After 12 years of daily Photoshop use, I closed it three months ago and haven't opened it since. This wasn't a decision I made lightly.

The Breaking Point

It wasn't the subscription model (though that didn't help). It was realizing I spent 80% of my time on technical execution rather than creative thinking. Pushing pixels had become a comfortable habit that limited my creative output.

My New Reality

My workflow now centers around three core tools:

• Generative AI for initial concept exploration

• Figma for layout and typographic design

• A custom-built image refinement model for final touches

What shocked me was not just the speed improvement (projects that took weeks now take days), but how it transformed my relationship with clients. Instead of presenting 2-3 carefully crafted concepts, I can explore 15-20 directions in the same timeframe.

What I Actually Miss

Surprisingly, I miss the constraints. When anything is possible, decision fatigue becomes real. I've had to develop new personal guardrails to maintain focus and cohesion across projects.

I also miss the tactile precision of direct manipulation. Text prompting still feels like speaking a second language—powerful but not always intuitive for spatial thinking.

What I Don't Miss

• The endless masking

• Destructive edits that can't be reconceptualized later

• The tyranny of layers upon layers

• The rendering wait times

Not For Everyone

This isn't an anti-Photoshop manifesto. Traditional tools still excel for specific needs. My photographer friends rightly point out that AI manipulation can't replace their craft's technical precision.

But for conceptual design work, I can't imagine going back. The ability to rapidly iterate on ideas rather than execution has fundamentally changed how I think about the creative process itself.

Have you reconsidered your relationship with traditional design tools? I'm curious about your experience.