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Adobe or something cheaper?

by facial
25 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |

Hi all. I'm new here and relatively new to web design and am now looking to take my skills onto a new level.

As a budding new web designer, I'm now considering which software is best. My assumption was that I'd have to go with Adobe. However, after reading a few comments on here, there are some who consider it to be too expensive given that there are other options out there which could also be better.

I was hoping for advice from experienced people who could let me know if you think Adobe is the way to go or recommend any other software.

Thank you and grateful in advance
#adobe #cheaper
  • Profile picture of the author Steve Wells
    Originally Posted by facial View Post

    Hi all. I'm new here and relatively new to web design and am now looking to take my skills onto a new level.

    As a budding new web designer, I'm now considering which software is best. My assumption was that I'd have to go with Adobe. However, after reading a few comments on here, there are some who consider it to be too expensive given that there are other options out there which could also be better.

    I was hoping for advice from experienced people who could let me know if you think Adobe is the way to go or recommend any other software.

    Thank you and grateful in advance
    There's a reason that pretty much all universities who teach graphic design and webdesign teach their students using adobe products.

    For the most part, all graphic design studios, use photoshop, illustrator and indesign. And as far as I know, dreamweaver is used also.

    I have noticed alot of people talking at times about adobe fireworks, but in my opinion, its not nearly as good as dreamweaver. I guess they both serve their purpose.

    To be real honest with you, adobe is the mainstay for designers and is the most popular. They are constantly developing and adding things and trying to make their products better and better. I personally have the adobe creative master collection of CS3, and have used really only about 5 programs out of the 15 in the package. I cant learn everything at once. But adobe after effects is on my list to learn.

    In this day and age you want to be as versatile and knowedgable as you can with the software thats out there being used in the professional fields of webdesign and graphic design and motion graphics. It makes you very valuable. You may not be a master of them all, but just being able to effectively use them to produce professional work gives you a huge edge above those who have not prepared themselves.

    Then add some IM to the mix and you can have a deadly toolbox that can make you a living. Oh, dont forget to learn php and wordpress coding.

    My Current Skill Sets:
    Adobe Illustrator
    Adobe InDesign
    Adobe Photoshop
    Adobe Fireworks
    Adobe Dreamweaver
    Adobe Acrobat
    IM

    My Future Skill Sets:
    Adobe After Effects
    Adobe Flash
    PHP
    Wordpress
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    • Profile picture of the author Headfirst
      Originally Posted by Steve Wells View Post

      I have noticed alot of people talking at times about adobe fireworks, but in my opinion, its not nearly as good as dreamweaver. I guess they both serve their purpose.
      They are used for entirely different purposes. Fireworks is an image editor that was developed by Macromedia as a low cost alternative to Photoshop for webdesigners that wouldn't be focusing on print.

      When Adobe bought Macromedia they got Fireworks in the purchase and it's sat in limbo in much the same way that Pagemaker did after the launch of Indesign. If you're looking for a lower priced alternative to Photoshop, you might start there. I'd be careful though as they might fully merge the feature set into Photoshop and kill off Fireworks.

      While Photoshop is the gold standard, and pretty indispensable in my opinion, you could use fireworks or even the Gimp (a free image editor).

      I've seen some amazing things done with the Gimp, but I'm just too set in my ways to learn new keyboard shortcuts.

      As for editing, forget dreamweaver. Learn how to use a good editor like Notepad++ or GVim. They're free and extremely useful. I used GVim(and Vim and Vi) for the past 15 years and recently just switched to NPP, which I would recommend.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve Wells
        Originally Posted by Headfirst View Post

        They are used for entirely different purposes. Fireworks is an image editor that was developed by Macromedia as a low cost alternative to Photoshop for webdesigners that wouldn't be focusing on print.

        When Adobe bought Macromedia they got Fireworks in the purchase and it's sat in limbo in much the same way that Pagemaker did after the launch of Indesign. If you're looking for a lower priced alternative to Photoshop, you might start there. I'd be careful though as they might fully merge the feature set into Photoshop and kill off Fireworks.

