Why Photoshop?

[notnek]

I'm just curious why so many web designers use PS as their main graphic creator/editor. Any thoughts?

IMO, Photoshop is for photos, and Illustrator is for graphics.

 

[AviationFan]

I use both Photoshop and Illustrator, and there's nothing wrong with the split you suggested. Having said that, if one has to pick just one of these two applications, I'd recommend Photoshop for web developers - it has a number of features, mostly the layering concept, that make it quite suitable to do layout tasks, such as for webpages. Whereas you wouldn't really be able to edit bitmap images in Illustrator...

- Martin

 

[tersono]

I use both, but Illustrator really only gets heavy use for print work. For web design you're working with bitmaps anyhow, so Photoshop seems to be the logical tool

 

[kgarner]

I've used Illustrator for doing rough mock-ups and wireframes, but I always switch to Photoshop for serious designs. I find Photoshop more flexible and, for me, it offers a better workflow from designing to exporting graphics to include in my final markup.

 

[decksnap]

Illustrator for vectors, Photoshop for photography, Fireworks for web design.

 

[kgarner]

Illustrator for vectors, Photoshop for photography, Fireworks for web design.

I have heard that mantra before. I have never tried Fireworks so I am not familiar with it's advantages. I suppose I should download the 30-day trial and see how it works.

 

[wordmunger]

For web work, Fireworks has the best of photoshop and illustrator. It gives you vectors and bitmap, while photoshop/illustrator keep them agonizingly separate. That said, I still prefer photoshop for working with bitmaps....

 

[decksnap]

That's the key to Fireworks. Do your complex vectors in Illustrator and complex photo manipulation in Photoshop, and bring it all into Fireworks for layout. It has vector and bitmap editing in it, and is set up specifically for web design, unlike Photoshop.

 

[notnek]

I've never worked with Fireworks. There was another thread about development tools and all I saw was Photoshop. I may have to give Fireworks a try. Seems to mix the best of both worlds.

 

[Mal]

Admittedly, I'm not expert graphic designer, but I do all my web graphics in Fireworks, and actually have zero interest in Photoshop (I find that it often doesn't do what I need it to do or how I expect it to do it).

jW

 

[mperkins37]

I use a workflow that uses: Illustrator, Photoshop, Fireworks, Dreamweaver.
I just ordered the Master Suite CS3, and I will be getting my 30" cinema display next week.
I CAN'T WAIT!
Last purchase of the year for me.

 

[Melrose]

i use Photoshop for all things, but only because I haven't had enough free access to Illustrator. From what I've heard and the bits I've used, Illustrator is the best for logo, type changes, etc etc. Photoshop can't be beat for mockups, photo retouching and manipulation, and in so many cases for web graphics.

I think Photoshop, with it's pen tool (granted it takes a while to become even moderately proficient using it) is the only one of the three tools mentioned here that's great for all-round stuff. Not as specialized as Illustrator, but a powerful all-in-one.

 

[pinktank]

people who set type in photoshop make me want to gag myself, but yeah it happens, I use them interchangibly, photoshop is handy with certain pixel applications.

 

[werther]

If I could create custom brushes in Fireworks I would never open Photoshop again. For me nothing beats fireworks. I use illustrator as stated for hefty vectors but the only time I use photoshop is for a. fix photos, and b. brushes. I am not a professional photographer so my photo-tweaking could just as easily be done in fireworks ( I only need 72 dpi, rgb anyway). I do not own the CS3 release so if this has been added (creating brushes) to fireworks I will be throwing down the credit card today.

I like Illustrator a lot but with one gripe: Why did they feel the need to change how the pen tool behaves from photoshop? The pen tool can be difficult enough to master.