Adobe Fireworks was a graphic design device developed initially by Macromedia. It turned a part of the Adobe household in 2005, when Adobe Techniques purchased Macromedia.

The main target of Adobe Fireworks was to assist net designers with each bitmap (pixel-based) and vector (formula-based) picture enhancing. It was broadly used to create prototypes for web sites and app interfaces. 

Options like slicing (dividing photographs into HTML-compatible elements for net use) and hotspots (defining clickable areas linked to different pages or actions) made Fireworks particularly fashionable. 

These have been fairly high-tech options within the early aughts, however in 2013, Adobe discontinued Fireworks, a lot to the dismay of net designers in every single place, who beloved the device’s concentrate on net design and prototyping.

When and Why Adobe Fireworks Was Shut Down

Adobe discontinued Fireworks in Could of 2013. Whereas individuals might nonetheless purchase and use the software program on the time, Adobe stopped actively growing it or fixing bugs.  This drove it to shortly grow to be out of date.

The corporate cited Fireworks’ similarity to different instruments within the Adobe suite, like Photoshop and Illustrator, as the principle motive for his or her determination. 

As an alternative of attempting to maintain a relic born within the Nineteen Nineties updated, Adobe targeted on growing newer web design instruments like Adobe XD. 

However net designers have been not proud of the demise of Fireworks. 

The day earlier than Adobe formally introduced its determination, a Redditor posted the news to the r/web_design subreddit. 

Right here’s a sampling of the feedback under the submit: 

  • u/potrell: “you’re mendacity! that is just a few sick delayed april idiot’s joke! dammit >
  • u/siamthailand: “Nooooooooooooooooooo!!! WTF??? What am I supposed to make use of?”
  • u/Kriem: “I used to be afraid this might occur. Horrible determination. :(“
  • [Deleted user]: “Good night time, candy prince.”

A number of Reddit customers cheered on the device’s demise and mentioned it was excessive time for Fireworks to go quietly into that good night time. One now-deleted person requested, “Who’s utilizing it? 😐 It’s so dangerous in so many points …”

Fireworks defenders rushed in with responses like this: 

  • u/hugsnpugs: “I’ve been utilizing it because it was model 2 and it’s a completely important a part of my workflow. Photoshop is for enhancing pictures, Fireworks is for designing ui and net graphic components.”
  • u/Kriem: “I do. It’s nice for net design. Photoshop was by no means supposed for net design. When you get the dangle of the Fireworks workflow it’s so extremely quick and straightforward.”
  • u/tomokeefe: “Photoshop doesn’t assist pages. Having pages is a HUGE benefit. Having the ability to work on an software or website that you may shortly mock up pages and share layers to any web page is highly effective.”

Customers quickly began questioning what instruments they may use to interchange Fireworks. Some argued that you could possibly use Photoshop, Illustrator, and a non-Adobe device referred to as Balsamiq—all of that are nonetheless round at this time—to do what Fireworks might do. 

One person (u/normanhome) snarkily responded, “Why use one Software if you should use 3 totally different ones? Is smart.”

One other person tried to guarantee everybody that simply because Adobe was killing Fireworks, it didn’t imply net designers couldn’t nonetheless use the device. For a number of years, at the very least. 

This brings us to our subsequent subject/query: can net designers nonetheless use Adobe at this time, over a decade after the burial of Fireworks?

Is there any option to get Adobe Fireworks? Principally, no.

Adobe Fireworks is not developed or supported, or downloadable in any simple manner.

Should you’re bent on utilizing it, there’s actually just one avenue: subscribing to the Creative Cloud All Apps plan and trying to download it after toggling “Present Older Apps” (in Preferences > Apps > Settings) on.

Net designers who’ve tried to obtain it say it’s…an interesting experience. A 30-day free trial permits them to make use of it for a month earlier than Adobe prompts them to buy the software program. Solely drawback is, it’s not obtainable for buy. 

Different customers of Adobe Fireworks CS6 (the ultimate model) say they’ve been prompted to supply a serial quantity although they’ve legitimate Artistic Cloud subscriptions.

Factor is, Fireworks makes use of an older licensing system that’s incompatible with newer subscription fashions. You possibly can strive signing out and restarting Artistic Cloud, putting in Adobe Muse to authenticate the license, adjusting admin settings on Home windows, or screaming right into a pillow. 

Or, you may strive a Fireworks different. 

It’s been a number of years since 2013, in spite of everything. You possibly can relaxation assured that there are many wonderful net design instruments which have taken the place of the beloved Adobe Fireworks.

What are the very best alternate options to Adobe Fireworks?