        While Photoshop is the gold standard, and pretty indispensable in my opinion, you could use fireworks or even the Gimp (a free image editor).

        I've seen some amazing things done with the Gimp, but I'm just too set in my ways to learn new keyboard shortcuts.

        As for editing, forget dreamweaver. Learn how to use a good editor like Notepad++ or GVim. They're free and extremely useful. I used GVim(and Vim and Vi) for the past 15 years and recently just switched to NPP, which I would recommend.
        Soory I meant photoshop vs Fireworks..... As for editing code, I agree, using something like notepad++ is much better than dreamweaver, although I do use both now. My version of Dreamweaver which is CS3 still does not highlight and color code the tags, like notepad++ and if it does, I have not found how to turn that option on, which would really make things easier....

        Thankfully I got the whole CS3 Master Suite Collection for ONLY 125.00.... Not a bootleg disc either, its a HP distributed disc, I was very thankful to get it for such a bargain price, could not pass it up.....

        Its the corporate edition, meaning I can download it onto upto 5 different computer stations for different users or my own purposes.
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  • Profile picture of the author logoonlinepros1
    No one is better then adobe in graphics design software. Adobe photoshop is still on number 1 graphics design software.
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  • Profile picture of the author gloribel5
    I choose adobe is the best for me
    i love CS3 easy to use...
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  • Profile picture of the author wschuler
    Originally Posted by facial View Post

    Hi all. I'm new here and relatively new to web design and am now looking to take my skills onto a new level.

    As a budding new web designer, I'm now considering which software is best. My assumption was that I'd have to go with Adobe. However, after reading a few comments on here, there are some who consider it to be too expensive given that there are other options out there which could also be better.

    I was hoping for advice from experienced people who could let me know if you think Adobe is the way to go or recommend any other software.

    Thank you and grateful in advance
    Like everything, I think it depends on what you're trying to accomplish... the whole "use the right tool for the job" idea.

    However, if money is an issue and you simply can't afford to purchase Adobe products, then I think you can still take your skills to a new level with other cheap or free tools. If you can afford the Adobe products, then (as much as it hurts me to say this) you should go with the flow and use what everyone else uses.

    I think it also depends on how you are going to use your skills (freelance versus corporate job). If you're working with others, you need to be able collaborate effectively by using the same tools as your coworkers. If you're working by/for yourself, it would fine to use whatever product you want as long as the final project was at the same quality level.

    Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author EvaBrown
    I also think that AdobePhotoshop is the best.
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    • Profile picture of the author mikeonrails
      There are a lot of open-source solutions for graphics editing(eg. GIMP), but if you're serious about things then stick with Adobe products.
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      • Profile picture of the author benscratch
        Originally Posted by mikeonrails View Post

        There are a lot of open-source solutions for graphics editing(eg. GIMP), but if you're serious about things then stick with Adobe products.
        I agree with Mike. Adobe Photoshop will take you anywhere you need to go. But if you're really on a budget, GIMP is a realistic alternative.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Baker
    If you are really serious about learning and implementing this knowledge I highly recommend download the trial version of Photoshop CS5. Then go to Pixel2Life and/or Good-Tutorials and read up on as many tutorials as you can. Follow them and then practice the techniques. Then after the 30 day trial has expired you can pay for a license which is not cheap ($699), but if you can afford it, it is a tool you will never regret buying.

    If you cannot afford Photoshop, then I recommend Corel Paintshop Photo Pro X3 which is only $100. In my opinion it is the 2nd best digital creation/editing software available behind Photoshop at a much affordable price. You can then search for Paintshop Photo Pro tutorials. You can download the trial of Paintshop Photo Pro X3 from Corel.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dialady
      Gotta say I'm pro Adobe products for website design and development. I've been using Dreamweaver (for HTML) and Fireworks (web graphics) since version 1.0. I've tried a lot of other free or cheap products. Personally I like the tools at HTML Editor, Flash & Web Design Software | CoffeeCup Software They continue to improve their products just like Adobe, but there really is no replacement for the depth of the Adobe products.

