dreamweaver/flash and set the compression settings and everything right in dreamweaver!

So cool!

Cheers,

Scott

[bruno89]

i use both all the time and as some have said fireworks is alot easyer for mock ups etc well thats what i use it for anyway and then i use PS to add in all the details like borders shadows etc.. becouse i feel that photo shop is better used for that.. the only reason i use fireworks for jeneral layout design is couse its quick and easy lol

[MrMadison]

Photoshop is by far the better program, but FW has it's little...fun things.

I use both. Mainly Photoshop...for everything. FW is nice for making splash screens and such.

[craig]

Am i the only one that uses Paint Shop Pro! lol

I've used Fireworks as well before, and prefer that to PhotoShop!

[snow]

I had to use PSP in my old job and it just made me want to cry... I really felt that it lacked power after working with Photoshop...