Adobe photoshop, illustrator or inDesign ?

[stainlessliquid]

However, for the best control over layout, margins, column control, gutters, etc... use inDesign. It's a program that is specifically designed for layout. You can export your designs to formats for web and print.

Not once have I ever thought "boy I wish Photoshop was better at columns and margins" when designing a website. I do that stuff in code, its a waste of time otherwise.

You don't know what you're talking about. You can create and manipulate images in Fireworks. Fireworks was originally designed as a Photoshop for web replacement. Adobe acquired Fireworks (and Flash) when they bought out Macromedia. If all you do is web design, it might interest you to learn Fireworks. Otherwise, use a combination of Illustrator and Photoshop to lesson the learning curve. If you need absolute layout control, use inDesign.

You can create and manipulate images in MS Paint too, doesnt mean its better than Photoshop. Fireworks from scratch is fine for plain generic websites, I'll stick with Photoshop for websites that have high end graphic effects and art. If its a very complicated website I can see the benefit of bringing graphics into Fireworks for easy exporting, but Fireworks is not meant nor has it ever been made for completely replacing Photoshop (it competed with Image Ready, not Photoshop)

The above statement is wrong. Photoshop does far more than save images. You can even use it to export custom source code. I often use that option when I need a quick comp for the web, or just don't feel like writing code from scratch.

I said it was a bad idea, nobody should use the html exporting feature, use another program if youre going to do that.

This information is wrong too. With CSS you can have absolute control over elements that include overlap and stacking order.

not the best advice for someone who has never made a website, maybe you would like to explain to him z-indexes, floats, and absolute positioning?

 

[decksnap]

Fireworks from scratch is fine for plain generic websites, I'll stick with Photoshop for websites that have high end graphic effects and art. If its a very complicated website I can see the benefit of bringing graphics into Fireworks for easy exporting, but Fireworks is not meant nor has it ever been made for completely replacing Photoshop (it competed with Image Ready, not Photoshop)

I think you are confused about what Fireworks does. It does not compete with PS with regards to image manipulation or certain effects, no, but it is a whole lot more than a replacement to Imageready, and does most things related to creating website source files better than PS. Essentially it is to web design what InDesign is to print - just because you do your layouts in Indesign doesn't mean you don't still edit your images in Photoshop.

 

[owazio]

I would say check out RapidWeaver. If you are looking just to create comps, I would say Photoshop. I can't imagine attempting that in Illustrator, the thought give me chills, lol.

I used to use GoLive, and then DreamWeaver. I have used iWeb for some basic comp posting for clients, but it is pretty limited. RapidWeaver is deceptively simple, but deep enough to grow with you as get more skilled technically. Great, great, great user community for support. Nice third party themes to build sites on. Reasonably priced as compared to Dreamweaver, which is a nightmare to work with, IMO.

Cheers,
Michael

RapidWeaver is an excellent choice and firework as well, i think i am ganna go ahead with those as starter !