[-Lone_wolf-]

So, I was taught graphic design for websites on Fireworks but I see so many people use Photoshop.

I have both Photoshop CS3 and Fireworks 8. Which one should I use?

Should I bother to learn Photoshop or stick with Fireworks for web design purposes?

[illvibe]

Strange question. They're really different programs. Photoshop can be overkill for certain things, but it's not really limited the way fireworks is. Being good with photoshop is a skill that will come in handy for many things, so I'd just learn it and kick FW to the curb.

Strange that you have the latest versions of these super expensive programs yet are not sure whether you'll use them or not.

[seen.to]

Photoshop all the way - FW sucks.

[Paul]

FW has its uses, prefer the shop tho

[Hunch]

Originally Posted by illvibe

Strange that you have the latest versions of these super expensive programs yet are not sure whether you'll use them or not.

I doubt even half the people on this board have paid for them.

In some ways I wish Adobe would come up with some really decent copy protection system (although everything gets broken eventually) that would defeat the torrent downloaders once and for all. Not particularly because I'm anti-piracy, but because it would weed out a lot of the shit.

Half the rubbish that comes out of this industry is from people who download CS3 and suddenly think they can start their own web design business; taking money away from professional firms/freelancers.

[haku]

If everyone had to pay for them, the price may also go down as well.

As for adobe's copy protection, its pretty good actually. One of the better ones out there. Obviously not good enough though.

[Hunch]

Until they do away with phone activation it's always going to be hobbled though.

[Liam]

Well how are you meant to learn how to use Photoshop or any piece of software if you cant afford access to it? I'm sure a lot of talented people first used a pirated copy of Photoshop and then when they started making some money they paid for the real copy.

[Hunch]

Originally Posted by Liam

Well how are you meant to learn how to use Photoshop or any piece of software if you cant afford access to it?

If someone wants to be a designer, go to college and study design. They'll have plenty of copies you can practice on for 3 or 4 years. I don't see people who want to be racing drivers moaning because McLaren won't give them a free car, or closer to home, someone who wants to be a painter (fine art, not houses) claiming that they should get all their canvas and oils for free.

Judging from a lot of the efforts we see weekly on here, a lot of people don't even bother to learn how to use the software anyway. They barely scratch the surface of what it can do.

And to be honest I don't buy the line that people end up paying for something they've been using free for years. I think that's just a convenient excuse.

[haku]

I think Hunch's point was that they put out a lot of crap in between those two points.

[iblastoff]

Originally Posted by Liam

Well how are you meant to learn how to use Photoshop or any piece of software if you cant afford access to it? I'm sure a lot of talented people first used a pirated copy of Photoshop and then when they started making some money they paid for the real copy.

the majority of adobe software is available as trial downloads.

[Mongoose]

Photoshop can loosely be considered the industry standard, so I'd vote for using it. However, it can't hurt to be ambidextrous, so to speak.

[rustybones]

I had a play around with Fireworks for the first time in about 3 -4 years (how long has it been around? I can't remember) this week.

It was quite nice and was good for doing some simple vector stuff for a logo I was working on... No idea why I didn't just open Illustrator... I think I had a brain fart and thought FW would be a good idea.

But yeah Photoshop all the way baby!

[John Good]

Lots of people seem to forget that there is a solution between buy and steal.
I can admit that freeware/shareware are not as good as comercial versions, but hey they're free !

Also, I'd like to say a word about font thieves.
People should learn to use the fonts that come licensed with their computer before browsing the torrents for other ones.

As an example, I've even seen people asking for a font identification in the forums, when that font is already in their library as it comes standard with every computer you can buy.

[JonoMarshall]

I've always seen a physical dongle as the best way to secure software... firmware security, more difficult to manufacture a crack or create a dummy version, etc.

The base price for the software is fairly steep, without software piracy it would be very difficult for some institutions/students to have the necessary resources to teach design effectively (whether the teaching is good or not is a different matter).

I reckon they should offer some sort of student leasing scheme for said dongles, encouraging the next wave of designers to keep using their product, etc.

[Mr Fred]

eastenders.

[John Good]

what ?

[JonoMarshall]

I concur. Eastenders it is.

[Hunch]

Originally Posted by JonoMarshall

I reckon they should offer some sort of student leasing scheme for said dongles, encouraging the next wave of designers to keep using their product, etc.

Even dongles get cracked these days if the software is worth having, but they're certainly better than nothing.

It's also worth pointing out to the 'poor student' brigade that the entire CS3 Web Premium edition is only 200 quid with the education discount, and for that you get:

Adobe Dreamweaver® CS3, Flash® CS3 Professional, Photoshop® CS3 Extended, Illustrator® CS3, Fireworks® CS3, Acrobat® 8 Professional, Contribute® CS3, Bridge CS3, Version Cue® CS3, and Device Central CS3.

People are happy to buy and Xbox and half a dozen games costing twice as much, but then moan that they can't afford to become a designer and have to pirate the software because it's too pricey.

[JonoMarshall]

People are happy to buy and Xbox and half a dozen games costing twice as much.

I see your point, but I also knew many students that really didn't have any money to spare... we're talking self-brew/chutney and pasta twice a day broke.