Compare Brands: Adobe Photoshop vs Figma · Editing Software on Reddit

Adobe Photoshop: The indispensable giant everyone loves to hate (and still uses).

Reddit reputation

Reddit’s relationship with Adobe Photoshop is a classic love-hate story. On one hand, it's the undisputed industry standard, the software many grew up with, and often the default for creative professionals, appearing naturally in discussions about digital art (r/Paleoart) or contest entries (r/RamayanaTheFilm). Yet, a deep undercurrent of resentment boils over regarding its anti-consumer practices: subscription models, forced cloud integration, and bloatware are constant complaints (r/DigitalEscapeTools). Performance issues, particularly with basic functions like drawing dashed lines, draw sharp criticism and accusations of "living off old money" (r/Design). Many feel Adobe is slow to innovate, only moving when "stock price downtrend" (r/AdobeIllustrator) forces their hand. The community is actively seeking alternatives, celebrating any competitor that offers a "lightweight open-source" solution.

What people actually say

• negative

  “Finally done with Adobe's anti-consumer BS. Found a great open-source blend of Lightroom & Photoshop, 100% local, no subscription. Take that, Adobe!”

  Alternatives to Adobe products

• negative

  “Almost 40 years later, and Photoshop still draws a dashed line like *this*? Seriously, Adobe, what a disgrace. You're just sitting on old money.”

  Software performance and basic functionality

• positive

  “Used DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Photoshop for my contest entry. The results were fire!”

  Artistic work and contests

• mixed

  “Found my old Photoshop 4 disks. Real 'old money' right here. Before everything was subscription and bloat.”

  Nostalgia for older software versions

Opportunities

• Open Source Collaboration / API Access

  Engage with communities building open-source alternatives or plugins. Offering official APIs or collaborating on lightweight, non-subscription tools could address the demand for '100% local, no subscription' software. This could extend to official developer programs and support beyond Reddit. (Product)

• Transparency on Development & Performance

  Address specific, long-standing UI/UX pain points (like the 'dashed line' issue) with clear communication, even if it’s an admission of complexity. Share development roadmaps or 'behind-the-scenes' content detailing how these issues are tackled, which builds trust across press releases and dev blogs. (PR)

• Feature-Specific Tutorials for Niche Use Cases

  Create content that showcases Photoshop Elements or specific features in niche creative fields, like the 'Paleoart' example. This targets users where Photoshop is a tool, not the focus, and can be applied to YouTube tutorials, sponsored content, and educational partnerships. (Creative)

• Championing Legacy & Foundational Skills

  Acknowledge and celebrate the 'old money' history and foundational role Photoshop has played in graphic design. Feature historical content or user stories on social media, in advertising, or through educational initiatives that resonate with those who started with older versions. (Creative)

Risks

• Ignoring performance complaints and calling them "skill issue" will get Adobe roasted on r/Design and similar professional subreddits.
• Pushing cloud-only features or increasing subscription prices without clear value adds will trigger backlash and calls for open-source alternatives on r/DigitalEscapeTools and r/piracy.
• Any attempt to shill or pretend to be a regular user will be quickly identified and downvoted/removed by moderators on communities focused on genuine discussions like r/graphic_design.
• Releasing

Playbook

1. Acknowledge the Baggage

   Publicly acknowledge the common critiques around pricing, bloat, and legacy issues. A simple, honest 'We hear you' goes a long way before attempting any fixes.

2. Deliver Concrete Fixes (and Show Your Work)

   Prioritize and fix a few highly visible, long-standing bugs or performance issues. Crucially, transparently communicate the 'how' and 'why' of these fixes to the community, demonstrating a commitment to improvement.

3. Invest in Core Functionality Over New Features

   Shift focus to optimizing and refining Photoshop's core tools and performance, rather than always chasing new, often niche, features. This aligns with the community's desire for 'modern workflows' and less 'bloated programs.'

Beyond Reddit

• Strategy & positioning

  The single audience truth is that professionals are tired of being held hostage by indispensable but often frustrating software. Photoshop's positioning must shift from 'the only choice' to 'the continually improving, user-respecting standard' – a brand actively fighting against being seen as just 'old money' relying on its past.

• PR & comms

  Get ahead of narratives regarding 'stock price downtrend' as a motivator for improvement; instead, frame changes as a genuine response to user feedback. Own the critique of 'bloated programs' by announcing initiatives focused on optimization. Avoid downplaying 'skill issue' comments for core functionality flaws.

• Creative & copy

  Lean into phrases like '100% local, no subscription' to frame new offerings or communicate value. Highlight the contrast between 'sitting on your asses and living off old money' and a renewed focus on user-centric development. Emphasize 'lightweight' and 'native desktop app' qualities.

• Influencer briefs

  Creators who genuinely critique software and offer practical solutions (like sharing open-source alternatives) earn trust. Avoid those who just 'shill' new features without acknowledging long-standing issues; they'll be seen as inauthentic and out of touch. The 'honest critique, practical solution' model is key.

