|
d a v e -> RE: Lemme strap on the bullet-proof armor (3/23/2004 4:45:01)
|
in my opinion the best tool for web graphics is Fireworks, because it seamlessly works with bitmaps and vectors, and its vector capabilities are so much better than PS.
it has pretty much the functionality bitmap wise of Photshop (though Photoshop is better/deeper)
i think it's optimisation is better
it uses live effects, even on bitmaps so everything remains editable (bit like PS)
it has loads of plugins (extensions) most of which are useful
possibly Photoshop's bevel tools are a little smoother
FW renders text really well, and MX 2004 has customisable anti-aliasing as well as system, and the usual crisp, smooth, etc
you can open stuff from freehand or import .ai (7) files (illustrator format) PS is a bit flaky in importing vectors and reshaping those vectors once imported isa bit of a pain.
fw is cheaper! so if you don't need print capabilities (as in cmyk) then fireworks is a much better proposition (though psp is a lot cheaper again ;)
everything is the same interface (optimisation, slicing, preview...) in FW
masking is easy (just draw a vector object e.g. rectangle and fill it with linear fill group it with object as mask voila. to change the masking properties just move the gradient fill handle) with some presets as well for quick fades.
i found the vector drawing in psp a bit clunky but i really haven't used is that much so want to reserve judgement on psp generally for now
good workflow (not sure what that means either, but i guess it means that it's easy to do stuff...)
of course the best tool is the one that does what you want, how you want and for me that's fireworks!
for an example i did this in fw (not finished yet)
http://pp.kpnet.fi/prescott/test-area/turntable.htm and this i-pod (http://members.surfeu.fi/dave_pirjo/test-area/i-pod_simple.png)
and it was a lot easier (for me) than doing it in PS (of course if your gifted a using PS then it could be as quick)
|
|
|
|
