Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

General Discussion

Posted by Alexander Kapriniotis
Alexander Kapriniotis
25,897 Points

Should i learn photoshop and at which extend?

Hi, I am currently studying web design and development and also doing my internship as a front end web developer. Until now i am using fireworks for creating wire-frames. I was considering what skills to polish and learn and i wanted to ask you if its worth it pushing forward to fireworks after adobes announcement or learning Photoshop. Also can someone explain if and why the splicing is used widely because i have never done something similar.

2 Answers

Andrew McCormick
Andrew McCormick
17,730 Points
Andrew McCormick
Andrew McCormick
17,730 Points

I think it's according to many factors:

  • are they currently using it at your internship? If yes, when and why do they choose to use it. If not, why not?
  • do you want to go work at a shop or continue to freelance? maybe call some shops that you are interested in and ask them what they use. If you continue to freelance you can define your own tools (as long as you aren't a push over)
  • do you find yourself using other Adobe tools? Might mean you will be using a lot of their tools in the future.
  • are you just creating wire frames or are you using it for mock-ups too? There are many wireframing tools (we use Balsamiq )that are much quicker and easier to use than Photoshop or some of the bigger tools.
  • if you are making mockups, have you tried tools like Maccaw or Adobe Edge Reflow? What did you think of them. See Nick's Mockup video regarding these last two

All in all, it's good to at least be familiar with it. If you become familiar with one Adobe tool like Photoshop then it will gear you to use other tools like Illustrator and InDesign as they all share many similarities. If you want to look good on a resume, then for sure you probably want to at least be able to say that you can create a mockup in PS.

To which Extent? Answering the questions above may help with that. I also think Treehouse has done a great job with there Photoshop Foundations Course . Finally just try creating a full mockup and see what tools you end up using and focus on those sets. For example you probably don't need to know how to use the Custom Filter.

Hope that helps.

Alexander Kapriniotis
Alexander Kapriniotis
25,897 Points
Alexander Kapriniotis
Alexander Kapriniotis
25,897 Points

Thank you for your quick response i will try to answer the questions as good as i can.

-No they don't use it at my current internship because there is no need to, it is a small newly founded company,i am using fireworks some time to create a wireframe to have as a reference and show it to my boss before start coding allowing us to talk about the design first what he likes what he doesnt etc

  • While freelance sounds good to most of us, i think during my first years i will mostly be working in a shop to earn experience and also socialize with the professional circle.

-Yeah i didnt want at first but we are using adobe's cloud at work but i also know how to work without them

  • for mock-ups i use other tools like balsamiq that you mentioned and sometimes if i need a high fidelity prototype the just in mind software

  • i haven't and i cannot see the video cause i have basic subscription :)

-i have seen it all over the job requirements that is why it makes me wonder cause write now i haven't found a use of it.