Fireworks Alternative?

[Carl Vondrick]

Hi guys,
I'm running Kubuntu (KDE 3.5.2), and I do web-development. I have been
using Linux exclusively for a few months now, but I was recently called
upon to do some design work!

I'm now stuck. I can either boot into Windows (which I want to delete
anyways) to use Macromedia Fireworks, or I can search for a Linux
alternative.

Does anybody have any alternatives? I have tried to get Fireworks 8 and
Fireworks MX 2004 to work under wine, but no luck there. I'm going to try
Fireworks MX later.

I have looked into the GIMP, but it lacks vector support. I tried out
Karbon 14, but that seems to be more for print. Inkscape looks promising,
but it is very confusing and hard to use with limited features.

This is probably a common question, but it is quite frustrating. I just
need a basic vector program that works with pixels, and can do some
advanced stuff such as masks, rounded corners, and maybe some filters.

Thanks!

Carl

[Chuck]

On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 03:52:02 +0000, Carl Vondrick wrote:

> I have looked into the GIMP, but it lacks vector support. I tried out
> Karbon 14, but that seems to be more for print. Inkscape looks
> promising, but it is very confusing and hard to use with limited
> features.
>

I'm not an artist but I do a bit of web and design work from time
to time -- I mention this so you don't put too much stock in my answer.

I used to be so addicted to Firefox that I bought a Mac when I just
couldn't take Windows anymore. At this point though my dual G5 sits
around collecting dust while Fireworks MX 2004 and Photoshop CS(all nicely
paid for) just keep getting older. ;)

Now I've completely switched to Gimp and Inkscpape. Gimp has an svg
plugin that should allow you to at least import your old svgs in order to
work on them in a bitmap format. You'll have to check "Import Paths" and
enlarge it to a working size you deem appropriate but at least for my
Inscape art, this function works fine.

As for Inkscape, I don't have much to compare it to, but I do know a lot
of really nice artwork has been produced with it. Take a look at the
nuoveXT iconset. [url]http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=26448[/url]
If that really was saki's first iconset it seems like it can't be that
difficult to use. ;)

For what it's worth, I saw an Inkscape tutorial in TUX Magazine a few
months back that looked to contain some decent tips and how to's.

All this is going to take some time to relearn though. If I was in your
shoes and I had a deadline approaching, I'm not sure how interested I'd be
in learning a new program. ;) So in that case, you can probably get
Fireworks MX to run OK on wine. But yuck!

--
good luck,
Chuck

[Carl Vondrick]

Chuck wrote:
Thanks for the reply, Chuck!

> All this is going to take some time to relearn though. Â*If I was in your
> shoes and I had a deadline approaching, I'm not sure how interested I'd be
> in learning a new program. ;) Â*So in that case, you can probably get
> Fireworks MX to run OK on wine. But yuck!

I'll probably just screw around in Inkscape designing "dummy" websites for a
while, and boot into Windows to do design work.

It's really a shame there isn't good graphic software for Linux. I know
some people that would switch in a heartbeat, but Photoshop is too
important.

That, and the lack of decent FTP clients.

--
Carl Vondrick
Web-Enginner
[url]www.CarlSoft.net[/url]

To contact me, please use my website.

[Toby Newman]

On 2006-04-14, Carl Vondrick <spammers@suck.com> wrote:

> Chuck wrote:
> Thanks for the reply, Chuck!
>

>> All this is going to take some time to relearn though. Â*If I was in your
>> shoes and I had a deadline approaching, I'm not sure how interested I'd be
>> in learning a new program. ;) Â*So in that case, you can probably get
>> Fireworks MX to run OK on wine. But yuck!

>
> I'll probably just screw around in Inkscape designing "dummy" websites for a
> while, and boot into Windows to do design work.
>
> It's really a shame there isn't good graphic software for Linux. I know
> some people that would switch in a heartbeat, but Photoshop is too
> important.
>
> That, and the lack of decent FTP clients.

Kbear is really good, especially when integrated with KDE.

--
-Toby, who...
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