I am sure this is a tired question. I searched but could not find a thread to address this.

I am ready to spend my hard earned $$$ on software and am looking for some outside opinions. I followed the recommendations of many of WHT users and learned html in notepad first. Now I want to find some tools to shorten this process. I have gone through the trial versions of most of the programs from both Adobe and Macromedia. Here are the conclusions I have reached. Flash and Acrobat are a must. I like dreamweaver but have not tried GoLive. Is Coldfusion really necessary? (I really do not want to pay to put that on my server.) I prefer photoshop to fireworks but FW is ok if you just want to modify photos. Illustrator seems to be better that freehand. The reason I ask is that I see most templates done in PS or DW. It would be nice to just buy one suite or the other but it seems that this is not how it will end up. How do these programs interface. Any tips on interfaceing DW with PS and or Illustrator?

Any personal experience or tips are appreciated

Trin8y .. I'll try to answer your questions. It is possible to go with Adobe CS or Macromedia MX .. Both offer the same abilitites as far as creating web content and publishing web content. IMO, going with just one package is limiting yourself creatively. Both software packages have their own strong points and offers that the other does not, but when it comes down to it .. Photoshop and Illustrator are better than Fireworks and Freehand. I prefer Dreamweaver over GoLive. Coldfusion .. It is not a neccessity, but I have been reading more about it and trying to learn more about it, for shits and giggles more than anything.
Your best bet, and again this is my opinion, is to get a combination of both packages. Use what you know and what's easiest for you. Interfaceing between DW and PS or AI .. I would love to be able to import a .psd or .ai files directly into Dreamweaver or Flash and have the ability to manipulate each layer independently. How nice would that be?!?! But as it stands .. everything has to be saved out as .jpg .gif .bmp or .png files.
I used to use Quark Express for document layout & design ... But I switched to Adobe InDesign CS ... You can now import .psd and .ai files directly into your documents without having to convert them. I know it has nothing to do with your question .. but it's something that I would like to see possible between Adobe and Macromedia programs as well.

I prefer photoshop to fireworks but FW is ok if you just want to modify photos.
It's interesting you should say this, as Fireworks is known for being a strong program for Web graphics (vector) and weak in the bitmap editing area. Now, the only reason it's considered weak with bitmaps is because it only supports RGB color. If Fireworks supported CMYK and various print pallettes, it could supplant Photoshop, as it has a better JPG compression engine, far superior PNG rendering, reasonably good vector scalability and nearly every Photoshop plug-in works in Fireworks as well.

If you've already started learning HTML/CSS using a text editor, don't throw yourself beckward by switching to Dreamweaver or GoLive now. Consider the much more reasonable, yet robust text editor Homesite (now a Macromedia product), Notepad++ (which I believe is free from SourceForge) or an one of a number of editors, like Crimson Editor.

Yes, Illustrator is better than Freehand, but from the few people I know who use both frequently, they say the difference is not that great.

Here's the problem - Flash and Acrobat are a must. You want Photoshop and you recognize the value of Fireworks. For whatever reason, you seem to think you need Dreamweaver (DW templates are just [really bad] code, you can edit them using anything, believe it or not). You seem to be leaning toward Illustrator too. From everything you say, it sounds like you'd better save up your nickels and dimes and purchase them both, because by the time you're done buying individual components, you'll have spent more than it would cost to just buy both package deals.

I agree with the_pm. I would start by buying Photoshop CS, since it has many features that are far more advanced than Fireworks. Use Notepad until you can't take it anymore, and then you can get HomeSite, and use that for the quick code inserts if you wish. HomeSite is cheaper than Dreamweaver, and if you want to code right, it will be probably the only thing you'll need.

Hi!
On the legal side, you can try these programs for free. I am.
I got my DVD from Adobe yesterday...and have not had much sleep since. Impressive.

They have made improvements to everything since I looked at it...Photoshop and Illistrator..i had not looked at GoLive before.

Dreamweaver was not an amusing download...but...I was determined to get the darn thing...and did.

Yes..they are expensive programs..but at least they are smart enough to give you some try-before-you-buy options.

Oh...and I'll mention again the nice online book thing.

There are two ways to go at this:
1) You can go directly to oreilly and try Safari- oreilly.com

http://safari.oreilly.com/


2) You can go to DevX.com and sign up for their premo service..which gives you access to Safari as well.

http://devx.com/

I have eight books on my shelf I am using right now to learn all this...just buying one of these books would cost more than
this service costs-several months worth of this service, BTW.

I'll be the first to admit I love dead trees. It has been tough...but I have got fairly accustomed to just printing the few pages I really need for reference...and leave the rest.

If you have never taken a look at these offerings...they are worth the time to at least preview for free,IMHO.

Bryon

Here's my quick 2 cents you need BOTH. Dreamweaver is a breeze. Photoshop is THE program it's not even a question. Flash, well you said it yourself. However you do NOt have to use Macromedia to develop flash content but it makes it easy being you use Dreamweaver.

Also there is a little app which you can switch between Dreamweaver and Photshop just can think of it offhand. Illustrator gets the job done it's not THE best but it's ranks high. All in all it's a matter of taste and development style and which UI looks prettier and is easier to use for YOU.

Oh and another thing there a TONS of Extensions for Dreamweaver that you can just plug in and get going right along and lots of support DMXZone the Macromedia site is bountiful as well.

And, Adobe man you can't go wrong. Also it's my belief since I been using Adobe stugg since they when came in big paint buckets. I have learned not to be dependent on one brand but to know them all..Heck if you know what you are doing you could use PaintShop Pro instead of Photoshop I know some people will probably bash but heck it can use all the same plugins so whats the big difference beside 500 or 600 bucks. Ok I think I gave more than 2 cents

I really would go with PaintShop Pro as opposed to Photoshop CS if I was concerned about cashflow. Photoshop is a big investment . Also I would go with the whole Suite not just Photoshop in comparison it's only a few bucks more...but in the meantime i'd use PaintShop Pro. Keep in mind they use the SAME plugins and for a website it's perfectlly fine.

I am under the assumption you are going to be using the graphic program for buttons ors small graphics here and there to give the site you OWN look and feel. For that you DON"T need a program like Photshop that would be over the top because Photshop is NOT designed for that. It can do it and it is good at it. However, that is not the focus of the program for you at least from what I can gauge from your post. It would be overkill.

I disagree. There are overall more tutorials for a new web developer on-line for Photoshop, and they are easier to find. You can also do more with Photoshop. Paint Shop Pro is easier, but if you want to become good with graphics, you may as well learn the right way with an advanced application.

As I said I was sure people would/bash or disagree.. remember they both use the same plugins and a huge portion of the features are the same...people don't learn how to drive with formula-1 race cars. what can you lose? if you like it fine, if you learn even better...can it do all the things you'll probably do in making a website I am most sure.

Also graphics is not a catch all. To become good with graphics use this"..." is not accurate as there are different programs for different things which is why Adobe has both Photoshop and Illustrator.

Advanced application has nothing to do with a need, at least to me. For me it's about purpose and functionality. For instance, if I was going to use vectors I would by no means use Photoshop.

Unless you are developing instense and complex graphics Photshop is overkill..right now from what I can see in your post. You want to spend you money in the best fashion and get the site up.

Paintshop is mentioned in this because of the $ question. Heck when money gets better and the need arises by all means buy the program that works for you...which indeed could be Photoshop or Fireworks or whatever.

It's just if the site isn't calling for all the extra stuff Photoshop offers and a majority of people DON'T use and $ is an issue, why not use Paintshop Pro and spend money in other areas ...like plugins did I say Painsthop can use the SAME plugsins. I digress.

However if comparing between Photoshop and Macromedia's offering equivalent I would go with Adobe however, read my first post and go with the program that works best for you. People are really BRaND orientated and this debate goes on everywhere all the time. both are effective it's what you are comfortable with. As for me as I said before I recommend both for flexibility, but once again that's my design style.

1. Ok, I use Dreamweaver because it's the "industry-standard". Didn't really like Adobe Golive! because it lacked some features, but then again, it also had features that I really liked. I currently have dreamweaver 2004 MX on my comp, and the only bad thing about it is: it doesn't load very fast. Make sure you get the update.

2. Flash is required, and I totally love this software. But, if you don't like it, there's always Swish which is allright. It lacks a whole lot of features compared to Flash, but if you're just starting out, then Swish is the one for you.

3. I use Fireworks and Photoshop. Photoshop is just great, but it can be difficult to use sometimes. That's why I use Fireworks like 80% of the time, because it's easier to use compared to Photoshop.

I have 512 MB and and AMD Duron 1900+ and it loads pretty quick on mine :/

I would choose:

1. Adobe photoshop to create a design for website
2. Macromedia Dreamweaver - to prepare html code
3. Macromedia Flash to do animation.

You can't really need anything else.

Originally posted by VoxxitDesigns
I have 512 MB and and AMD Duron 1900+ and it loads pretty quick on mine :/

I have 1GB of ram and an AMD XP 2800+

But still, compared to the other applications I run, this one doesn't load as fast as the other ones

I guess some people beat me to the punch here. I've been following Fireworks since 2000 or so. Fireworks is not, in my opinion, "Graphic Design" software. It is "Web Design" software. I found your statement about "editing photos" odd as well, given my feelings on the matter.

When I am creating an image for the web I will find myself often switching between several programs. I tend to brainstorm layouts in Fireworks, make some background images in Photoshop, then mask and add text in Fireworks.

That's partially because I couldn't figure out how to mask in Photoshop until recently. *cough* Which is part of the reason I like Fireworks--it's more intuitive, though I liked 4.0 better than MX.

If you can only get one package, I'd probably go with Adobe. Their products are typically the more powerful (Photoshop, if you learn how to use it, is good for web graphics...I just think it's harder to figure out.) But I like Macromedia more.

I have 112 RAM (YES I AM SERIOUS) and all of it is slow for me. ;)

MACROMEDIA.

My favourite program is Fireworks... its fantastic in every way, from image slicing to adding text. And as previously stated, it is web design software not graphic design software.

Just my 2cents... (This is the first time I have ever said that w00t)