What is the Use of Photoshop in Web Design?
New trends are arising that more web design should be done in the browser than in the Photoshop. Hence, it is important to review the process of Photoshop in web design in Albuquerque and reflect if it is worth keeping or not.
Initially, web developers create an entire page in Photoshop. They would create a couple of designs, cut it up, then export the slices to recreate them in HTML. Because during those times, CSS2 and CSS3 only contain standard borders and background colors. Hence, the only way to code round corners, gradient, and shadow is to use another image.
However, nowadays, you can create almost all design elements with CSS. Thus, you do not need to slice up a page to generate round corner, gradients, and shadows in Photoshop. All you need to do is to open the logos or images and export it to HTML/CSS mockups.
So it is right to phase out photoshop for web design companies? The answer is no. Why? Below are some of the reasons;
1. A combination of different media - We cannot say that a medium is sufficient for everyone in every situation. Hence, it is where options are necessary. Some web designers are comfortable starting with a pen and paper. When you are in the design phase, it may be unwise to start at CSS. In Photoshop, you can test variations side by side and explore different designs. Afterward, you can recreate the design in HTML and CSS.
2. Defaults in browser designing - There is always a default in every tool. However, we forgot about those when we rely on pre-defined processes such as CSS. Imagine, the shortcuts in HTML and CSS like selecting a pre-built template to alter the page structure, you may limit your design thinking without knowing. Hence, when your coding skills are not strong enough, then you will end up cutting corners. It has the same risk when you need to set a static size for your design file that you may disregard the way your design would adapt to different devices as well as if the font is available on mobile phones.
3. Complex and creative unique layouts - Other graphic software may provide ease, but has a flat and minimalistic theme and makes all website almost the same. Photoshop offers graphic applications like move tool and grid system that gives ample margin to create a pixel great website design.
4. When you are using someone’s Photoshop design - It is very common in professional web design agency wherein coding, and designing is separate tasks and involved multiple experts. It is because some web designers do not know how to code but enjoy designing, while there are web developers who are reliable with codes but might not want to touch the design. Hence, someone could design everything in Photoshop then escalate it to web developers for mocking up using HTML and CSS.
Therefore, It is not the tool, it depends on the situation. When you are comfortable with using CSS, then you can use it. If you are more efficient in drafting with photoshop, then optimize it. You can even do both Photoshop and CSS. What is important is you create a responsive and interactive website.
