What image editor works best with Studio MX?

I'm looking to buy a photoshop-esque image editor to compliment Studio MX.

[jetnovo]

In my company we use Studio MX for web and graphic design work (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Freehand).

Presently one of my collegues uses Adobe Photoshop for an image manipulation and from what I can tell, it is far superior to Fireworks in this regard (although not necessarily as web-friendly).

Can anyone recommend an image manipulation software to complement Freehand and Fireworks? Ideally I want to continue designing sites in Freehand, optimizing images in Fireworks and building HTML in Dreamweaver. But I also want a high-end image editing software to prepare images for use in FH and FW.

[morpheus83]

Which version of Photoshop are you using? As ver 7.0 is quiet web friendly. Why dont you only use Fireworks it is adequate for web graphics.

[stever]

Since you are talking about web graphics (designing sites in Freehand(?), optimising graphics in Fireworks), what part of web image manipulation do you (or your colleague) find Photoshop able to do that Fireworks doesn't? What is your level of expertise with Fireworks?

[jetnovo]

Hi there

Thanks for your interest. I find the Extract tool in photoshop very helpful and can't see a comparative product in Fireworks. Also it seems that image masking in photoshop is tidier.

Another issue is that sometimes the graphics we use in a website need to be later transferred to print material, so as a rule of thumb my collegue is doing all graphic work at 300dpi, which I am then optimizing in Fireworks to 72dpi.

I know it may seem like I'm answering my own question with all my references to Photoshop (sorry I'm not sure what version - it's 2 years old anyway) - but I'm still not sure if that is the best option?

I've been using Fireworks daily for about 2 years.

[stever]

It seems the alternative to the Extract tool in Fireworks would be using vector masks. I guess it depends on how precise the Extract tool is, how precise you need it to be, and your level of comfort with the pen tool as to whether there is a big difference.

As far as print stuff goes, then I can understand your preference for PS.

I'm not aware of anything really in the realm between Photoshop and Fireworks in high end image manipulation. As you implied, why not stick with PS?

[jetnovo]

Thanks Steve - will do!

Was really just keen to check if there was something else I should consider but looks like PS is the way to go.

Cheers

[blueFinger2]

You design in Freehand and then send to FW? Weird. Why not just design in FW from the get go? I"ve been using FW since it's inception, and for web work it greatly surpases PhotoShop. Yes, many of you will argue this..but ask around...it's a 50/50 split for designers using PS to FW. Either way, if you do choose to go the FW way...why freehand first?

I use photoshop for what it was built to do...manipulate photos. And that it does superbly..the best in the business. But for laying out and creating a site? Nope...for page layout? nope...for illustration/vector work? ...nope...

just my 2cents..

mk