• Product & CX

  Product teams need to address the 'dashed line' level of basic functionality flaws. Prioritize requests for 'global gradients the same as swatches' and other quality-of-life improvements that speak to 'modern workflows' rather than just new features. Focus on reducing bloat and improving native performance.

Figma: The design tool everybody uses, but nobody *loves* to talk about.

Reddit reputation

Reddit sees Figma as the default for UX/UI design, but this often comes with a backhanded compliment or frustration. In r/UXDesign, it's the tool associated with designers who are "just decorators" and "can't explain their own decisions." It's assumed knowledge, almost to a fault. When it does pop up in creative subs like r/HonkaiStarR_Romance, it's generally positive for creating fan art elements, highlighting its utility. However, the dominant sentiment when it comes to professional discussion is a resigned acceptance, with undertones of "it's fine, but...". There's no passionate evangelism, more like an acknowledgement of its ubiquity.

What people actually say

• negative

  “Honestly, I'm starting to think most UX designers are just decorators who learned Figma and can't explain their own decisions.”

  Professional critique of UX/UI designers

• positive

  “I replicated a character banner in Figma for my fan art; it was great for getting the splash art format right.”

  Fan art and creative design process

• mixed

  “Yeah, Figma is the standard now, but does that mean every junior designer just defaults to it without understanding the "why"?”

  Discussion of industry standards and tools

• mixed

  “Figma's fine, but when are they going to fix those annoying little workflow quirks that everyone complains about?”

  Comparison of design tools

Opportunities

• Address "just decorators" stereotype directly

  Run a campaign or series showcasing Figma users who *excel* at strategic design, clearly articulating their choices and impact. This community's demand for transparency applies to press releases, influencer briefs and brand comms — not just Reddit posts. (All channels)

• Open-source or spotlight advanced workflow tips

  Create content or a community forum for power users to share complex workflows, plugins, and integrations that elevate design thinking beyond basic "decorating." This would apply to product tutorials, developer outreach, and community events — not just Reddit AMAs. (Product)

• Engage with niche creative communities

  Support or sponsor fan art challenges in subs like r/HonkaiStarR_Romance or r/Vocaloid, providing templates or resources for using Figma in highly specific, passion-driven creative projects. This applies to targeted social media campaigns and creator collaborations, not just Reddit posts. (Creative)

• Publicly acknowledge common pain points

  Instead of ignoring them, address recurring minor frustrations or feature requests. Acknowledge them, even if you can't fix them immediately, to build trust. This community expects honesty in public statements, product roadmaps, and support channels — not just Reddit comments. (PR)

Risks

• Being seen as tone-deaf or oblivious to the 'designers are just decorators' criticism will get them roasted in r/UXDesign.
• Any attempt to generically "engage the community" without specific, valuable contributions will be immediately called out as marketing fluff across design-focused subreddits.
• Ignoring or downplaying legitimate workflow frustrations will generate eye-rolls and negative sentiment, especially in r/UXDesign, where users are quick to complain about fundamental tool issues.
• Promoting basic "how-to-Figma" content to experienced designers will be met with derision, reinforcing the idea that the brand underestimates its users.

Playbook

1. Listen, don't just monitor.

   Actively track nuanced conversations in r/UXDesign and other design subs to identify specific pain points and strategic discussions. Don't just count mentions; understand the *context* and *sentiment* of those mentions.

2. Empower the "why," not just the "how."

   Create resources, case studies, and content that showcase strategic design thinking *enabled by Figma*, directly countering the 'just decorators' critique. Focus on the *impact* of design, not just the interface.

3. Champion the craft, not just the tool.

   Support and elevate the work of actual design practitioners, especially those solving complex problems or innovating creatively, providing a platform for their "why" beyond showcasing the end result. This fosters deeper respect.

Beyond Reddit

• Strategy & positioning

  Figma is the industry standard, but its strength lies in facilitating *strategic, impactful design*, not merely as a 'drawing tool.' The core truth is that great design comes from great thinking, and Figma is the platform for it.

• PR & comms

  Get ahead of the 'just decorators' narrative by actively showcasing how Figma enables strategic thinking and problem-solving, not just visual design. Acknowledge common frustrations openly rather than ignoring them.

• Creative & copy

  Avoid bland assertions of ease-of-use. Instead, lean into the tension of 'designers who learned Figma' by highlighting the strategic depth: 'Beyond the pixels: Designing the 'why' with Figma.' or 'Not just decoration: Crafting impactful experiences.'

• Influencer briefs

  Creators who *show* advanced problem-solving, strategic thinking, and the 'why' behind design decisions, even when using Figma, will earn trust. Avoid those who just showcase pretty mockups or basic tutorials, as they'll be seen as perpetuating the 'decorator' stereotype.

• Product & CX

  The core pain point is the perception that Figma enables superficial design. Product teams should focus on features that genuinely support deeper strategic work, advanced workflows, and demonstrable impact, not just UI enhancements.