      So my suggestion . . . if you are just getting started . . you're going to want to learn to HTML coding. Then choose a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) design program - may be an inexpensive one. Then when you're making some money INVEST into the Adobe products.

      One other thing to consider . . . it takes a lot longer to create a complex website using just HTML or other coding software. Using Dreamweaver (and Photoshop or Fireworks) helps reduce your design time.

      Let us know what you decide to do.

      All the best

      Theresa 8-)
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  • Profile picture of the author donhx
    Adobe seems to be the consensus, and for good reason. Craftsmen know the value of their tools, and they always buy the best. For example, you can buy a set of professional Craftsmen mechanic tools or you buy an assortment of tools from the bargain bin at your local hardware store. The pro tools help you get the job done and are worth every penny.
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  • Profile picture of the author brandonacox
    I use Adobe Fireworks for web layouts and Photoshop for photos. I use Coda for coding (I'm a Mac). But if I had little money to work with and was starting out, I'd buy Photoshop Elements (the scaled-down $100 cousin of the full Photoshop), which supports layers. And I'd download a free code editor such as Aptana Studio.
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  • Profile picture of the author tritrain
    I use Gimp as a free, open-source Photoshop alternative.

    Fireworks is really handy and I haven't found a comparable alternative.
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  • Profile picture of the author mwoolerymedia
    Well I have used abobe for some time now but I got lucky and was givena copy of the software. It is expensive and a little bit hard to figure it out. I will be making a dvd of tips and tricks for photoshop so stay tuned.
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  • Profile picture of the author donnan
    Since you are new to it, why don't you give Paint Shop Pro a go first. It is no where near as expensive and there are some great free tutorials around the internet to help you get started.

    Photoshop can be a little complex for a new learner so be prepared for some frustrations, but in saying that. There are also some very good tutorials around for it too.
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  • Profile picture of the author FabianSmith
    AdobePhotoshop is the right choice.
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  • Profile picture of the author rosesmark
    My first choice is AdobePhotoshp
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  • Profile picture of the author cherryberry
    Adobe Photoshop is the only software which allows you to touch the sky if you want.
    If in graphics sky is the limit then Adobe Photoshop is the only way that will help you to do so.
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  • Profile picture of the author PoignantPixels
    If you have the capital to invest into Adobe Photoshop, you definitely should. It is well worth it and it will help your business skyrocket with the work that you can produce with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
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    Adobe Photoshop has some cool features, like the Puppet Warp tool.
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  • Profile picture of the author Asa Williams
    You may also use Adobe Illustrator CS5 depending on what it is you want to design and incorporate in you website.
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  • Profile picture of the author ApocalypseXL
    You may trow all the software in the world at it but Adobe is the undisputed king of webdesign . Nothing can compare with the Monster called Master Suite CS5 . Once you can master it (I really mean master not just learn how to use it) nothing can stop you .

    For beginners it'd recommend Dreamweaver and Fireworks .
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  • Profile picture of the author clau82
    As I see the consensus here is for Adobe and I agree. For somebody that just starts though is maybe better to hold on investing until there is a revenue that justifies it. There ar e a lot of free and good solutions that can be used up to that point and would be also the best to get the trial and some tutorials to train first. Also for me Photoshop looses half it's power without all the add-ons I've put in time - gradients, actions and brushes, not to mention the filters and other packs. It takes time though to learn how t use them all so a trial is just fine before jumping in.

    As for coding, I hardly use any tool beside Notepad++ as I'm a WordPress guy so those few pages I still have in HTML can be done without so many tools.
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  • Profile picture of the author frankjames018
    adobe is the best platform, where you can choose software which suite more, according to your level of skills. other than that there is no software where you can upgrade your skills.
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