Skip to main content
K
katherine_mary
Known Participant
November 17, 2017
Question

Fireworks alternative

  • November 17, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 1819 views

With my newest computer neither CS4 or CS5 applications function anymore. First I made the mistake of using the migration assistant to go from old mac to new mac and because adobe is lame this came across with a glitch that Im not able to get rid of even though I deleted the install, downloaded the software again from adobe and entered my serial numbers. Still got the same error message.

Contacted adobe and they said, oopsie, legacy software no longer supported and does not work with newer mac computers. And offered no solution to the problem other than me having to spend more money.

now I have literally hundreds of legacy fireworks layered and paged files and its seems nothing can open them. I still have the old imac on which I can open the files in fireworks and save out literally thousands of pages as PSD layer files. did I say tedious? In estremis.

So, can anyone recommend an alternative to fireworks that preserves layers and files? Its my understanding adobe has no alternative and is dumping or has dumped fireworks. Affinity software can open my PSDs and illustrator files but so far cant open fireworks layered and paged files.

Im stumped. to best of my knowledge there is NO software that can open fireworks layered and pages files. Maybe Im out of the loop? Ideas?

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

D
doncor
Participant
September 13, 2018

Can anyone convert my fireworks PNG files to PSD files?

P
Paul-M
Legend
September 13, 2018

You can do it fireworks, if you want to batch convert I have a command you can use

Paul-M - Community Expert
P
Paul-M
Legend
September 12, 2018

Your best option is to convert all Fireworks PNGs to PSDs - I have created a Fireworks command to batch convert FW PNGs to PSDs retaining layers etc. If you want it DM me.   We're still using Firweorks but thought it might be prudent to keep PSD and FW PNG versions.

My opinion for what its worth, carrying on using Fireworks , its still available via Creative Cloud and it is STILL the best all round tool for UI/Web/Prototyping. No other tool offers the same extensive bitmap/vector all-in-one toolset and fast workflow.

Best alternatives I'm aware of:

Sketch (Mac Only) But it doesn't have the same bitmap editing features as Fireworks,

Affinity Designer (Windows & Mac) - Affinity are very active with development and it offers pretty solid bitmap and vector tools in one program.

Paul-M - Community Expert
D
doncor
Participant
September 13, 2018

Can you convert files for me?

rayek.elfin
rayek.elfin
Legend
January 21, 2018

A late answer, but perhaps it might still be helpful. As you state, nothing but Fireworks opens layered PNG files. Nor would it really be possible for any third-party developer to maintain all effects and curves without spending a large amount of time and energy on reverse engineering the undocumented Fireworks layered PNG format and translating those to native features. Adobe never published any information related to the proprietary file format.

Fireworks does still work on Windows, though. What you could do is install a virtual machine with an older version of Windows installed, and install Fireworks in that environment. That makes it possible to run Fireworks on your new Mac, and you'd be able to open your Fireworks source files. Windows & Fireworks would be running in a window on your desktop.

To learn more about this method, read the following article: https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/mac-software/best-virtualisation-app-run-windows-on-your-mac-boot-camp-vmware-paralle…

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices