Comments on: Web Design in Photoshop or the Browser: A Polarizing Topic

By: Paul Cook

Paul Cook — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:01:14 +0000

I hadn’t given it much thought before. I just thought I had to design in Photoshop first. I’m not a designer first though so I really should be looking at the design in browser approach. Good post.

By: Joe Arcuri

Joe Arcuri — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:59:20 +0000

Great article, my preference is using Photoshop, only because as you I know it better and can work faster. I also feel that it allows me to try different design directions quickly, while allowing me the ability to flip back to review old ones.

I have been trying to convert print rooted designers in my company to using Photoshop to design web mockups instead of inDesign, that is proving a lot harder than I thought, the fight goes on…

Keep posting killer content. Thx.

By: val

val — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:33:40 +0000

Love it. Great summary of what’s going on. I was surprised to see the fuss around these two articles, too. I think you’re right about the titles being an issue. And of course, any writer would want to pick the more daring title.

It seems our industry has a thing for drama and pitching one thing against the other lately. A little debate is fun, but, like you pointed out, techniques and technologies evolve. Absolutes rarely hold up because of that.

It’s not about which method is right or wrong, it’s about having more options and picking which one works for you for the project at hand.

By: Josh Sager

Josh Sager — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:53:52 +0000

Samantha, Great post!

In the end Photoshop, HTML/CSS, or whatever you use is just a tool for visual communication. No different than a paint brush. It would be silly to debate pencils versus ink wash as the “definitive” method of creating “artwork”. Just as saying PhotoShop is the “only way” to create “mock ups”.

In the last few years I’ve found PhotoShop to be quite bloated with features I don’t need, .psd files with insane file sizes, and inflexible at showing multiple versions of a design within the same file. As a result I’ve been experimenting with other like Illustrator and Fireworks. Then it hit me… I’m doing page layout. So I gave InDesign a shot. Since then InDesign has been my go to application for “layout”. I still use PhotoShop for treating images and graphic creation but I’ve found a nice harmony in using InDesign for my layout process. Especially for type. Is it the right way? Who the hell cares, it just happens to be my favorite pencil right now.

By: Darren Hoyt

Darren Hoyt — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:17:17 +0000

Great post!

I’d agree with commenters who already said: each project is different, and we need room for happy accidents.

There are design challenges that really benefit from designing in Photoshop, specifically when more flowing, non-linear layouts are called for and experimentation is key.

Some projects really benefit from going straight to the markup, specifically stuff like UI for web apps. It all depends.

Re: happy accidents, I definitely think there is much room for improvisation in design, just like in music. The stuff I’m proudest of has been spontaneous and probably couldn’t have happened without a Photoshop canvas to dabble in. No matter how specific the contract and strict the wireframes, some design decisions just happen in the moment.

By: mikeo

mikeo — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:10:01 +0000

i have been designing in css/xhtml for a few years now. i am not adept at photoshop and i can get an instant working model of what i want to do. i usually sketch it out on paper and fire up notepad++ and get to work.

.mike

By: Patrice

Patrice — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:04:41 +0000

Very nice Samantha, thanks. This is actually a topic I have talked about a lot with designers. There is a coders approach and a graphic approach. I personally find the coders approach more difficult because it involves designing based on an understanding of pre-defined limitations. On the other hand, the graphic approach (photoshop) allows me to think outside the box, but then i have to go back and actually make it work. I use both but prefer the graphic approach. Really its all project dependent. Institutional genre sites = coders approach, portfolio sites = graphics approach.

By: Mike Kivikoski

Mike Kivikoski — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:54:44 +0000

I think the right solution is…. (drum roll)

it depends.

It depends on the project, the client, the budget, the deadline and various other factors.

I’ve done both methods. I find points I love & hate with each one.

Photoshop allows (forces) me to be pixel perfect with my design. I take my time picking the right color, subtle gradient, icon, alignment, etc. At the same time it does take longer. Larger budget, bigger project or working within a team – this is my go to.

Doing the design in the browser allows me to discover problems with the design quicker & resolve them faster. Smaller budget, quicker deadline or fast prototype – this is my go to.

My suggestion is learn them both, they’re both awesome.

Just my 2cents.

Kick-ass article Samantha and really nice site

-Mike

By: Anile

Anile — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:06:42 +0000

After reading your post and Megan’s, I gotta say I love the idea of changing the font in my mock-up without fiddling as much as I do now. I can see how there would be lots of advantageous shortcuts and quick revisions to be had. That being said, there are a lot of “happy design accidents” that wouldn’t happen if I wasn’t playing around in photoshop, and this is apart from the layout and content issues which I carefully consider before having my fun in the art department. I don’t enjoy hearing that there’s only one way to do stuff, and I totally agree that without pioneers taking on new techniques and approaches, we’d be in a sorry state. If others want to skip the ’shop, go right ahead :)

By: Vladimir

Vladimir — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:05:52 +0000

I must quote Cameron Moll – “Do what works best for you, not them” http://cameronmoll.com/archives/2010/01/do_what_works_best_for_you/