Why use PhotoShop for web graphics?

Isn't it overkill

[korkus2000]

I see recommendations for people to use PhotoShop for web graphics. Why? PhotoShop is a very complex program for all graphic design needs from web to video to print. It is also a very expensive program. So why do web designers/developers feel the need to use a program like this? It seems to me to be overkill.

I use it because I use it for print, web, and video. If I only needed web I would look into a cheaper software license. So why the need for such an expensive product?

[TheWhippinpost]

Is there a compelling reason for a self-taught PhotoShopper like me to take the plunge and learn a new package - specifically, Fireworks? Or is it really an either-or deal at this stage of the game for me?

It's always worth looking, and keeping up-to-date with new ways of working in this constantly evolving environment, but if you can accomplish what you need to do in PS, there's no real compelling reason to change, there's no doubt that it's a top-notch app.

Making a move to FW wouldn't be a massive move really as it shares similar fundamentals - I personally feel as though I can work comfortably on both platforms but at the end of the day I've found myself gravitate towards FW purely because it's more definitively targetted towards web-work... and there's some good time-saving features and cool extensions available from the Macromedia site.

[mat_bastian]

If the price of photoshop is over you head, but you like what the adobe products bring to the table as far power, do yourself a favor and try Adobe Elements.

I had been trying to find an acceptable graphics program for my father in law that didn't cost 600 dollars plus.

I bought a sony vaio notebook that shipped with the elements demo.

I was blown away. I really was looking for the ultimate in stripped down... this product is not. I was hard pressed to find a feature that I or he would be missing.

[jatar_k]

I started using photoshop because all the designers I have ever worked with have given me layouts as psd and then I would have to chop them up or make small changes before they went on the site. Plus my Dad used it and could teach me some.

I really didn't have a choice. I used fireworks 2 because it had a very good batch conversion and the compression was always better. Now I don't find as much of a difference and only use photoshop. I used to use a few other little free programs for making gifs but can't even remember their names anymore.

Would I do it the same way, probably, it is hard to say though if photoshop does things that makes sense to me or if I have learned to make sense of photoshop.

and yes, even the anti graphics programmer guy knows how to use photoshop ;)

[waldemar]

In case people are following this thread to get inspired to check out other image preparation apps I don't want to miss to point out ULeads SmartSaver...

If - as a webmaster - the only things you need to do is:

- Load images (all formats including PSD, even EPS)
- Resize images
- Imagemap them
- Save them as JPG/GIF/PNG (very good optimization)

those $60 are well invested. It runs stand-alone or :-) as PS plugin...

[HughMungus]

I'm not a professional website developer (tho I do work on the web at work and home) but I've never really needed Photoshop and I do think it's overkill (mainly due to price). I've used the same copy of PhotoImpact since 1998...and Homesite, too, BTW, haha.