I currently use Paint Shop Pro 9, I find this pretty good for graphics but bit complex with the layers etc

Is fireworks as good but more simpler? or is there another package altogether anyone can recomend?

I notice fireworks uses png files, are these better than jpg for the web?

The point is : it isn't matter what software You use, the more important is how You use and how You use Your imagination.

Hi minker,

moondog is right; it's not so much the tool as the person who is using the tool. I use fireworks and think it is a brilliant application. I'm sure paint shop pro is good too, so are illustrator and photoshop and I'm sure you can do similar things. At the end of the day, it's your creativity that makes the difference, not the app.

PNG vs. JPG really depends.

The major advantage to PNG is that it allows for alpha transparency (although with IE, you do have to use a CSS filter to get it to work right).

They also tend to be slightly better quality than their JPG counterparts (at least that's what I've found).

The files tend to be a bit larger than JPG, though, so keep that in mind for dialup-types.

Personally, I'm down with Photoshop but if you're not looking for something complex, then PS isn't the program for you. There is a learning curve.

My suggestion would be to find the program you're comfortable with using and take the curve as far as you can.

If you are serious about graphic design you should get photoshop. It might be a little bit harder at first but once you learn to use it you can really tell the difference with all the other programs.

Originally Posted by moondog

The point is : it isn't matter what software You use, the more important is how You use and how You use Your imagination.

I think that this is a quite good answer...everybody can use software, but can everybody use imagination ?

Yeah it really is about how you make use of the tool and not the tool itself. A talented graphics person could create something beautiful with the default paint program that comes with Windows.

Myself I use Photoshop since it seems to me the best overall program that does what I need to do. But I'llprobably never use all of the features the program offers.

I think Paint Shop is a perfectly good program and if you've had success with it there's not necessarily a reason to switch. Most programs will probably offer a free 30 day trial if you want to take a few for a test drive to see if you like another better.

Photoshop is ya best bet for designs......most known program

but theres plenty more that are as good as photoshop just a bit diffrent

if you are decideing which program to use based on a future purchase, I suggest trying both first

Adobe - Downloads

once you learn the basics the possibilities are endless (lol, at least that's the way I see it)

try some tutorials:

photoshop:
mine - photoshop demonstrations - Google Video

others - Good-Tutorials.com · 11,466 Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

fireworks:
Fireworks Tutorials

good luck

For me you can use Photoshop it very friendly to design. Or use AI its cool too.

I use Corel12 Graphics Suite, Adobe Illustrator and Paint Shop Pro, mostly Corel Draw and Corel PhotoPaint .. though it suits me fine because i like to do alot of vector art, I am howerver looking at Photoshop but its gonna take me a while to learn the program lol.

I think good designer must know Photoshop and Corel Draw... In Ukraine it is most Popular Programms.... lol.. it will be funny for you )) Photoshop in Ukraine costs 7 dollars lol :-)

Corel Draw is good, but not as popular here in the US. Photoshop is King here in the graphics world. You can get most of the functionality of Photoshop with Photoshop Elements, but without the hefty PS pricetag.

IMHO:
Photoshop for bitmap
Illustrator for vector

But....many people - many different choices

I personaly use photoshop and corel draw... i suppose they are the best ones.