Fireworks Interview with Justin Seeley
In this interview, we are honoured to have Justin Seeley, a Certified Photoshop Expert and host of the Photoshop Quicktips Video Podcast, Founder of SeeleyTraining.com
To begin with, who are you and where are you from?
My name is Justin Seeley, and I'm a designer/software trainer from Murray, KY but currently residing in Oklahoma City, OK.
What do you work as in your day job?
I'm the "Design Guy" for a company called WebDesign.com. Basically, I teach online classes/seminars on design-based topics for the WebDesign.com website.
At the D2WC, you presented on Designing For Social Web. Tell us about it and what's your view on Fireworks for the web?
You can find the presentation slides here
I think Fireworks plays a huge part in web graphics. Whether it's for prototyping or designing an entire site, Fireworks makes it so easy to get up and running. The fact that it's a vector based tool, allows for more flexibility than traditional pixel based image editors and allows you to adapt your designs for new mediums quickly and easily.
I love your Photoshop Quick Tips videos. Tell us what makes you started to explore Fireworks too?
Honestly, it was the persistence of all my friends in the Adobe community! I've always been a "Photoshop Guy" and that was my primary tool for almost anything graphics related. However, after years of my friends hounding me about how great Fireworks was (especially for web graphics) I had to give it a try… and I'm glad I did!
What type of projects do you work in Fireworks and are there any challenges you faced that Fireworks have helped you?
Most of the projects I've worked on in Fireworks have been websites/web graphics. I've done mockups of a few WordPress themes in Fireworks, and I found that to be a much smoother process overall for web graphic production than Photoshop. I love how easy it is to grid it up, put the pieces in to place, and get it out of Fireworks. I think the simplicity of the Fireworks tools has helped me most of all. The app uses a common Adobe interface with many of the same tools I've used in other programs, but it presents them in a way that makes sense to me as a designer, so that has been a HUGE help.
How long have you been using Fireworks?
Fireworks excels as a rapid prototyping tool. How does Fireworks helps you in your daily design workflow?
Exactly that. Fireworks helps me get up and running faster with a design. Where as it might take me 2-3 hours to do a mockup in Photoshop, I can crank it out in an hour or less with Fireworks. I especially love the export options in Fireworks, they're so much better than any other app in the suite right now.
If you can only list 5 favorite best features in Fireworks, what will they be?
1. Pages
2. Vector-based Design
3. HTML Export
4. Live Filters
5. Symbols
Many people compare Photoshop with Fireworks. What is your viewpoint in this?
At this point, I'm not sure a comparison between those two apps is fair. They are two completely different animals. You have Photoshop on the one hand, which is an image editing powerhouse and the "go-to tool" for all photographers. On the other hand, you have Fireworks, which is (as you say) a rapid prototyping, web graphics powerhouse. They both serve their purpose and they both serve it well. I think what it comes down to in the end is whether or not the user takes the time to implement them both effectively into their workflow.
Do you have a Fireworks tip for the Fireworks community?
Yes, if you're not using pages and symbols in your work yet… Start doing it NOW! You won't believe how much time and effort both of these will save you in your day-to-day work.
Are you involved with any communities on the web?
I am very active in the WebDesign.com community, but I also occasionally pop up on the Adobe Forums. I'm also the founder of AUOKC, a new Adobe User Group I started here in Oklahoma City… I consider that to be my biggest community project :)
Do you have a blog? Where can we find you?
You can find me at http://justinseeley.com as well as on Facebook - http://facebook.com/seeleyfb and also on Twitter - http://twitter.com/justinseeley and YouTube -http://youtube.com/seeleytv.
Thanks for the opportunity to talk you, Justin. Last question, any advice to the designers out there exploring Fireworks?
Well, considering I'm relatively new, I won't try to impress you here, but if you're just learning Fireworks my suggestion is simple… Follow the work of folks like Jim Babbage, Dave Hogue, and Dee Sadler. These were my resources for learning the ins-and-outs of this program, and they'll help you immensely as well.
