macromedia fireworks 8 revealed macromedia fireworks getting started with

Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed

MACROMEDIA FIREWORKSGETTING STARTED WITH

2Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Chapter 1

Understand the Fireworks work environment

Work with new and existing documents

Work with bitmap images

Create shapes

Create and modify text

Chapter Lessons


Fireworks is a graphics program for the Web

Tasks are compartmentalized

Can work with, import from, and export files to other formats

Understanding Fireworks


Fireworks integrates seamlessly with other Macromedia applications– Dreamweaver– Flash– FreeHand– Director

Understanding Fireworks


Understand the Fireworks Work Environment

In this lesson, you will:– Start Fireworks– Open a file– Adjust panels in the Fireworks window


Viewing the Fireworks Window

Fireworks window contains – Document window– Property inspector– Panels



Document window contains canvas and display buttons– Display buttons: Original, Preview, 2-

Up, 4-Up– 2-Up & 4-Up buttons allow you to

evaluate different optimization settings side by side

Panels perform specific functions



Tools panel houses tools organized into tool groups– Select, Bitmap, Vector, Web,

Colors, View

Property inspector – Modifies selected objects– Sets tool properties and other

options



Rearrange panels in Fireworks window based on your preference– Collapse/expand– Open/close– Regroup– Dock/undock


Docked panel

Document window

Property inspector


FIGURE 3 Newly opened document


Work with New and Existing Documents

In this lesson, you will:– Set document properties– Use Index and Search tabs of Help– Add a layer to the Layers panel– Copy an object between documents


Working with Files

Fireworks files are called documentsA document consists of multiple layers– A layer can contain multiple objects

Fireworks files are saved as PNG files– Files have .png extension


Working with Files

Different file formats support different images

Different ways to obtain images in different file formats– Import file– Open file– Copy and paste object– Drag and drop object


Accessing HelpHelp command on Help menu

Can access from three tabs– Content: lists topic by subject matter– Index: enter keyword to access topics

that begin with keyword– Search: enter keyword to retrieve topics

with keyword in title


Accessing HelpUse commands on Help menu bar to navigate Help and print topics

Other ways to obtain support online– Fireworks Support Center– Macromedia Online Forums


Help tabs

Accessing Help

FIGURE 10 Getting help on a topic


Work with Bitmap Images

In this lesson, you will:– Modify a bitmap image– Create a layer– Lock a layer


Understanding the Layers Panel

Layers position objects (not pixels)

Layers panel– Arranges objects in document in

logical design order and grouping

Objects on layer similar to viewing multiple objects through clear acetate sheets– Stacking order affects visibility



Layers can be– Hidden or visible– Locked or unlocked– Rearranged and renamed– Duplicated and deleted– Collapsed or expanded


Collapsed layer

Expanded layer

Show/Hide layer icon

Lock/Unlock layer icon

Delete selection

icon


FIGURE 16 Layers panel


Understanding Bitmap Images and Vector Objects

Bitmap graphics represent a picture as a matrix of pixels on a grid– Realistically depict pixel colors in a

photograph

Vector graphic is a mathematically calculated object – Composed of anchor points and

straight or curved line segments



Bitmap images lose image quality when enlarged– Resolution-dependent

• Resolution: the number of pixels in an image and its clarity and fineness of detail



Vector objects do not lose image quality when enlarged – Resolution-independent– Will retain appearance

Vector remains

crisp

Bitmap is jagged &

blurry

FIGURE 17 Comparing vector and bitmap graphics


Create Shapes

In this lesson, you will:– Display rulers and guides– Create a vector object– Modify a vector object


Using Rulers, Guides, and the Grid

Design aides that help you precisely align and position objects– Rulers

• Ruler units are always in pixels

– Guides• Do not print• Insert by dragging a guide from the ruler to

the canvas


Using Rulers, Guides, and the Grid

Grid– Can display squares or rectangles– Can modify grid colors


Sizing and RepositioningObjects

View the position of objects and the pointer using– Info panel

• Open from Window menu• Also view color values of selected pixel

– Property inspector


Using the Tools Panel

Fireworks automatically determines whether the tool is appropriate for the edited objectBasic shape vector tools– Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon

Auto Shape vector tools


Understanding Auto Shapes

Auto Shapes– Complex vector shapes– Manipulated by dragging control points

Control point– Yellow diamond– Appears when you select an Auto

Shape


Applying Fills and Strokes Fill attributes– Color– Category (solid, gradient, or pattern)– Type and amount of edge of fill

Stroke attributes– Color– Tip size– Softness– Texture


Applying Fills and Strokes

Anti-Aliasing: blends the edges of a stroke or text with surrounding pixels– Edges blend into the background– Anti-alias settings

• No, Crisp, Strong, or Smooth


Create and Modify Text

In this lesson, you will:– Create text – Create a path– Attach the text to the path– Save your document– Exit the program


Using Text in a Document

Text tool properties– Font, size, color, style, kerning

leading, alignment, text flow, offset, anti-alias

Kerning adjusts the space between adjacent letters or a range of letters

Leading adjusts the amount of space between lines of text


Using Text in a Document

Text blocks– Fixed-width size never changes– Auto-sizing expands the text block to

accommodate the amount of text

Spell check– Can perform on one or more blocks

of text at a time


Attaching Text to a PathUse the Pen tool to define points on a path– Path: an open or closed vector

consisting of a series of anchor points– Anchor points join path segments

Can edit text attached to path


Attaching Text to a Path

Text attached to a path

Path

FIGURE 32 Text on paths


Attaching Text to a Path

To attach text to a path– Define points on path– Use Attach to Path command on Text

menu

Create text using the Text tool

Edit points on path using the Subselection tool


Chapter 1 TasksStart Fireworks

Open a file

Adjust panels, including undocking and collapsing them

Set document properties

Use the Index and Search tabs of Help


Chapter 1 TasksAdd a layer

Copy an object between documents

Modify a bitmap image

Create and lock a layer

Display rulers and guides


Chapter 1 TasksCreate and modify a vector object

Create text and a path

Attach the text to the path

Save your document

Exit the program