Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed MACROMEDIA FIREWORKS GETTING STARTED WITH

Chapter 1 2 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understand the Fireworks work environment Work with new and existing documents Work with bitmap images Create shapes Create and modify text Chapter Lessons

Chapter 1 3 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Fireworks is a graphics program for the Web Tasks are compartmentalized Can work with, import from, and export files to other formats Understanding Fireworks

Chapter 1 4 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Fireworks integrates seamlessly with other Macromedia applications –Dreamweaver –Flash –FreeHand –Director Understanding Fireworks

Chapter 1 5 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understand the Fireworks Work Environment In this lesson, you will: –Start Fireworks –Open a file –Adjust panels in the Fireworks window

Chapter 1 6 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Viewing the Fireworks Window Fireworks window contains –Document window –Property inspector –Panels

Chapter 1 7 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Viewing the Fireworks Window 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

Chapter 1 8 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Viewing the Fireworks Window 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

Chapter 1 9 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Viewing the Fireworks Window Rearrange panels in Fireworks window based on your preference –Collapse/expand –Open/close –Regroup –Dock/undock

Chapter 1 10 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Docked panel Document window Property inspector Viewing the Fireworks Window FIGURE 3 Newly opened document

Chapter 1 11 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 12 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Working with Files Fireworks files are called documents A document consists of multiple layers –A layer can contain multiple objects Fireworks files are saved as PNG files –Files have.png extension

Chapter 1 13 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 14 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Accessing Help Help 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

Chapter 1 15 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Accessing Help Use commands on Help menu bar to navigate Help and print topics Other ways to obtain support online –Fireworks Support Center –Macromedia Online Forums

Chapter 1 16 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Help tabs Accessing Help FIGURE 10 Getting help on a topic

Chapter 1 17 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Work with Bitmap Images In this lesson, you will: –Modify a bitmap image –Create a layer –Lock a layer

Chapter 1 18 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 19 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding the Layers Panel Layers can be –Hidden or visible –Locked or unlocked –Rearranged and renamed –Duplicated and deleted –Collapsed or expanded

Chapter 1 20 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Collapsed layer Expanded layer Show/Hide layer icon Lock/Unlock layer icon Delete selection icon Understanding the Layers Panel FIGURE 16 Layers panel

Chapter 1 21 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 22 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Bitmap Images and Vector Objects Bitmap images lose image quality when enlarged –Resolution-dependent Resolution: the number of pixels in an image and its clarity and fineness of detail

Chapter 1 23 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Bitmap Images and Vector Objects 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

Chapter 1 24 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Create Shapes In this lesson, you will: –Display rulers and guides –Create a vector object –Modify a vector object

Chapter 1 25 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 26 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Using Rulers, Guides, and the Grid Grid –Can display squares or rectangles –Can modify grid colors

Chapter 1 27 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Sizing and Repositioning Objects View the position of objects and the pointer using –Info panel Open from Window menu Also view color values of selected pixel –Property inspector

Chapter 1 28 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Using the Tools Panel Fireworks automatically determines whether the tool is appropriate for the edited object Basic shape vector tools –Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon Auto Shape vector tools

Chapter 1 29 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Auto Shapes Auto Shapes –Complex vector shapes –Manipulated by dragging control points Control point –Yellow diamond –Appears when you select an Auto Shape

Chapter 1 30 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 31 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 32 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 33 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 34 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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

Chapter 1 35 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Attaching Text to a Path Use 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

Chapter 1 36 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Attaching Text to a Path Text attached to a path Path FIGURE 32 Text on paths

Chapter 1 37 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed 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 38 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Chapter 1 Tasks Start Fireworks Open a file Adjust panels, including undocking and collapsing them Set document properties Use the Index and Search tabs of Help

Chapter 1 39 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Chapter 1 Tasks Add a layer Copy an object between documents Modify a bitmap image Create and lock a layer Display rulers and guides

Chapter 1 40 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Chapter 1 Tasks Create and modify a vector object Create text and a path Attach the text to the path Save your document Exit the program