Fireworks vs. Photoshop

Digital Web recently hosted an interesting discussion about which application makes the most sense for web designers. I've been a Fireworks fan for years -- I think I may have even used version 1.0 -- and I still think it's a lot easier to use than Photoshop. I find PS to be unintuitive and overly complicated while Fireworks just seems to conform to my mental model of how graphics software should work.

If you're new to web design, Fireworks will almost certainly be easier to learn but I agree with Anton Peck when he says:

If someone is getting into web design specifically, I'd point them toward Fireworks and say "skip Photoshop". But--and this is a crucial point--if they're considering a choice that could involve graphics from many facets of technology, from many sources, I'd definitely tell them to go with Photoshop, as it's an established standard that will provide a stronger cross-industry experience in their career.

I think that sums it up perfectly.

Comments

[Andy Wibbels]

Just talking with Jamison about this! I was never in the print design world so when it came time to learn graphic software I used Fireworks (2.0!) since I was already on the road to learning Dreamweaver. There is something very frustrating about the way Photoshop works - I think it is how all the layers and elements get overly complicated fast. Fireworks seems to be 'just enough' for most web designers to get by.

[diseño web]

If it is a project Web because I advise to use fireworks by its multiple tools and the close relation with dreamweaver. But, if it is a project for impression would be due to use photoshop, since it works the images with greater quality.