The perfect alternate options to Adobe Fireworks are Adobe XD, Sketch, Figma, and Affinity Designer.

Adobe XD 

Adobe didn’t simply drop Fireworks and neglect about growing a device made for UI/UX designers. As an alternative, it targeted on growing Adobe XD, a device made particularly for net and app design within the trendy age.

As a vector-based design device appropriate with macOS and Home windows, Adobe XD helps net designers make designs that designs are scalable with out dropping high quality. 

It’s particularly useful for creating responsive layouts for various display screen sizes. Adobe XD’s interactive prototyping instruments imply designers can create and check transitions, animations, and person flows with out having to make use of third-party software program to do it.

Totally different members of the identical crew may work collectively in real-time on the identical mission. Plus, XD integrates with different Adobe Artistic Cloud apps like Photoshop and Illustrator.

So sure, it’s important to use multiple device for full net design, as Reddit customers snarkily mentioned. However at the very least the instruments are all a part of the identical Adobe ecosystem.

Plus, net design has developed so much since 2013, and Adobe XD principally replaces a lot of the performance that made Fireworks fashionable. On the similar time, it provides trendy options that meet at this time’s design requirements. 

Sketch

Sketch is a best choice for vector design and prototyping. It’s a macOS-only device, and Mac customers find it irresistible for net and app design. As a design device, it’s light-weight and streamlined with every part you want and nothing you don’t.

Sketch’s standout instruments embody:

  • Symbols and elements. Simply compose reusable design components (like headers and buttons) that may be up to date globally throughout a mission.
  • Good structure. Routinely modify the dimensions and place of components when content material modifications. This makes it simpler to create responsive and versatile designs.
  • Vector enhancing. Precision vector-based instruments permit for scalable designs with out lack of high quality. Designers love this function for creating icons, illustrations, and responsive net layouts.
  • Plugin ecosystem. Entry a ton of plugins that spherical out Sketch’s performance. This contains instruments for animation, developer handoff (Zeplin), and real-time collaboration ( Craft by InVision).
  • Prototyping instruments. Construct interactive prototypes instantly in Sketch by linking artboards so designers can check and showcase person flows with none exterior instruments.

As a result of Sketch is so fashionable within the UI/UX group, you could find a trove of tutorials, templates, and group assist if you happen to’re a brand new person. Should you’re pining for Adobe Fireworks, Sketch presents an analogous concentrate on design and prototyping. Nevertheless it’s acquired the added bonus of getting trendy options and a rising ecosystem that retains it up-to-date with the instances. 

Figma

Figma is a vastly fashionable device for UI/UX design, particularly for groups who desire a cloud-based resolution with real-time collaboration. It’s versatile, accessible, and tremendous easy for groups to work together on the identical platform and mission.

As a significant bonus, Figma is appropriate with every part: Home windows, macOS, Linux, and net browsers. No platform-specific installations wanted.

Figma’s prototyping tools let customers design and check interactive flows from inside the software. Its real-time collaboration instruments are principally Google Docs-level, however for net design. It’s additionally acquired computerized model management, so it saves all of the iterations of your designs in case it is advisable to return to a earlier model. 

Figma’s an excellent different to Adobe Fireworks for a number of causes. 

First, its browser-based strategy makes it extremely accessible and preferrred for distant or distributed groups. Second, in contrast to different instruments, it combines design, prototyping, and collaboration into one cohesive platform. This implies you don’t should juggle a number of purposes or plugins. 

Lastly, Figma’s intuitive interface means it’s simpler to study than different net design instruments. 

Affinity Designer

Should you’re actually craving Fireworks’ concentrate on vector and raster (bitmap) enhancing, you’ll love . Whether or not you’re engaged on scalable illustrations or pixel-based graphics, Affinity Designer makes it simple to handle each element.

One among its prime options is its highly effective vector enhancing instruments. These allow you to edit the teeniest elements of a brand, icon, or illustration with unmatched precision. Its pixel precision mode additionally helps you precisely edit photographs on the smallest degree so you may retouch or add intricate textures.

And modifications aren’t everlasting if you happen to don’t need them to be. Affinity Designer’s non-destructive changes allow you to experiment with totally different colours, results, and layers with out completely altering your authentic design. 

Affinity Designer’s mixture of bitmap and vector enhancing is what made Adobe Fireworks so fashionable, which is why it’s an on-point different. Due to its concentrate on twin performance with raster and vector modes, Affinity has made it tremendous simple to modify between these duties.  

However even higher, Affinity Designer focuses on maintaining with trendy design wants. Not like Fireworks, it’s not a part of the Adobe ecosystem and isn’t poised to go old-fashioned anytime quickly.


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